alexavarano

Sphynx

EX-Z1000

Aperture f/5.6 Shutter 1/640

upload_date

Apr, 2013

Views

127

Likes

Awards

Zenith Award

Editor's Choice

Well Done

Peer Award

Jaw Dropping

Exceptional Contrast

Superb Composition

Top Ranks

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken during a Humanitarian Conference in Egypt with an organization called People to People International. I decided to take the photo from this angle as it naturally enhanced the lighting and in a sense brought the Sphynx to life.

Time

This shot was taken in mid day heat in Egypt. Luckily we had some clouds to break the dry heat. The conference took place in July during the summer of 2008. I wish I could remember the exact date, but the journey blended itself together as one powerful, magnificent experience.

Lighting

The way the light hit the Sphynx naturally made for a perfect capture. I didn't use any special tools and honestly, I normally let the natural light speak for itself. In this photo you can see the shadows encroaching upon its face. There is something profound and also mysterious that is embedded within the structure itself. I simply just went with what nature offered.

Equipment

I used a Nikon D5000 to take this picture. No special lighting or equipment was involved. I used a standard 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G lens.

Inspiration

We spent the entire day exploring both the Sphynx and the Pyramids of Egypt. I vividly recall the energy of the day. It is almost as if the entire area vibrates at a higher frequency. Knowing the history and the mystery that surrounds the Sphynx, I was inspired by the endless arena of possibility. It felt alive. I wanted to capture the mystery of life that has existed for thousands of years. I wanted to invoke that feeling of curiosity and wonderment around the mystery that brought the Sphynx to life.

Editing

As mentioned earlier, my style of photography is to really let the natural world speak for itself. With that in mind, I didn't use any post-processing for this photo.

In my camera bag

Really simple. I have a small camera bag. I carry with me my Nikon D5000 and my standard 18-55mm lens. Occasionally I also bring my zoom lens, but on this trip I packed lightly. After all, it was a humanitarian conference more so than it was a chance for beautiful photography. However, I always pack with me extra memory cards because I know I'm obsessive about taking photos regardless!

Feedback

If you need to contort your body into weird places to get the perfect shot, don't be shy. For photos like this I often find myself on the ground or in strange positions. I find that in my own personal work, it's often about angles and how well those angles work with lighting. I didn't have the time to be patient and wait for the perfect shot, so instead my tactic is to relentlessly search for the perfect angle that fits best with all of the other considerations in that moment. I often think about where all of the tourists are and how to avoid them. I think about the sky and the light that is offered. I think about the structure and the way the light hits it. I move around a lot and take a lot of pictures. Sometimes I'm surprised by the photos that turn out the best, but rarely is it head on.

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alexavarano

alexavarano

Sphynx

Behind The Lens

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