smokey sun
Feb, 2015Views
151
Likes
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Peer Award
Top Ranks
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 1
Top 30 rank
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
In plumas lake, California. This was one of the very first photos of the actual sun I could see to take! It was a couple years ago, and it was during the big king fire we had here in California. All the smoke and haze made it possible to see this beautiful sun.Time
It was around sunset, during the summer. So probably 8:15pm. I saw it as I was driving home from the store, and I thought "oh my god" I need to get this shot. So I (carefully) raced home, grabbed my gear, and flew out the door. I went to a spot I thought I'd get a great shot at, and turns I out I was completely wrong. The smoke was so thick In that area I couldn't see the sun at all. So I sadly, moped back to my car and drove off. Turns out all I needed to do was go around the corner, and bam! There it was. I watched it for a good 15 minutes and took as many shots as I could before it disappeard.Lighting
You know, at this point in my photography adventure I didn't hardly know a dang thing about lighting. I've always shot in manual from the get go, even though I hardly knew what I was doing. I'm sure I have more than a few screw ups of previous shots of this sun. But I finally got my settings where I liked them, and the rest is history! Luckily now, I for the most part I know what I'm doing, but one can never learn enough about lighting!Equipment
This was shot on my Canon T3i with a 75-300mm f/5.6 lens, and my window as a tripod.Inspiration
It's not everyday you can stare at the perfectly rounded sun without burning your retinas, and losing your vision for a moment. So I figured, what better opportunity to share such beauty that came from such despare and destruction.Editing
I believe I upped my contrast, and vibrance a bit to make the clouds and color of the sunset pop more. Other than that I didn't do anything.In my camera bag
Right now, I've been majorly obsessed with my 50mm 1.4. So I always have that attached to my body. I mostly do outdoor photography so I tend to stick with the natural light but just in case I carry my external flash with me as well. I have a few lens filters which I haven't quite found the need for as of yet, and I always have my 75-300mm lens as I find it good for most landscapes, and of course photos like this. Last but not least, Chapstick. I'm pretty sure I have like 3 different kinds in there haha.Feedback
Be strong willed and Patient! Remember the earth is constantly moving, so if you can't see what you're looking for in the sky move to a new location, or a wait a bit. Don't give up and leave like me, I got lucky! Be persistent, and keep shooting. Even if sometimes, in the end, you don't really know what you're doing. It pays off.
