richardalliers
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richardalliers
December 12, 2018
Hello Everyone! Thank you for the likes and admiration, I really appreciate it. This photo was taken with a magnifying glass I has lying around the house. I wanted a different look and perspective on my photography style and so came up with this idea. It was very difficult to get this shot as I had to hold the camera (with a 55mm lens attached) to my shoulders and extend my arm out as far as I could with the magnifying glass which strained my arm within a few tries. Anyway, Thank you all for voting and looking at the world different through my eyes. I appreciate all of you. Thank you again.
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in New York city under the Williamsburg Bridge that connects the Manhattan City to the borough of Brooklyn.Time
It was around 2:30pm on a mildly hot day in the summer. There was a small park nearby and a lot of runners and joggers around so everyone was out and about enjoying their day. Of course everyone had bottles of water or energy drinks to keep them hydrated whereas I just had my bag filled with gear.Lighting
I wanted to position myself that wont overexpose my image from the glaring sun while at the same time not overshadowing it in the dark shadows of a building or wall so I decided to place myself underneath the bridge where the lighting was just right. Right enough for me to look at the view in real time and in my viewfinder. It also saved me from sweating a lot and putting that on my camera and gear.Equipment
I used the Sony 55mm at the time since thats all I had. Looking back at it now, I think I would have chosen to use my Sony 28mm lens as it covers a lot of ground and gives me some space to deal with as I come up with ideas on how I want my composition to be.Inspiration
I was looking through instagram for inspiration and came across a page that featured a lot of crystal balls, glass, mirrors, water drops, and other reflective material and got inspired to try something new for a change based on that art page. I started to dig through my room to find anything of the sort and came across an old magnifying glass I used when I was a toddler. Naturally, I had to clean it before using it to. So I packed it into my bag with the idea of using it, somehow.Editing
I used Lightroom to edit this photo. I did not overuse the tools provided by the program, meaning I only enhanced what was already there like the water and shadows to make the picture pop a bit more. I changed some of the building's colors in the background as I felt that they were a bit distracting and substituted it for a more warmer color. I also used the clarity tool a bit to make the image within the magnifying glass pop so when someone looks at this photo there eyes instantly gravitate towards the center.In my camera bag
I usually only carry a few small things. They are my Sony a7ii camera, 1 lens (Sony 55mm), a cleaning cloth, a duster, lens solution and a few extra charged batteries just in case.Feedback
I would recommend looking at many different photos of art and to get out of your comfort zone. I see too many people keep their art to something specific and never grow or try new things. This will only hinder your ability to grow as a photographer and honestly, it makes you lose interest in the art you once used to love doing. I also recommend using youtube as a guide to help you learn the techniques and tools on how to take the image you are trying to capture. It will save time and money and it will reignite your passion for what you are trying to accomplish. That's how this image came to life.