Sun Hiding Behind a Tree
Golden hour: Sun hiding behind a tree in the park.
Golden hour: Sun hiding behind a tree in the park.
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Jun, 2014Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo just before sunset, in a park, in my hometown, Bucharest. I enjoy shooting outdoors and the sunset (especially the golden hour) is my favorite moment of the day.Time
The time this photo was taken was April 21st 2014 at 6:55 pm. This was actually one of the first photos I took with my 50mm f/1.8D lens. I bought the lens about two weeks earlier, but that day was the first time I got to use it outdoors.Lighting
When I'm outdoors I always shoot using natural light only. This time, as I said, was just before sunset, when the sun light is golden, and I positioned myself behind the trunk of a tree, with the sun in the opposite side. That's how I got that golden glow in the upper right part of the picture, around the tree trunk.Equipment
The equipment I used was inexpensive: Nikon D3100 camera, with Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lens. No flash, no tripod.Inspiration
I find that the golden hour makes forests and parks look even more photogenic than they already are, so it's very easy for me to find inspiration when I'm shooting in a park or a forest at this time of the day.Editing
I only used a few basic adjustments in Lightroom, such as: exposure, shadows, highlights and noise reduction.In my camera bag
When I'm outdoors I usually carry a Nikon D7100 camera, two lenses (Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D and Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8), a CPL filter and a tripod. As you can see, my equipment is not very expensive.Feedback
Go out there - that's the first and most important step. Second, if it's not raining or the sky is not completely covered with clouds, look for a place from where you can see the sun through the branches of the trees, or through the tips of tall grass. Then wait until the sun light turns golden: the golden hour doesn't last for long, but during this time everything you'll see between you and the sun will have that golden color cast. It would probably be best not to have the sun directly in your lens when you shoot, and rather have it hidden behind a tree trunk or other objects, so that the viewer will only guess the position of the sun in your picture. On the other hand, if positioned correctly in your frame, the sun could also look great in the final image - with patience and practice, you'll learn what works and what doesn't.
