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Acquiescence

Standing on this beach, I realised that he was my weakness and held the key to my downfall.

Standing on this beach, I realised that he was my weakness and held the key to my downfall.
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Canon EOS 5DS R

settings

Aperture f/14 ISO 100 Shutter 1/1 Focal Length 16/1

upload_date

May, 2016

Views

5019

Likes

+1.6k

Awards

Member Selection Award

Honorable Mention in Freshmen 2016 Photo Contest Vol 2

Contest Finalist in Freshmen 2016 Photo Contest Vol 2

Runner Up in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 10

Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 10

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Curator's Choice

Peer Award

+341

Superb Composition

+197

Absolute Masterpiece

+134

Top Choice

+81

Outstanding Creativity

+60

Superior Skill

+28

Magnificent Capture

+25

All Star

+13

Genius

Virtuoso

Emotions

Impressed

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken at Haukland Beach on the Lofoten Islands, an archipelago in Norway. This is one of my favourite beaches in the world and it is incredibly versatile for photography year-round. The mountainous backdrop is simply remarkable whichever way you turn.

Time

I had spent much of the afternoon trying to shoot at another nearby beach called Skagsanden but visitors had left too many tracks in the sand for the perfect shot to eventuate. The sun was soon to set, so by chance, I hurried over to Haukland to see what I could find. Luckily, it was secluded and devoid of visitors. The tide was coming in and so it had washed away many of the footsteps that other visitors had left on the beach. It was the middle of winter in Lofoten, so the days were short with long sunrises often blurring into long sunsets. You'd probably be surprised to know that this photo was taken on the 30th January 2016 at 12:28pm!

Lighting

Winter in Lofoten is the scene of many magical moments. The atmosphere is crisp and cold. Although the days are very short, the sky is often filled with intense and unforgettable colours ranging from pink to violet during sunrise and sunset.

Equipment

This was shot on a Canon 5DSR with a Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS attached. I used a Galen Rowell GND 3-stop to balance out the sky and a Singh-Ray ND 3-stop to help slow the shutter-speed and increase exposure time to create the blurred texture in the water. I also used the LEE Circular Landscape Polariser to make the sky "pop" a little. My gear was mounted on a Gitzo Leveller tripod to minimise any movement during the long exposure.

Inspiration

I knew that I wanted a long exposure of incoming waves retreating from around a rock. It was initially difficult to compose, due to the number of rocks off to the left which distracted the eye. It had been snowing and the sky was grey, though as soon as it cleared, a swirl appeared in the clouds and I realised quickly that it aligned with the swirling of the water below. This created the perfect 'S'-type curvature for leading the eye from the top of the image through to the bottom. Thankfully, the moment coincided with some brilliant colour in the sky!

Editing

I do very little post-processing as I prefer to see the natural beauty of a landscape, rather than a fantasy-like reproduction. This image was focus-stacked once for the rock in the foreground and once for the mountain in the background. I corrected the white-balance for the two RAWs in Adobe Bridge, then merged them in Photoshop before applying some sharpening.

In my camera bag

I carry an f-stop gear bag, because they are rugged and built for the serious landscape photographer who hikes yet still needs a sturdy solution for camera gear. Inside, I use a large pro ICU to carry my Canon 5DSR, Canon 16-35mm f/4L, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L and Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L. My favourite lens is the Samyang 14mm f/2.8, which is perfect for astrophotography and capturing the Aurora Borealis. I also have a collection of Singh-Ray and LEE filters to help with balancing the lighting as I prefer to be creative pre-processing rather than in post. I do not go anywhere without my Black Diamond headlamp (for those early morning or late-night shoots), lens cleaner, microfibre cloths, and a woollen beanie to keep my ears warm... and I carry 4 extra batteries and memory cards to ensure that I'll never run out of power or memory space!

Feedback

The Lofoten Islands have unique characteristics. During winter, the weather changes abruptly depending on the day. You can have sun, snow, wind or calm, all in one trip. The trick with shooting on this archipelago is to have patience but to get out into the elements, even if it looks like the bad weather is not going to let up. Although it may be grey and ominous when you head out, the next second you may find yourself faced with a brilliant rainbow and gorgeous lighting illuminating the mountains. Dawn and dusk here are key elements, however with such short days, you can plan to be at one location for hours with ever-changing opportunities for different shots.

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serenavsworld

Acquiescence

Standing on this beach, I realised that he was my weakness and held the key to my downfall.

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow serenavsworld

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