Back Alley Bicycle
Saw this while walking around Playa Del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico and it just caught my eye like a glint in the night. Everything just seems to fit so well!...
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Saw this while walking around Playa Del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico and it just caught my eye like a glint in the night. Everything just seems to fit so well!
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Jul, 2014Views
3401
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Bicycle Lovers Photo Contest
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Great Find
All Star
VIP Favorite
Superior Skill
Genius
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 2Top 10 rank week 1
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in a back alley in Quintana Roo, Mexico while vacationing there with some friends and it was the first time I had ever left my country. I remember it so clearly, as if it were all there waiting for my eyes to stumble across it. It was on our way to the beach and when I saw it, I couldn't help but to stop and take some shots. This is to this day, one of my favourite photos to ever grace my camera.Time
Well we were at the beach from around 1pm until 4pm or so, this would have been just before that. The time was lost somewhere between the amazing mojitos, decedent food, and breath taking memories...Lighting
This is completely natural lighting. Sometimes the universe gives us exactly what we need and sometimes we are lucky enough to capture it!Equipment
Back Alley Bicycle was shot on a Canon 7D, with a Tokina 11-16 mm wide angle lens. No tripod or flash or filters were used. All that I had with me was my camera and a boyish sense of wonder and adventure.Inspiration
I took this photo because to me everything just seemed to fit. The colors, composition, lighting, and emotion was all there. It reminded me of one of those photos you see hanging in an art gallery somewhere. All that I had to do was set my settings and press the shutter. It was like a gift wrapped and waiting for me, I just had to open it.Editing
This is actually an HDR shot (yes, without a tripod) and merged there exposures into one. Asides from some minor raw adjustments, merging the three exposures was the main part of it. Not much else was done to it.In my camera bag
I have a certain appreciation for wide angles, so the first thing you'll find in my bag is a Canon 16-35mm f2.8 and right after that is a Tokina 11-16 mm f2.8. I shoo almost everything with that lens. A lot of people will have their jaws drop if they ever hear I shoot portraits with this lens, but to me, photography is all about breaking the rules and pushing creative limits. After all, why do what everyone else is doing? It's such a waste of precious time... I do also carry a Canon nifty 50mm f1.2 because you have a lot of versatility with that lens. Sometimes I'll throw a 70-200 mm f2.8 for sports or weddings and what not, but mostly stick with wide angles. I also always have 2 or 3 canon 580 exii and a monopod so I can create Rembrandt lighting and other technical lighting anywhere I go. I definitely try to stay as light as possible given the shoot.Feedback
The best thing you can do to get a photo like Back Alley Bicycle is to get out there and explore the world! Doesn't matter if it's in your hometown, or another country, you won't find anything if you don't get out there and look for it. I can say that it will be tenfold harder to capture an amazing picture in another country if you can't capture one at home. You need to train your eye to look for something in particular, and without practice, you're probably going to be blind. Shoot anything and everything, and whatever you do, always try to progress. Never get too comfortable with shooting anything because that's when we start getting lazy. Never lose the wonderment. Never extinguish the passion. And always, always keep looking.
