Float in Surf
Sunset st Northsee coast
Sunset st Northsee coast
Read less
Read less
Aug, 2013Views
435
Likes
Awards
Action Award
Top Shot Award 21
Legendary Award
Lucky 3 Award
Staff Winter Selection 2015
Top Ranks
Top 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rank
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 2Top 10 rank week 1
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
The photo was taken at the North See beach, close to St. Maartenszee. A small village in the north-west of The Netherlands about 60 kilometers to the north from Amsterdam.Time
I really love to take pictures in that challenge me and my gear, but most of the time I do not go out of my way to get up early, or late, to take advantage of the Golden Hour. But on this occasion I happened to be in the right place at the right time. This picture was taken on a nice summers evening at a quarter past nine in the evening.Lighting
It was at the end of a really Dutch summers day, dreary and overcast. The summer sun was setting and the overcast and restless sky started to open up, creating beautiful colors and contrast in the clouds.Equipment
I used my trusty Nikon D300 with a 16-85 f/3.5-5.6 VR hanging upside down, just over the water, on the inverted column of the tripod which was standing in the surf. VR was turned off.Inspiration
After a nice dinner at the beach restaurant with friends, I noticed how the sky had transformed from the bland uniform white to a beautiful and dynamic scene. I collected my gear (I always try to carry my camera when I go out) and went to the beach for a walk. I wasn't the only person enjoying the sea breeze this evening, so I decided to experiment with long exposures and movement. Several pictures with people did not work well, there was still too much light available to create nice movement. But the only way you grow in your craft is by trying new things and working out how to make them work. I Then noticed this float, just relaxing in the surf after a long day of drifting in the sea. The waves were rolling on the beach creating a dynamic and interesting backdrop for this bright yellow float. I experimented with several techniques, lines, movement, zoom-pull and so on. The waves weren't very high this close to the beach, I had to find a solution to turn these tiny ripples into an amazing surf. I selected to use a wide angle lens really close to the subject, and I placed the camera just above the water, by hanging it between the legs of the tripod. This extremely low position and large field of view gave me the drama I wanted for this picture.Editing
I manage and process all my pictures using Lightroom. I try to adjust the captured photo in post processing to recreate the image I photographed. I try to stay as close to the original as possible. For this image I had to straighten the horizon and I cropped it to align the lines in the clouds with the corners of the frame for dramatic effect. Furthermore I applied some minor highlight and shadow touch-ups to further improve drama and contrast.In my camera bag
Most of the time I will try to decide for each trip what gear to take. I prefer to prepare for every opportunity that might occur. So what do I carry in my bag on an average shoot. I will carry a Nikon D300 with attached Nikon vertical grip (MB-D10 with EN-EL4a battery). This grip and battery make all the difference, I sometimes can go on for a whole day without recharging. Furthermore I bring a Tamron 24-70/2.8 VR; the Tokina 11-16/2.8 (first edition) and the Nikon AF-S 70-300/4.5-5.6G VR and either the Nikon SB900 or the SB600 flash. And of course plenty of cards and batteries. All of this I stuff in my Click Elite Probody Sport. And to the outside of the bag I often strap the Three Legged Thing Eric carbon tripod.Feedback
I have discovered that the best skies for photography in the Netherlands can appear after a rainy and stormy day. When the weather clears up the clouds will keep their dramatic appearance and the sea will still be active enough to get good waves and movement. Try to find interesting objects to put in the front, this will draw the eye of the viewer in to your image. And don’t be scared to try extreme positions to capture a different view.
