bryanlwilliams
FollowA small boat in the morning sun, floating on water like a sheet of glass.
A small boat in the morning sun, floating on water like a sheet of glass.
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6249
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Awards
Action Award
Chatter Award
Legendary Award
Contest Finalist in The Shades Of Blue Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Perfect Reflections Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in The Minimalist Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Water Photo Contest 2017
Contest Finalist in Isolating The Subject Photo Contest
Member Selection Award
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Genius
Superior Skill
Virtuoso
Top Ranks
Categories
CarpeDeeM
April 11, 2017
What a shot! To capture such vivid colours yet simultaneously contain the mood to one of serenity is masterful. Congratulations on your finalist placing and best of luck in the judging.
lindathomasBAhons
April 16, 2017
Sometimes a photo just stands out and you have to stop in wonderment - this was my moment with your photograph
Lobsterandskittles
June 07, 2017
I love this so much!!! Probably one of my favorite photos I've ever seen
acglock
July 09, 2017
Love the Behind the Lens background for this magnificent image. Hope the rest of your day was just as beautiful!
bryanlwilliams
July 09, 2017
Thank you! The rest of my day was good, but I must admit that this was most definitely the highlight of the day.1
MaryAnne306
August 05, 2019
A lovely simplicity, beautifully done. Congratulations on being a finalist!
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at a small lake in North Central Florida, within walking distance from my office.Time
It was in the morning in early June, just as the sun was peeking over the horizon. There was absolutely no wind and the sky was a gorgeous clear blue. Just a few minutes later, the sunlight was becoming harsh and the magic was gone.Lighting
The sun was just above the horizon, casting a beautiful golden glow. It truly was the "golden hour".Equipment
This shot was taken with a Canon 5D Mark III, and a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 lens. Handheld, no tripod. I was travelling light.Inspiration
I like to take a walk by the lake before I head into the office, to get the day off to a positive start. I find that it calms my mind, body, and spirit and truly makes a difference in my day. On this particular morning, the sky was blue, the water like glass, and the sunlight golden. I was totally at peace in that moment and this picture completely captures that mood.Editing
I post-processed the photo in Lightroom CC. The image was cropped slightly to improve the composition. I added contrast, dropped the highlights and raised the shadows just a bit. I bumped up the vibrance and added a little clarity (but not too much). I finished by running a sharpening brush over the boat to separate it a bit more from the background.In my camera bag
I always carry my trusty Canon 5D III and two or three lenses, depending on what I'm shooting. I primarily shoot landscape and until very recently always packed a Canon 24-105 f4L. It's a good all-around lens. I now have a Canon 16-35 f2.8L, which works much better for landscapes and night photography as well. I also never leave home without my Sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX DG OS telephoto zoom, the lens I used for this shot. I love the contrasty look and the bokeh of the Sigma. I like to do long exposure and HDR, so I carry my MeFoto Roadtrip tripod. It's a very light, portable, yet sturdy tripod. Add 10 stop ND filters and a remote shutter release for the long exposures. I also have a TriggerTrap Mobile that allows me to control the shutter with my phone or iPad. It's great for HDR, long exposure and timelapse.Feedback
I have taken several photos of this same boat over the years. Most of them were good, but just didn't have that "special something" that really grabs your attention. I was either there at the wrong time of day or simply too impatient to wait for better light.If you take a shot and it looks bland or boring or the light isn't quite right, do yourself a favor and don't give up on the shot. Wait for a while and watch the light. It WILL change. If you don't have time, go back and try again on another day. You can get some fantastic shots during "golden hour", but remember the light can change quickly. It might be called the golden "hour", but many times, that "awesome" light (you know, where you can practically hear the angels sing) only lasts minutes or even seconds. Arrive early, plan your shot and wait for the light. The one thing I'm still learning is that patience and persistence pay off. Don't just snap a shot and move on.