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Behind The Lens
Location
This was an old house/shed I could see from my kitchen window in Paroa, Nr Greymouth in New Zealand.Time
It was early evening in late autumn. We overlook the sea on the West Coast so sunsets can be a regular treat. The nature and colour does vary with the seasons with the early evening sunsets in autumn being a particular favourite.Lighting
Nature really did it all for me here. The sun just starting to go down was at the perfect height to illuminate the shed and produce enough light to make a strong reflection in the broken glass of the window.Equipment
A Canon EOS 7D with a Canon EF100-400 lens on a Gitzo tripod with a ball head.Inspiration
I had just recently decided to try DSLR photography and my husband had bought me a Canon 100-400 lens to allow me to get closer to wildlife which I had been playing around with on the back deck. I had experimented with focussing on the window of the shed to see how much detail could be captured. I had also noticed on some occasions that the sunset would be reflected in the windows of the properties behind us. The idea for the image took root in my mind, of course there were no sunsets for some time after that. Eventually though we did get a sunset and I quickly set up my gear and took the shot. The sun descends very quickly so there was little time to take multiple images. When I uploaded the image to Facebook the response from my friends was such that I was motivated and inspired to do more, and I embarked upon a photo a day for a year. This led to my passion and enthusiasm for photography. In short this is the image that kick started my journey and as such has a very special place in my heart.Editing
I had not even heard of Lightroom when I took this photo! I had an iMac so I uploaded it in Aperture and exported it as a JPEG, no processing. I am not sure I would be so restrained now, maybe the honesty of the image is part of it's charm.In my camera bag
When I took this I was using an EOS 7D, which I still have, though I prefer to use a full frame camera these days. I carry an EOS 5DSR and a EOS 6D as a backup. Spare batteries. EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM, EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM. Black glass filter. Cleaning cloths & fluid. An old face flannel for drying the camera should there be rain. Remote release. I also carry a Gitzo tripod with a ball head.Feedback
Patience. This is one of those occasions when the only part luck played was living on the West Coast with stunning sunsets. I saw the elements and had to have the patience to wait until they came together. If you are planning sunset shots remember the sun descends frighteningly fast, you need to have your equipment ready and camera settings dialled in. Look behind you - sometimes the best is not always in front of your face. Sadly this shed has since been burned down to clear the land, so take pictures today, it may not be there tomorrow!