Photo
Apr, 2014Views
732
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Awards
Lucky 3 Award
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Superior Skill
Jaw Dropping
All Star
Magnificent Capture
Exceptional Contrast
One Of A Kind
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken in the beach around Menard Castle, County Kerry, Ireland.Time
I took this photo last January 16, 2014 at 8:16 am, just before sunrise. The skies were overcast and it was a bit dark. There was not much wind and the tide was low.Lighting
Being mainly interested in landscape and outdoor photography, i prefer natural lighting whenever possible. In conditions were natural light is limited (as with this one, as it was still pre-sunrise on a winter morning), using a tripod for long exposure would maximize whatever light there is.Equipment
I used Canon 5D Mark 2 with Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 and a .9 ND Lee filter soft edge. My tripod was a Manfrotto 190XPROB. I also used a remote control.Inspiration
I thought the huge stones would provide an interesting foreground to the main subject which is the ruins of the castle. to emphasize, their shape and texture, the camera was angled low on the ground, leading the eye to the background and the up to the extreme background.Editing
I did some post-processing on it. I used masts on brightness/contrast, levels, curves, and color balance then sharpenning.In my camera bag
In my bag, i usually have the Canon 5D Mark 2 and Canon 60D bodies. I have the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 and the Canon 18-200mm f/4.5. On filters, I have the .9ND Lee filter and the Lee Stopper. I also have the remote control and the lens cleaner paraphernalia.Feedback
The most essential element is time of day: golden hour-shortly after sunrise or just before sunset. At this time of day the sun is at an angle such that the light is softer and more diffused, unlike at high noon when the sun is overhead and can be harsh and too bright. A tripod is also very useful especially if availability of natural light is limited. A remote control would also avoid unnecessary shakes especially outdoors.
