dennybetts

My Favorite Vacation Photo

Last sunset of a vacation to Clearwater in Jan 2014

Last sunset of a vacation to Clearwater in Jan 2014
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Jan, 2015

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Behind The Lens

Location

I was vacationing in Florida in January of 2014 and visiting a friend from high school who lives there. She took me to Sand Key, one of her favorite beach areas in the Clearwater area.

Time

We intended to catch the sunset (and photograph it of course). We had just parked in the lot and were headed to the beach and I saw the walk way and the trees as some interesting subjects for the foreground of the sunset.

Lighting

No additional lighting used for this shot other than the sunset making a silhouette of the bushes and trees.

Equipment

This was taken with a nikon D7100 and the 18-55mm kit lens on a tripod.

Inspiration

I live in Ohio and in January, being outside without being dressed in several layers of clothing is a treat. I wanted to shoot the sunsets, but too many sunsets have nothing in them but the sky, the sun, and clouds. (its all been done before) so I look for an interesting foreground, subject, animal, anything to add to the otherwise beautiful sunset and sky.

Editing

Not a mulitple exposure HDR, but tone mapped in Photoshop. I first processed in LR and did overall exposure for the sky and reduced shadows on the trees. Then edited in photoshop to bring up the detail in foreground so that the sand and walkway are detailed. Without processing the foreground was very dark. I then went back to LR and used some graduated filters to adjust exposures again to my taste.

In my camera bag

This was taken with the D7100 and I have since added a D610 and love the full frame. I always carry a nikon 70-300 mm, Nikon 24-70 2.8, a 50mm prime and an SB700 strobe. The crop sensor of the 7100 and the full frame 610 make the 70-300 very versatile as long as I have enough light. Add a faster 70-200 to my wish list. Never underestimate the 18-55 nikon kit lens. For the price, I made some great images and this is one of them.

Feedback

The first and most obvious for an image like this one, go to the beach! I think sunsets at the beach need something other than the sun and the horizon. Something like the sidewalk and these trees. I have several others with lifeguard towers, birds in flight, beach umbrella, silhouette of people walking. Yes the sun setting into the water is beautiful but for my taste, there needs to be more.

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dennybetts

dennybetts

My Favorite Vacation Photo

Last sunset of a vacation to Clearwater in Jan 2014

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow dennybetts

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