Ramona Nights
Ramona, California USA
Ramona, California USA
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Mar, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken just outside Ramona, California while I was on my way to Julian, California from my home in San Diego.Time
I love to explore and shoot at night and I love long exposures. This night was just fantastic and I planned to stay out shooting until sunrise. This was taken a little before 2am on February 7th.Lighting
I was getting nice light from the moon and I wanted to make sure the windmill would separate from the sky, but I didn't want too long of an exposure, causing star trails. I wanted them to be static and clean. I also shot another version of this scene with car headlights streaking by on the road just beyond the farm and over the hill. I decided on the version without the headlights because this version was so peaceful and clean. It didn't need any other elements.Equipment
This was shot on my Canon 6D on a tripod with a 17-40 f/4L and a remote shutter release.Inspiration
This is a little farm that I have driven past several dozen times heading out on trips to Anza-Borrego Desert and the Salton Sea. I have even shot this from a different angle during the day, but this night was wonderful and the full moon was giving me plenty of light to work with. On these trips I usually stay out all night shooting until I shoot sunrise and then head back home. I think this was the first shot of the night and I felt really good about this shot. When I get something I am really excited on my first stop, I already know it is a productive trip and makes anything else I get the rest of the night a bonus.Editing
I always shoot RAW images so there is always some processing to do. This one needed the usual contrast adjustment and some sharpening in Lightroom.In my camera bag
What gear I carry depends on what I am shooting, but along with the 6D I always have the 24-105, 17-40, 35mm and 50mm. I usually bring along the 70-200 and if I'm shooting portraits I definitely have the 85mm, a lens that I just adore. It's practically impossible to take a bad shot with the 85, which definitely helps me. I am eyeing the 100mm macro now, which I know will be a well used part of the tool kit.Feedback
When I set out on my night shooting trips I usually have a destination in mind, even if it's tentative. But once I am driving, I feel like I am super focused (on the good nights) on my surroundings and am open to inspiration from anywhere and stop as many times as I feel like. Sometimes I don't even make to the destination I had in mind, but have found so many other things along the way it's ok. Especially in landscape photography it's just being at the right place at the right time. I always try to put myself in different situations at different times of day to see places in a different light, literally. I have driven past areas and even shot locations but ended up not processing the shots because it just didn't feel right, only to go back and shoot it again at a different time of day or night, and I immediately know that's what I was waiting for. That is such a rewarding feeling.
