SunGlo
Feb, 2015Views
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People's Choice in The Sunrise of a lifetime Photo Challenge
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Behind The Lens
Location
One of the things I love about my commute is that I go from a small city to a big city with some countryside in between. During certain times of the year this means I'm heading into the sun both to and from work. This particular day the sunrise was too much not to take some time to photograph it right before getting on the freeway. Scenes like this is why I decided to buy a camera specifically for commuting as I didn't want my high end stuff potentially having to be left unattended places.Time
Sunrise in early February is around 7 a.m. out here. The sun had just come up over the horizon and became visible amongst all the clouds over the fields just outside of town.Lighting
This was one of those mornings where Nature couldn't have improved on the lighting! My only job was to set exposure and click the shutter. The natural light provided was beyond belief.Equipment
For this photo I used my first "commute camera", a Canon Rebel T5i with the kit lens EF-S 18-55mm STM. This was handheld and no other equipment was used. The reason for the "commute camera" set is was to travel with as little equipment as possible and not have to worry about leaving high end equipment at work by accident or leaving it in the vehicle if I had to and still have a good camera for those unexpected moments like this. I travelled with that set up for a couple years and loved having it available for those unexpected shots like this.Inspiration
Starting a work day and facing traffic during the commute is never a fun time. My mind is generally already preparing for what I'll have to do that day. Starting out and seeing a sight like this sunrise is a great way to be reminded of the beauty that is around us and to take some time to enjoy it no matter what the day may bring. Being able to capture this moment allows me to share this beauty with others.Editing
The post processing was mainly about making sure there were no real hot spots and bringing out the contrast and details in the clouds. Nature did an amazing job of doing the hard part. I just had to do my best with some tweaks in contrast and clarity.In my camera bag
I've since retired my Rebel and upgraded to the Can on 7Dmii for my "commute camera" as it allows for a greater range of settings. My main camera when I go out specifically for photography is a Canon 5DmIV with my old trusty Canon 5DmII for back up and second lens choice. With being into nature and wildlife photography, I love having 2 camera bodies so I can have my EF 100-400mm on one and either my 24-105mm or a macro lens on the other and not worry about changing lenses in a dirty environment. You'll always find snacks, water, extra batteries, and cards in whatever bag I've got with me.Feedback
One thing I've learned is to always have a camera with you. Whether it's your main camera or a cheaper "commute camera", having one with you for those unexpected moments is wonderful! I made the decision to get one after seeing an amazing sight and missing the opportunity to capture the moment because I didn't have a camera. Bought the Rebel right after that and have been able to capture moments like this sunrise since.
