RichardAlford
FollowThis ferris wheel occupied the same footprint year-after-year (until 2015) - a golden photo opportunity, especially during sunset and beyond! - 10.20.2014...
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This ferris wheel occupied the same footprint year-after-year (until 2015) - a golden photo opportunity, especially during sunset and beyond! - 10.20.2014
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this shot at the North Carolina State Fair. I often experiment with abstract studies - various rides provide a constantly shifting kaleidoscope of opportunities to capture motion on a grand, kinetic scale.Time
This was taken as dusk fell - a few moments past sunset (10.20.2014).Lighting
Existing light from the sky and the rides themselves provide more than enough illumination in these scenarios.Equipment
Sony Alpha a55; Sony 18-55mm lens; tripod (always); no flash. I made this capture without the aid of a remote control - which I wouldn't attempt again.Inspiration
What can I say? It was a "magic moment", and by no means the only shot I took here. I normally experiment with different f/stops and ISO settings, all while varying my shutter speeds. It can be very "touch and go", as a few minutes is all the time I have. In my mind, the sky and lights and colors came together perfectly!Editing
Not much post-processing needed here, but a slight crop and a very small amount of clean-up! And possibly an exposure tweak ...In my camera bag
I now shoot with Nikon, so I always carry my trusty D750 and whatever lens I decide to use. While I rarely change a lens in the field, I normally bring two with me. I will rent lenses locally if I deem it desirable for a particular project. Spare batteries and high transfer memory cards too!Feedback
Something I love about a fair/carnival setting is the fact that most run for several days (or at least a weekend). If my shots aren't falling for some reason on one evening, I generally have other days set aside to experiment. I prefer clouds for a dusk shoot like this one - the variety of colors, forms and shapes add a strong element of interest, versus a "blank" sky. Unless I'm roaming, I have always selected a spot in advance. Composition is very important to me; so I'm always looking for juxtapositions of light and shadow, colors, structure, shapes, angles, contrasts, et al. I often use "Live View" to check my settings before I take a series of shots. I always use my remote control in these situations.