gregscott-131015_0225_copy_1
Dec, 2014Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photograph was taken in the Hiawatha National Forest near Munising in Michigan"s Upper Peninsula. It was shot on Cookson Lake which is one of my favorite lakes in this area.Time
Having scouted this lake the previous day, and then waking up to very good weather conditions, I arrived at this location approximately 5:30 to 6:00 am. I will normally arrive to a location early, get my bag and tripod out, and then wait. I like to arrive early so that I can watch the light develop. This photo was taken at 7:04 am on October 8th.Lighting
It was a cold, crystal clear,calm morning. Fog was rising up off the surface of the water.In early October, the sun rises due east,(to my right).These trees are on the North shore of Cookson Lake. Directly to my right is the east shore which extends out to a point, creating a narrow gap, and then opens up to the east bay. The light is the very first golden rays of sunrise. When it came over the horizon, it skimmed across the north shore, lighting up the trees on the shoreline, while also creating deep shadows. At the same time, the water was still in the shade, so it was being illuminated by the blue sky.Equipment
I was using a Nikon D5100, with a Nikon 75-300 zoom,(focal length 135mm). It was secured on a Gitzo tripod with a Foba ball head. Except for a cable remote, no other equipment was used.Inspiration
As I watched the light develop, and seeing it start to hit the trees, I was witnessing a truly beautiful scene in front of me. This is actually a small bay on the north shore. The way this little "pocket" was catching the light, the slight movement on the water creating beautiful reflections, along with the little bit of fog on the surface of the water, this was truly the kind of beauty that inspires us to get up so early on a cold October morning.Editing
There was some noise on the shaded water, and in the shadows. The water was easy to clean up, as the reflections were slightly blurry. The shadows in the trees took more work. I needed to adjust the white balance between the sun lit shoreline, and the shaded water. I also did some sharpening.In my camera bag
I have upgraded to a Nikon D7100 for my main body. My most used lens is a Nikon 75-300 zoom. I also carry an 18-55 zoom, and a 24-50 zoom. This covers most all situations for me. I do keep a Tokina 300 2.8 that I like to use when it is feasible. I carry circular polarizers. That really is the only filters I use any more. I also carry a Nikon 1.4 teleconverter, extension tubes, and also a Nikon 500D close up lens. I can do a lot of macro work with these combinations. I always use mirror lock up and a cable remote, so I carry a cable remote, and a spare. Along with reflectors, and other assorted equipment, it is a heavy bag. But, no pain no gain as they say!Feedback
While this photograph was taken at sunrise, I had scouted this lake out a couple of days earlier. I do most of my shooting early and late in the day, and the rest of the time I am scouting. I always carry a compass, so I can anticipate where the sun will rise and set. And also how it will fall across the landscape. My best advice would be to get to know an area that you like. Get very familiar with it, and put in the time to get an idea of how the light falls on the land. Anticipate the best weather conditions for a given location, and pay close attention to forecasts and conditions.And to anticipate your compositions. Scout and plan! Some great photographs happen by accident, but many do not. As in the case with this shot, I know this area well. I know which lakes peak for color early, and which ones are later. I know which lakes will have the best fog on a cold autumn morning. And which lakes get the best early light, or even which shoreline. It is the reason I continue to go back to this area. Happy shooting!
