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I was invited to go learn to shoot one Sunday and when I arrived was told a blacksmith was on the way.
"Let's see if you can shoot smoke" my tutor challe...
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I was invited to go learn to shoot one Sunday and when I arrived was told a blacksmith was on the way.
"Let's see if you can shoot smoke" my tutor challenged me.
I just love this shot
Read less
"Let's see if you can shoot smoke" my tutor challenged me.
I just love this shot
Read less
Jul, 2015Views
1406
Likes
Awards
Winner in at work Photo Challenge
Top Shot Award 22
Winner in Favorite genre to photograph Photo Challenge
Lucky 3 Award
Peer Award
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Superb Composition
Superior Skill
All Star
Genius
Virtuoso
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rank
PRO+
PRO+
Ultimate
Platinum
critique
February 27, 2019
Really wonderful image, beautifully composed and technically perfect. The essence of blacksmithing is captured in the shot!
PRO+
Hood
October 29, 2020
Thank you for entering my challenge, smike without fire...it was between you and the winner, so well done, excellent capture...a great story!...Love it!
Ultimate
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
Let me start by saying I was absolutely thrilled to win, and receive recognition, for this image which has always been one of my favourirtes. This photo was taken on a friend's farm on the day that she organised for her farrier to come. The friend (Helena) had been tutoring me on photography as I had only just bought my first digital DSLR. We had met at the local camera club where she was firmly ensconced as the best photographer the club had.Time
I had no great expectations for any particular success on the morning I set out - rather early, if I may add - for my friend's place for a photography lesson. "Don't be late!", she said "The Farrier won't wait for you." Once the farrier arrived he got straight to work and she told me to start shooting. After couple of minutes she said if it was her shooting she would lie on the ground to change the perspective, something that had not entered my mind. Anyway i took her advice and lay on the ground shooting up. This photo is one of the results.Lighting
It was a bright morning but fortunately overcast and harsh shadows were not an issue of concern. I didn't need a flash and probably would not have used one anyway as i have no idea what effect a flash might have in a horse.Equipment
It's a hand held shot taken with my Nikon D5100 set to aperture mode. I cannot remember what lens I used but not that the focallength was 58mm so it was probably a shortish zoom lens (long since replaced). The ISO was set "up" to 640 on my friend, the tutor's advice and the shutter speed was 1/200th (this turned out perfectly for the bokeh and freezing the action. All credit to Helena for telling me what settings to start with and go from there.Inspiration
Inspiration for the photo goes entirely to Helena who, from experience, knew that smoke can create interesting drama. She also arranged for the farrier to be facing the light so I could use it to provide the most dramatic shot possible.Editing
While the shot was pretty good out of camera I'm a tad embarrassed to say that Helena did the bulk of post. However that was a blessing in disguise because it taught me there and then that post processing is so vitally important to give images tht 'pop'. It also taught me that using a tablet was the way to go.In my camera bag
My equipment has changed since taking this photo and just this week I purchased a Fujifilm mirrorless (i've had it 2 days). It came with a 18-55 kit lens that I will keep. To this I will add a decent walk around lens, say 40-100/150 (I have until now been using a 24-85mm for this) , a large and fast zoom for birding and probably a maro lens. As of now I don't know what lenses Fujifilm produces or what third party lenses are suitable (and good - I'm done with buying cheap lenses that don't perform well) but look forward to learning more about them.Feedback
If you ever get the chance to capture a farrier at work I highly recommend it. You do need to be quick and shoot a lot of photos. Set the camera on rapid and fire away. And definitely consider different perspectives! Smoke is amazing to shoot with when creating drama. Dry-ice is great for replicating smoke and very cool if you can get your hands on some. I highly recommend for beginners to join their local club and grab on to the apron strings of the senior members - they are invariably happy to help and have huge range of experience that they can pass on. Who knows they might even own a horse and invite you to shoot when their farrier comes along.
