kaizi2203

The Kelpies - A Little Drop of Sunshine

I believe I have managed to capture that little bit different

I believe I have managed to capture that little bit different
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NIKON D5300

settings

Aperture f/22.0 ISO 100 Shutter 1/40 Focal Length 280/10

upload_date

Jun, 2015

Views

642

Likes

+33

Awards

Creative Winter Award

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Legendary Award

Great Shot

Superb Composition

Outstanding Creativity

Top Choice

Absolute Masterpiece

Peer Award

All Star

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Behind The Lens

Location

This image was taken at the Kelpies in Falkirk, Scotland. They haven't been here for too long, and I had been wanting to visit them since hearing about them! It was unfortunate circumstances that brought me here. My dad was in a bad bike accident during a triathlon in Stirling. My husband and I had been visiting him in hospital and decided to take a drive over. I was at college at the time so always had my camera gear with me.

Time

With this being such a popular tourist attraction, I needed to try and get a different angle, and composition. I was lucky that it was midday, so the sun was high in the sky. We also had an unusually clear blue sky! I wanted to take advantage of this and make it look as though the sun was bursting out of the mouth of the horse. The time of day was vital for this shot. Given that this was a chance shot, everything seemed to come together perfectly!

Lighting

The majority of people who view this image automatically think it is a Photoshop composition. In actual fact, only the minimum editing has been done on this image. Not only was the lighting essential to the shot, the lighting is the shot. I had recently became very good at capturing sun bursts in camera and wanted to show this off.

Equipment

I used my Nikon D5300 with my kit lens and tripod. The tripod was essential to this shot! I was attempting to set up the tripod on the side of a hill, and to do this, I must have got myself into some strange positions, as we were attracting a lot of attention! People were stopping to ask what we were doing as well. I knew it was going to be a complex shot, and although I am primarily a portrait photographer, this is one of the images I am most proud of.

Inspiration

I got into photography after falling ill. I've always found it to be therapy. Being behind the camera, and capturing images has a calming affect. This shot was not planned at all. My dad had not only fractured his neck in a bike accident, but also fractured his back in 5 places. I had just left the hospital, and seeing him in traction was awful. It was sinking in just how serious this was, so I naturally got out the camera and started capturing new images. This location has been photographed so often I knew I wanted to get something different. I was at college at the time, and many of my class mates had captured this location too, so I suppose the competitive nature came out in me! I was in the zone and I wanted 'THAT' image. I am so pleased with it.

Editing

One of my lecturers at college trained us to get it right in camera. He taught us to make sure our images needed minimal editing. I sharpened the image, and increased the vibrance slightly. Other than that, there was no post-processing. I guess this is what makes the image.

In my camera bag

My Nikon D5300 is my go to camera. I have the D5100 as back up, but my heart lies with my baby. My favourite lens is the 50mm f1.4 prime. With being a portrait photographer, this is my go to lens. I have my main bag which holds my back-up camera, kit lens, 70mm to 300mm zoom lens, a single off camera flash, triggers etc. When I'm out and about I normally know what I will be shooting, so I take the minimal kit as possible. I used to take everything everywhere! Sometimes I feel that we get bogged down with the biggest kit possible. For me, its about the relationship with me and the camera. It's like we are one, so I like to stick to what I need, and nothing else.

Feedback

As a newborn photographer who uses PS a lot, I am going to sound contradictory, however I was very lucky to be taught the way I was. The technical aspect is vital. Knowing the right aperture to capture a sunburst, is so much more important than knowing how to add it in Photoshop later. Patience is vital! Don't just take one image at one view point. Walk around, look at the subject in as many angles as possible. Go high, go low and side ways! Even if you think you've got the perfect image, keep going. Try as many angles as possible and don't discount anything. Sometimes an image you may have bypassed turns out to the the best one you have. Do the same with the camera. Try different apertures, and other settings with the camera. Most of all enjoy it. You are making art. The work you put in will be rewarded when you get the image you are as proud of as I am as proud of as this one.

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kaizi2203

kaizi2203

The Kelpies - A Little Drop of Sunshine

I believe I have managed to capture that little bit different

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow kaizi2203

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