SC-Photography

The Yellow Planes

taken at Yellowstone National Park

taken at Yellowstone National Park
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Canon EOS R5

settings

Aperture f/7.1 ISO 100 Shutter 1/1250 Focal Length 24/1

location

Wyoming, US

upload_date

Nov, 2020

Views

1036

Likes

+62

Awards

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Leica Camera

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+159

Absolute Masterpiece

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Superb Composition

Magnificent Capture

Superior Skill

Genius

Virtuoso

Emotions

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken at Yellowstone national park in October of this year (2020). Yellowstone is the world's largest existing supervolcano. Historically it has erupted once every 700 thousand years. It was surely an awe-inspiring experience. What a perfect place to be so close to nature but still far from social contact.

Time

I usually prefer sunrise shots but It was not possible for me to take the shot at that time, so sunset had to suffice. We all strive for those perfect light moments but things don't always work out as planned. Missing that perfect light, should not deter you from taking the shot.

Lighting

Light is extremely important for sculpting that perfect pic. If the landscape shot is the main core of the picture the similitude of light is like a flavored topping. A different light to the same landscape structure gives it a different flavor. For example, I saw our "yellow plane" landscape on a different occasion lit up by full moonlight. It was a magical scene straight out of a fairy book. Just imagine a full moon rising over the majestic mountains, illuminating the planes, with this mesmerizing pale glimmer and dancing reflections over the water. It was the same landscape as in our picture, but it was a completely different experience due to a different light source, different shadows, patterns, and reflections. It saddens me that I can only paint a verbal image rather than showing you. Regretfully I was unable to capture that shot due to time constraints. My point is that a landscape is bland without the perfect light and you need to have a fair understanding of light to make your pics come to life. The easiest way to take great pics is just to take pictures at the morning or evening golden hours.

Equipment

Currently, I use a Canon EOS R5 with an RF 24–105mm F4 L IS USM Lens and an RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Lens. I own a Canon Extender RF 2x which I use on certain occasions. Previously I was using a Canon EOS 60D with a few EF lenses which I still use sometimes. I own a few wireless flashes for indoor shoots however I prefer natural light for shoots. I own a few tripods but I mostly do not use a tripod nowadays. The advent of newer technology has helped improve camera ISO quality, which means that I can crank up my ISO and bump up the shutter speed at low light conditions and still come out with well-lit, sharp crisp high-quality images. IBS is a game-changer as it helps eliminate blurriness related to minor hand snakes at slower shutter speeds and hence my requirement for a tripod is limited for specific occasions requiring much longer shutter speeds and B-mode shooting such as creative astrophotography and blurring out moving objects. When I do need a tripod, I use the carbon fiber Peak Design Travel Tripod which is extremely compact and light. I various occasions I use polarizing filters to smooth out water and clouds with a slower shutter speed, especially during a daytime shoot. Overall, I have changed many cameras and I do not intend to promote any specific brand or camera. All cameras are slowly evolving and getting better over time.

Inspiration

This was just a phenomenal view. I had come across this area a few times while driving past. It had such a calming effect on me despite the fact that I had only encountered a short glimpse of it during the harsh daylight. I just kept thinking about how it would look like at sunrise or sunset. Simply put I just couldn't get this out of my mind. I planned the trips so that I would pass this point again around sunset. I got lucky with the whole cloud setup at sunset time. I guess the stop was well worth it ????

Editing

The photos on my profile range from heavily edited to lightly edited based on how lucky I was while shooting the photography. If the photography was taken under great conditions then my editing work is minimum. I am usually chasing a creative vision based on the scenery I see. I use camera raw / photoshop to help me achieve my vision. I color correct images in camera raw followed by cropping and processing in photoshop. I do not hesitate to clone stamp out any people or items from a shot who hinder my desired outcome. My process for the "Yellow Planes" image comprised of taking 5 side by side handheld images, which I later combined in photoshop to create a panorama. (I shoot while rotating around the hip only without changing my position to keep the images as stable as possible). Each photo is a 3-stop bracketed raw image which helps me retain the best quality and light versatility in post. I create larger pictures than needed as it gives me a better perspective of the landscape and because it helps me create better compositions by cropping in later.

In my camera bag

I like to travel light and only carry my Canon EOS R5 with my RF 24–105mm F4 L IS USM Lens, with a few batteries and memory cards usually. However, for a wildlife shoot, I would take my RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Lens + Canon Extender RF 2x. The Tripod of my choice would be my Peak Design Travel Tripod. I nearly always carry a polarizing filter. I bundle all this equipment in my Pgytech OneMo Waterproof Camera Backpack.

Feedback

Each Photo should start off as an idea in your mind. You need to imagine the scene from different angles and in different light conditions. Good planning beforehand will ensure a set of great shots. It's all about pre-planning. Even after significant planning sometimes the weather conditions may not be ideal. The sky may be totally bland. That's where post-processing comes into play. Imagine yourself as a digital artist rather than just someone snapping a random quick picture. Bonus Tip: Don't let the lack of any equipment deter you from taking pictures. Great pictures can be taken even with a cellphone camera. Take pics and take loads of them. Keep experimenting with new ideas and remain creative. You need to enjoy the process and never stop learning. Over time, before you even realize it, the mediocre picture will morph into great pictures and great pictures will blossom into a work of sheer genius.

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SC-Photography

The Yellow Planes

taken at Yellowstone National Park

Behind The Lens

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