sarahbrennan_8703

Crocodile

He looks like he is ready to start walking across The Playa.

He looks like he is ready to start walking across The Playa.
Read less

Canon EOS Rebel T7i

settings

Aperture f/13 ISO 100 Shutter 1/320 Focal Length 19/1

upload_date

Nov, 2019

Views

132

Likes

Awards

Zenith Award

Top Shot Award 22

Spring 21 Award

2020 Choice Award

Absolute Masterpiece

+10

Top Choice

Superb Composition

Outstanding Creativity

Peer Award

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken in Black Rock City, Burning Man 2019. One of the amazing things about Burning Man is you never know what you will encounter, and this was definitely true of this sculpture.

Time

There is always something interesting to see at Burning Man, but I always make a point of rising before the sun, heading out to The Playa to watch the sunrise. As the sun crests over the mountains, the day warms, and long shadows begin to emerge. I do not waste these mornings, and instead ride in whatever direction whim takes me. If I spy something interesting, I ride towards it. Not everything can be photographed early in the morning, and the stark light of the high desert can play tricks, but sometimes it is just the thing you need for a striking photograph. This was taken at 10:13 am on August 28 2019, after four hours of exploration and photography.

Lighting

I photograph things as I find them, and did nothing special with the lighting. Just my camera and the light on the Playa. I spent hours that morning out photographing, and stayed out so long because of the clouds. Those can be few and far between out on Playa and I love the different look and feel they brought to my photographs that day.

Equipment

I do not have a fancy camera or lens. I was using a Canon EOS Rebel T7i. The lens was an EFS 18-135mm.

Inspiration

Art in all forms abounds at Burning Man, and there is never enough time to see it all. I allow my self to be drawn in by a sculpture, and then see what might work. One of my camp-mates had mentioned the artist and the piece, and I stumbled across it unintentionally. The crocodile was covered in blue and green tiles in a mosaic. Even underneath a fine layer of dust the colors shone through. How could I not stop to admire the work? I made my way around the piece, knelt down, photographed tiles up close, stood up, stepped back, and tried different things. The view from the tail really caught my eye, and mostly hid the guy sitting in the mouth playing a didgeridoo. I wanted the piece, not the person.

Editing

I used Lightroom to reduce the saturation to make it black and white, and upped the contrast slightly by +28. Other than that, the photo is as I took it.

In my camera bag

I have no fancy equipment, and in my bag I don't carry much. The Canon T7i and my basic go-to 28-105mm lens is usually what I carry. I own two other lenses that I commonly use depending on what I am photographing, an 18-55mm and 18-135mm lens. That's it.

Feedback

As the daughter of a professional photographer I was handed a Canon black and white film camera (you know the kind-you could hit someone with and knock them out) around the age of 10. My father gave me some basics, and then let me go. I tried things, failed, and got better. After leaving phtography for decades, I came back to it with a digital camera and the same goal, try things, fail, and get better. I seek out situations where I will see something new. I have been lucky enought to be able to travel with, and without, my father to many places around the world. But even if you can't travel somewhere exotic, find the detail and the beauty in the things around you, sometimes that is even more difficult and worthy of effort. Try things, fail, and get better.

See more amazing photos, follow sarahbrennan_8703

sarahbrennan_8703

sarahbrennan_8703

Crocodile

He looks like he is ready to start walking across The Playa.

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow sarahbrennan_8703

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes. Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.