charlenemaggert

Steel Bridge

Hancock County, Ohio

Hancock County, Ohio
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X550

Aperture f/3.0 ISO 80 Shutter 10/4800

upload_date

Aug, 2014

Views

163

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken in a park right outside of my hometown of Findlay, Ohio. I loved the contrast of the hard angles and material of the bridge with the soft background of the trees.

Time

We came out here on a whim. Nothing much to do and a beautiful late summer weekend. What a treat! So I packed up the camera and we went to the park. I found myself strolling along, soaking up the sun when I went down a trail I don't normally go. The bridge captivated me, and the sun was high in the sky, throwing it all into sharp relief. The time on the clock? Possibly 2 pm or 3 pm. For this picture tho, it was perfect.

Lighting

I love natural lighting. I think it gives a kind of realism that is lost sometimes with artificial light, and most of my photographs are taken with natural light. The sun was almost directly overhead and so shadows were at a minimum, which I think really highlighted the angles and contrasts.

Equipment

For this photo I used my GE X550 for this shot. I was lucky enough to get an angle where I could use my arm and knee for a tripod. No flash was needed and I used no other gear.

Inspiration

There were quite a few shots that I took in this series of the bridge. I love the imagery of this steel structure in the middle of the trees and water. All of those man-made materials working in harmony with nature really speaks to something in me. This point of view, focusing on the rivet, is another thing I find myself drawn to: highlighting the little insignificant items that are so integral to the whole.

Editing

No, actually. I thought it turned out beautifully just as it was. The black and white was done through the camera, not through post-processing.

In my camera bag

I'm still new to photography, and so my bag is fairly basic. I always have my GE X550 (no, not super fancy, but I just love it!), a hand-me-down tripod with multiple angle and height adjustments, a table top tripod, extra SD cards and a bandanna! Very stripped down, but it works for me for now. I do a lot of hiking to get shots and don't like being weighed down by lots of gear.

Feedback

Shots like this are everywhere, that's the beauty of it! The little details and contrasts exist all around us and we are the lucky ones who get to reveal it! Keep your eyes open for those everyday items that we overlook: a dandelion growing out of asphalt, the pattern of rust on a car or tool, architectural oddities in old buildings. All of these can be amazing shots! On a more technical side, I think these types of photographs look best when taken from an angle. Black and white always helps the eye notice the details and not be overwhelmed by the colors.

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charlenemaggert

charlenemaggert

Steel Bridge

Hancock County, Ohio

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow charlenemaggert

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