peternestler

Sea Ranger

Moody clouds helped create the mood for this shot just after sunset. Fishing boats are a staple in Alaska

Moody clouds helped create the mood for this shot just after sunset. Fishing boats are a staple in Alaska
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Dec, 2017

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Outstanding Creativity

+11

Magnificent Capture

+10

All Star

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Behind The Lens

Location

I took this picture in Auke Bay, Alaska. The marina there is a great spot for boat watching since we have everything from small fish/crab boats all the way up to the super yachts that come to Alaska for a few weeks in the summers.

Time

This image was taken just after sunset during the blue hour. This is probably my favorite time to shoot when there are any lights in the shot. Finding the sweet spot between daylight and artificial light is a matter of minutes.

Lighting

There is a short window of time where artificial lights are perfectly balanced with natural light during blue hour. There are ways around this using time blending techniques in photoshop. This image was a single frame that captured that time balance where I like it. The goal is to not blow out your highlights, but have good detail in the natural light areas.

Equipment

I take pretty much every picture on a tripod, especially with the slightly longer shutter times used during this time of day. I've got 2 gitzo tripods, a lightweight one for travel and a stouter one for when I don't have to walk as far. I'm pretty sure I shot this one on my canon 5dsr with a 16-35 f/4L lens. The wider angles are great for the look I was going for with this shot. I carry all my gear in a dedicated photo backpack so I have filters, wipes, lenses, etc available as needed since I'm not always sure what I will need when heading out. At the time I had a think-tank airport bag, but recently switched to a f-stop hiking pack since it has a frame which is more comfortable for longer hikes.

Inspiration

The sunset was lacking color so I wanted to use the lights from the boats to bring some color pop against the monotone sky. Winters in Alaska can be very drab for long periods and often the boats in the harbor will be the sole source of color (especially since daylight hours can be 6 hours or less). That led me to want to capture the feel of the harbor. Sea Ranger is a good sized boat and happened to be docked in the perfect spot.

Editing

This image didn't require a lot of processing. Pulling up the shadows was necessary since I shot it a bit on the dark side to make sure I didn't blow the highlights. I always use a mid-tones curve to create some contrast in the mid-range without hurting the bright and dark parts of the image.

In my camera bag

Camera (very important), wide angle lens (just switched to a 15-35), 50mm lens, 100mm lens. Lens wipes, graduated ND filters (3-stop hard and soft). 3, 6 & 10 stop ND filters. Shutter release cable.

Feedback

Marinas and harbors are great places to capture blue hour (and sunset) shots. The variety of boats can give you a big range of potential options. You just have to find out about local rules for accessing harbors. Mooring ropes can be helpful as leading lines. Other times you may want to clone them out. Try shooting boats as they're coming in or going out. The smell of fish and crab can be intoxicating...or nauseating. Either way, you ought to have a lot of fun!

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peternestler

peternestler

Sea Ranger

Moody clouds helped create the mood for this shot just after sunset. Fishing boats are a staple in Alaska

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow peternestler

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