Capitol At Dusk
Jan, 2013Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in Charleston, West Virginia. I went out with my daughter and my new phone and decided to start here at the capitol complex.Time
I had my daughter this weekend and we were playing around with some camera apps on a couple old androids. We decided to go out and test the new apps and the only place I could think of to go was the capitol. It was just before the sun went down when we arrived around 5:30 pm. We stayed until after dark taking pictures and playing with settings and local lighting.Lighting
It was fairly late in the evening and the sun was almost gone behind the mountains. The sun was setting behind the building where I was standing, and I had the capitols large accent lights acting like fill lighting. I took more pictures a few minutes later but they were a lot darker, so this was one of those perfect timing moments.Equipment
I believe at the time I was using a droid x2, which has a 8 mp camera. I had been playing with the camera fv-5 app, which emulates the controls of a DSLR camera. I had my phone, a tripod, and an adapter to put my phone on the tripod. We spent about a hour here walking around taking different angles and exposure lengths. I have always been pretty happy with the performance of my phone cameras, but that didn't stop me from eventually getting a dslr.Inspiration
I didn't have too much inspiration at the time, I was just walking around looking at what would work for a good picture. I always try to think of books, or post cards when I'm out aimlessly. I look up and think, would someone mail this to a friend, and this picture felt like a postcard. The sun was setting behind the building where I was standing, and with the accent lighting it just felt right.Editing
I do very little post processor to my pictures. On this one I believe I adjusted exposure, contrast, and whites and shadows. Since I was using a cellphone I didn't have great control over these things at the time I took the picture. I dialed in the exposure fairly well in the field, but it still ended up a little dark and undefined. So, playing with contrast and the shadows sliders on the computer clear that up.In my camera bag
A lot has actually changed since I took this picture. This was taken with an old android smartphone, and at the time I carried a tripod, lens attachment, microfiber clothe, and a battery pack. It was all I needed at the time. I have recently upgrade to a Nikon d3300 so my gear has changed somewhat. Now I carry a microfiber, a cleaning kit, battery charger, a couple filters, and two lens attachments for wide angle, macro, and a telephoto. I currently only have a kit lens, 18-55 mm, but plan to get another soon or later.Feedback
I'm a bit new to photography and shoot as an amateur. The only advice I could really give is know your camera and shoot any and everything you like. After you photograph a couple styles change it up and do a different style. I rarely go out with my camera and say something like, " Today I'm gonna do landscape". I go out and drive someplace I haven't been in awhile or at all and look around and think, "Would I hang this?" or "Is this a good postcard?" . If the answer is yes, I take the picture, I get different angles and come back for different lighting if outside. Random variety is a fun way to get good shots, find new places and things, and maybe even meet new people. Don't limit yourself because that limits your work as well.
