icey1962
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Awards
Staff Winter Selection 2015
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken at a place about 12 miles away from my home in Devon called Saunton Sands. Its a place you can walk and see noone over the burrows apart from the odd rabbit.Time
It was taken mid morning but could easily been taken at any time as it was a dull day.Lighting
I love to take photos on dull cloudy or overcast days (which is often in the UK :o)) This makes it a lot easier to do composite photos as you have no harsh shadows. This mean you don't need to worry about light direction of any other elements you add later. It's far easier to add shadows later in Photoshop.Equipment
Camera was a Nikon D700 with a 14-24mm nikon lens. Tripod was essential to ensure nothing moved between shots.Also I used a remote wireless trigger to fire the camera (pocket wizard)Inspiration
I've always been a fan of the dark side and horror as a child. THis shot was inspired by the plague doctor from Victotian times who use to wear the mask filled with herbs to hide the stench of death and I think they thought it would protect them from the Black Death. I could only imagine how terrifying if he arrived at your door while you where on your death bed. So I made the mask out of paper mache. the cloak was from ebay for £10 and I found the stick on the way to the location. The birds were taken at another location. So this is how "Death Will find You" was born.Editing
A big yes! I had to add the cloak trail a the cloak was too short for my idea ( just laid the cloak on the ground) hsd blend that it so it looked realistic. Also I had to make myself taller and more menacing as someone I showed the original photo to said I look like a wookie ( short and stumpy) which was far from the look I was after. But they were right!.So this turned out harder than I thought with a lot of blending to do and needed to improve my Photoshop skills. I added a moodier sky and then the birds with a brush I created in PS.. Finally the tone and colour was completed giving the red of the cloak a bit of sparkle. Job done! with about 100 layers in PS and 30 hrs editing :O)In my camera bag
Normally I try and just take what I need as I would have thought the shot out prior also my shots involve a lots of walking so try and keep it light as possible. Often I make a few visits to the location to check angles. So I would have just one body and possibly 2 lenses. 14-24mm & 24-70mm covers most my needs. My Tripod and remote triggers.Feedback
Plan well and make sketches ( excuse the pun) to keep you focused on your idea.Create a shot list so you miss nothing.Take more shots than you need as this could save another trip to the location.Also you may be able to use them in another photo idea.Once you have the skills in PS you are only limited by your imagination and you can take the step from taking photographs to creating Art. Now Go And Be Creative!!