Cinnamon Bay
Jul, 2014Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo during a summer vacation on U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. I took a day-long hike through the national park that covers much of the island of St. John. I followed the shoreline visiting a string of beautiful beaches and climbing through trails in the mountainous tropical forest. The Cinnamon Bay was my goal and the furthest point I reached, and I saw this striking view from a high point before descending to the shore.Time
That was about middle of a long and hot August day.Lighting
Bright tropical sunlight is exactly what I wanted. The ever-present scattered clouds add detail to the sky and their shadows to the hilly islands below.Equipment
I shot this on my first DSLR, Pentax K-x with kit lens. Bright sunlight, a still subject, and a medium angle needed to get the view make things as easy as it gets.Inspiration
It's has everything I would expect a shot of the Caribbean to have: a scattering of verdant islands, a perfect beach of bright sand, a blue sky above, and, of course, the sea, ranging from that unmistakable turquoise of clear water to dark blue where the rich coral reefs and underwater vegetation await exploration below.Editing
I only did basic corrections - brights and darks, contrast, saturation, white balance etc.In my camera bag
I have now upgraded from the K-x with which I took this shot to a K-3 II, and absolutely love the capabilities of it. In addition to the kit lens I have a telephoto, a macro, and a tilt-shift lens, as well as a flash and filters. I usually bring only the things I expect to need to keep the bag light.Feedback
Find a picturesque place with a lot of space to explore, bring plenty of water (and in some places bug spray), put on comfortable clothing and shoes, start early enough that you have a lot of time available. Going on foot will give the most chances to see different views, reach otherwise inaccessible places, and give you flexibility to get the right shot.
