Sunset over Manarola
Sunset over Manarola
Sunset over Manarola
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Mar, 2015Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
The photo was taken from a classic location in Manarola from where you can find the best view of the cliffs, the colored houses and the small gulf. At sunset there is a nice warm light from the side and after the sun has gone down, the blue hour is really beautiful. The platform is just 5 minutes walk from the houses.Time
I waited to take this shot at dusk because I knew that the light would be much warmer, the shadows less intense and this way I could get significantly more detail from the rocks in the foreground. Also. at this time I was able to get more than one predominant color in the sky, a reddish-magenta feel that would complement the vivid colors that the old buildings have.Lighting
Sunset light is always special because you can have wide range of colors in the sky, the light itself is warmer and definitely adds interest to the subject it falls on. In this shot, the light is sufficient enough to light the cliffs and the sky and also the fact that the sun had just went below the horizon can be seen in the reddish color at the horizon.Equipment
I used a Nikon D7000 with a 10-24 mm lens. I opted for a 17 mm focal lenght, not too wide to include the platform but enough to have the rocks in the foreground. The aperture was set to f/16 so as to have a good focus throughout the scene and an ISO at 100. The exposure time was 25 seconds because I wanted to have a that soft water effect. Unfortunately I didn't have any filters, not even a remote so I couldn't go beyond this speed without having problems afterwards.Inspiration
This location is famous worldwide. I have seen photos, some of them really beautiful, and I said to myself that I have to go there to visit and yes, take some photos as well. The photo itself doesn't come with something new but when you do it yourself it has something special. I also wanted to see for myself the amazing way the houses are built on such a steep cliff and how well they fit in the environment.Editing
I basically went for the basic editing for this photo, meaning recovery of some details in the shadows (the water) but not too much because I didn't want to add a lot of noise, dropping the highlights. mainly in the sky and the lights from the buildings, and some sharpening on the cliffs and buildings. I really like to work on sunset/sunrise photos because there is no need for excessive saturation, the colors are vivid enough on their own.In my camera bag
It depends on where I am going and for how long. If I'm just going out to shoot the sunset or sunrise, meaning 2-3 hours then I only carry the camera with 2 lenses, wide and medium telephoto, a tripod and a filter. For a longer journey I carry additional lenses (portrait and macro), more filters, remote (not applicable in this situation due to unforeseen events), battery grip.Feedback
I think this shot can be easily done by others. You just have to be there in the right time of day. It doesn't necessarily have to be sunny outside because you can always experiment. I now envision a stormy sea with giant waves hitting the cliffs and how much drama this can add to a shot. Longer exposures to really get that silky effect on water. I would definitely exploit a scenario with this location after rain, with some dramatic clouds and perfect, saturated light. The possibilities are truly endless, you need patience and a wild imagination.
