patrickbeckett

Wind

High clouds over Robinson Preserve, Bradenton, Florida

High clouds over Robinson Preserve, Bradenton, Florida
Read less

Oct, 2013

Views

Likes

Awards

Outstanding

Top Choice

Absolute Masterpiece

Superb Composition

Outstanding Creativity

Exceptional Contrast

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

This was taken during a family day out on holiday in Florida. The Robinson Preserve is to the North-East of Bradenton, Manatee County. It was an ordinary day and the camera came along as I wasn't carrying anything. No real agenda, just take some images to remember the day.

Time

This was very hot day, and the path seemed to be reflecting all the heat from the sun back onto us. The sky was almost completely clear with only a few wisps of high cloud.

Lighting

The shot was taken just after midday and so shadows were at a minimum.

Equipment

This was a secondhand bridge camera I purchased to keep my travelling bag light. I was pleasantly surprised at the images I was getting from this Sony DSC-HX200V and range of zoom it afforded me. The Day was so bright that the camera was at ISO 100 with f/6.3 and a shutter speed of 1/250 and the lens was at minimum zoom. I left the camera on Normal Program and let it worry about exposure etc.

Inspiration

The high clouds together with the path leading into the distance emphasised the perspective and vanishing point. The sky and the heat seemed overpowering and this composition seemed to show how small we felt wandering through the preserve.

Editing

The magic in this image was in the post processing. I use Aperature on a Mac and had just joined Viewbug and so saw the Black and White challenge. Converting this image to black and white didn't make much impact until I applied a red filter instead of desaturating. This caused the blue sky to drop to almost black, bringing out the cloud shapes. All that was needed then was some adjustment to the levels to boost the blacks and the whites.

In my camera bag

I normally have a Canon EOS 60D and the standard EF-S 17-85 IS USM lens as this is my main camera and a EF 70-200 f/4L accompanies it.

Feedback

Never be afraid to shoot an image. With digital cameras and massive storage capacities available at relatively small cost, depressing that shutter costs so little compared to film. Sometimes an ordinary moment becomes special because of something you didn't notice until after the shutter, and the moment, has gone. Try varying the camera height and orientation, as a picture can have more impact if the image isn't one we see everyday. The brain has to spend a fraction longer processing it and I think this helps the picture to hold our attention. Even inexpensive cameras and cheap post-processing software can yield awesome results. Experiment!

See more amazing photos, follow patrickbeckett

patrickbeckett

patrickbeckett

Wind

High clouds over Robinson Preserve, Bradenton, Florida

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow patrickbeckett

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes. Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.