jacquespieterse

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Jul, 2016

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I went to a wedding for a weekend over December. I call it a quick road trip as I travelled about 3 000km to the wedding and back.
I was about halfwa

Taken on top of Table Mountain, Cape Town

Behind The Lens

Location

The photo was taken in April 2011 in Albany, Western Australia about 4 hours drive South of Perth. It was a surprise visit to my sister. My dad had visited for a month before and it was arranged that we would all be together for my birthday before my dad would go back to South Africa the day after my birthday. The only person missing was mom who couldn't make it as she visited my sister the over x-mas, and I doubt her husband would have been very happy with the fact that she and my dad would be visiting my sister at the same time.

Time

It was probably just after 12 if I can remember correctly. You can see the shadows are very slightly skew.

Lighting

I think an overcast day with dark blue and grey clouds would have added more to the photo and the lines of the "frame" would have been enhanced to give a better idea of what I was trying to accomplish - natural picture frame with a twist.

Equipment

This was shot with a Canon EOS 500D, 70-300mm lens,focal length 70mm, 1/1600 sec at f / 18

Inspiration

The kids wanted us to go for a walk on the bicycle / hiking trail that go from Middleton beach towards the town of Albany. I suppose they wanted to go and show me their treasure or secret spot or something. I've always had a thing for ruins so while we were walking I saw this beautiful ruin. Well it also happens to be the spot where the kids wanted to go. I was super excited. The kids ran a good couple of meters ahead and then disappeared. When we got close enough to start taking pictures the kids were standing by the windows looking down. It was then that I saw that perfect shot. A natural photo frame of my two favourite nieces. The kids begged me to come see what it looks like from where they were standing so I climb up and looked around. A sail boat had been riding around and by the look of things were traveling in the direction of Middleton Beach or rather maybe Emu Point. I was walking back to where my dad was standing when two corners of the windows caught my eye and I saw that the boat will passing shortly. Got the camera out and started shooting, first without the boat and testing what would work best and then as the boat came past happily took a good couple of shots. Well the result is this. Something different... Mission accomplished. I was in my happy place.

Editing

I used Lightroom for the post-processing. I generally change the tone of exposure, recovery which I normally take all the way to the top, increase fill light and blacks, brightness, and contrast. Playing around with these to see what would work best. I normally take the clarity right up to the maximum, slightly enhance the vibrance, and slightly lower saturation.

In my camera bag

I always have at least one extra memory card in my bag. My laptop in case both memory cards are full, to download the photo's from my card reader, another handy item you'll always find in my bag. I always keep a fully charged battery in the bag, charger and 2 or 3 lens pens. The last thing in the bag that you will always find is a camera lens or sometimes two. the 70mm - 300mm lens, if not on the camera or the EF-S18-55mm f/3.5. Up to very recently I had my 120mm - 400mm in my bag too. The ex however decided that expensive gifts should be asked back and if not willingly given then threatening me with the police and cases of theft will be the route to go... I sulked more about the lens than the ex though

Feedback

Be aware of everything around you and use it to your advantage. Never only focus on one specific thing cause you might miss out on something beautiful. Keep an open mind. Try different angles or different things. You might have an idea of what could work but being aware of all the things around you might just make a normal shot, a great shot if you think about it for a moment, like a boat in the background for example instead of just water. Pictures won't come to you. You must work for what you want, if that perfect shot can only happen by lying flat on your back then that's what you should do. The sky is not the limit. Think outside the box and you will soon realise there is no limit

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jacquespieterse

jacquespieterse

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Behind The Lens

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