LoneStarGalaxyPhoto
FollowPart of an ongoing series entitled The Traveling Suitcase. Taken atop a scenic lookout over the small town of Manarola, located in Cinque Terre, Italy...
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Part of an ongoing series entitled The Traveling Suitcase. Taken atop a scenic lookout over the small town of Manarola, located in Cinque Terre, Italy
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Awards
Top Shot Award 22
Contest Finalist in Creators Exhibition Project
Contest Finalist in The Colors Of Summer Photo Contest
Legendary Award
Runner Up in Wish I Was There Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Blurry Backgrounds Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Photogenic Villages Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Rule of Thirds Photo Contest vol6
Contest Finalist in Anything Vintage Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Backpacks and Bags Photo Contest
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
All Star
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Genius
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PeteSavagePhotos
July 12, 2020
Gotta love Cinque Terre. You have captured the essence of this beautiful part of the world. Hope to get back there again soon one day!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken from a scenic viewpoint overlooking the small village of Manarola, located in Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre (meaning "Five Earths" or Five Lands") is a rugged portion of coastline, along the Italian Riviera, consisting of 5 villages. In each of the towns, colorful houses and vineyards cling to the steep terraces and cliffs leading down into the sea.Time
This image was taken late morning/early afternoon. The Sun was pretty high in the sky, but there were scattered clouds that helped prevent any harsh lighting. The clouds had nice definition that added some more depth and texture to the background. The scenic overlook had a constant flow of visitors and tourists around this time, so finding a spot to photograph without being in someone's way (or someone in mine) proved difficult. I finally managed to find this spot that was just an arms reach past the guard rail and the perfect size for my carry-on.Lighting
I know a great many photographers hate midday lighting and will avoid it in favor of early morning/evening sunlight. I don't tend to mind it because when I practice photography I maintain the mindset of "working with what I've got". For this photo, I wanted to portray a bright sunny summer's day and I couldn't have asked for better lighting, or weather for that matter. The town was perfectly illuminated and I had enough light to work with on the ledge I was shooting from, so for me, the lighting was ideal.Equipment
At this time I was shooting the Canon Rebel SL1. Its compact size works well for me when traveling and hiking. For this ongoing project, I have been using my standard 18-55mm lens with the lowest f-stop that the focal length will allow. I want to create a shallow depth-of-field, that way the suitcase is in focus with the background slightly out-of-focus, but still recognizable. Since I tend to shoot from a lot of different angles for this project, to discover the best possible view, I do not use a tripod.Inspiration
I love traveling more than anything, so I applied that love for travel and exploration and came up with the idea to photograph an inanimate object in different locations as if it were traveling on its own. That object quickly took shape in the form of this vintage style suitcase and quickly became a "stand-in" for not only myself but the viewer as well. I have so much fun discovering places to photograph the Traveling Suitcase that I decided this wasn't just going to be a one-time concept, but an ongoing project that I could continue when/wherever I travel to. In a way, the Traveling Suitcase has become a physical embodiment of inspiration and motivation for me to continue pursuing what I love.Editing
For this image, I definitely wanted to bring out the colors in the village, so I bumped up the vibrancy in the background. I also brought up the shadows on the front of the suitcase as the Sun was coming from the side over top, not directly lighting the surface. For this project I also add "film grain" and a touch of warmth to create a more vintage aesthetic to coincide with the vintage-style suitcase.In my camera bag
My Canon Rebel SL1 came packaged with an 18-55mm and a 75-300mm lens. I have since added both a 50mm prime and 10-18mm wide angle (this has become my favorite). Each lens is fitted with a KUVRD universal lens cap, I grew frustrated with having to keep track of different size lens caps when switching lenses. I also have a viewfinder that I use to review my images when onsite in bright outdoor lighting, such as this image. And of course, extra batteries and SD cards are a must!Feedback
I will give the same advice that my professor gave me; "Photograph what you Love". Find your passion and pursue that. I think we have all experienced having to read, write, produce some piece of work that we had little to no interest in. In those instances, it is hard to put your best foot forward because your heart is not into it. I can't tell you how many novels I was assigned in school that I never ended up finishing. But when I have something I love reading/writing/doing I will pour my heart and soul into it. That is what photography, and this project especially, is for me. I will continue to progress my skills and explore new places as I continue to travel. I hope that anyone reading this finds what they love to photograph and will continue to create beautiful works of art with all their heart.