Patterned Ice - Female
Jan, 2015Views
3679
Likes
Awards
Action Award
Legendary Award
Contest Finalist in Ice And Snow Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Semitransparent Photo Contest
Runner Up in Composing with Textures Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Composing with Textures Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Twisted Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Translucent Photo Contest
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
All Star
Genius
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 1
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 1
Top 30 rank
Komisel
April 12, 2017
This photo is a real masterpice. For me this is photography out of the box. Keep up the good work
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This image was taken in the middle of the Ozark woods, right next to a little stream that was spattered with amazing sheets of ice that had incredible forms due to the thawing and re-freezing of it's waters.Time
This was taken in the late afternoon, right before dark. Because there was snow and ice on the ground, there was beautiful diffused light which was undeniably the reason why every ridge on that little sheet of ice was illuminated to near perfect. The sun was right above the horizon line, but the ice had an amazing way of transferring the light around it, almost like fiber-opticsLighting
Because it late afternoon, and the area surrounding was covered in snow and ice, the light was diffused perfectly. This was absolutely not a planned shot, but the opportunity was there, the lighting was perfect, so I took the shot. Luckily there was JUST enough light to not infuse too much noise into the shot, which allowed for the much easier post-processing.Equipment
This image was captured using the Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Len.Inspiration
To be perfectly honest, this was not a planned shot. The ice sheets that had developed around that stream were so incredibly fascinating to look at. As I took this sheet and held it up to the light I was stunned at how near-perfect the shapes were, and how it looked almost hand molded. I wanted to capture the beauty of this sheet of ice, and needed a proper background, which is why I had a fellow hiker hold that sheet of ice as I composed and framed the shot around her nose, mouth,and chin. It took a bit of arm strength, as this was not a tiny sheet of ice. It feels silly to say how much this is one of my favorite shots, and it was the least planned of any shot I have ever taken.Editing
Low lighting is not a friend of the equipment I was using, so I was incredibly worried about the amount of noise that could have been present. When post-processing, I found there was very little noise, which allowed me to lower the exposure of the shot in post. Because the lighting was, seriously, perfect for this exact shot, I was able to keep the focus on the ice formation itself and the way the light bounced around the ice left me very little to do but just bring out those highlights and shadows. I kept the image cropped as it was in-camera, but I still darkened the edges of the shot to bring out the triangular formation in the ice. I also upped the contrast a bit to bring out those H.R. Giger-metallic-like movements in the ice.In my camera bag
I still take the 40D out with me, but now my go-to body that is always by my side is the Canon EOS 5D Mark II body. I also make sure that I have two lenses with me at all times: 1) Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 & 2) Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM Telephoto Fixed Lens. The 5D Mark II allows for better low-lighting situations (which happens to be my favorite time to shoot) and both of those lenses, although varying weight, really allow me to jump in and capture any situation that presents itself.Feedback
Here is my advice: take shots in low-lit situations, change the shutter settings, change the aperture settings, and post-process those images to match what you original intention for the shot was. Shooting in anything other than auto-mode really allows for you to take control of fulfilling what it is you were hoping for when you first set out to take the shot. Also, opportunity. That shot would have never been taken had I left my camera in the car because it was already low-lit outside. Recognize that the shot can only be taken if you bring your camera with you. Lastly, change the background to suit your needs. When I first held up the ice, I could see that it was the perfect frame, but the Ozark woods in winter is not the best place for complimentary backgrounds, and I figured that it would be a beautiful juxtapose if there were a softness to go along with the harsh-coolness of that ice. If I had not asked her to hold that sheet of ice for just a few minutes while I composed the shot, this image would have never been taken, and one of my favorite shots of all time would have never been created.
