ViewBug community member GayleLucci shares the insights, tips and tricks behind his awarded image.
Location, Time and The Light
This photo was taken on Steptoe Butte, the Palouse farming area of eastern Washington state. It was taken just before sunset. During the wheat harvest, farmers share labor, equipment and other resources. There is a time-crunch when rain is predicted so they all pitch in to beat-the-clock by working into the late evening. It rained the following evening.
Lighting conditions in this direction were too bright, almost directly into the sun. It required using a 10 stop (Big Stopper) ND filter in order to get the dust trail and contrast of the rolling hills. I did get some lens flare so had to adjust the direction of the shot. Heavy dust in the air created a beautiful golden glow to the land below. ND filters allow you to take longer exposures in bright light that would be difficult to achieve even in post processing.
Equipment
Canon 1DX, 70-200mm lens, tripod, 10 stop ND filter, filter holder. Constant dust removal from the lens and filter.
Editing
10 stop ND filters tend to give a slight blue cast so it's necessary to add warm tones in post processing. Also accentuated the highlights in the dust trails. A few distracting bushes/trees were cloned out. Some cropping to balance the image. Most post processing is done in Camera Raw (Photoshop) or NIK.
Inspiration
The Palouse is what I call the "poor man's Tuscany" in that there are rolling hills with picturesque farms. The lighting drifts over the hills creating amazing undulation of light and shadows. I was especially inspired by the light hitting the dust trails left by the trucks and harvesters. Steptoe Butte is one of the only accessible hills on which to view the farmland below. I'm on my way there shortly to catch spring fields in lush greens.
In my camera bag
I use a backpack that my tripod rides on. The camera, 70-200mm lens, 16-35mm lens, a couple ND or polarizing filters , depending on what I am shooting, (long exposure, lighting situations etc.) Usually pack a small, powerful flashlight, lens brush, extra batteries and phone.
Check out GayleLucci's profile to see more inspiring shots.
