billmcphail PRO+
billmcphail
St Bathans

St Bathans



cameraCanon EOS 500D

settings Aperture f/4.5 ISO 100 Shutter 1/60 Focal Length 18/1 

upload_dateJul, 2015

Views

900

Likes

Awards

Featured
Staff Favorite
Peer Award
adiestiano ARUNASPINIGIS aliceforrallies DEBOLINA_MOITRA 2001vermont djalmaarmelin mhinsbeeck +46
Superb Composition
David_Photos_UK sxsvexen JamesHuang slawakladocznagryta ashokuchangi Rosley angelundercover +22
Absolute Masterpiece
bsube gallmese deniseabela lucretia smahan71 smshaffer digitalmediaphotography +6
Top Choice
quincyfloyd azcricket BOULENGER toxictabasco charlie72 samsam100 GinDra +4
Magnificent Capture
Beegirl rachelrfm PatricaK roadrunner911
All Star
dpandtp robbiewade Barbpsp4 traceprinslooreppin
Superior Skill
Emmapaull BillW Capture-Life
Outstanding Creativity
Rwozney Izapix boldhotshot1952

Emotions

Impressed
immaginEmozioni

Top ClassTM

Terrains And Textures Photo ContestTop 20 class
Terrains And Textures Photo ContestTop 30 class week 2
Terrains And Textures Photo ContestTop 30 class week 1
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol3Top 10 class
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol3Top 10 class week 1
View more
Backcountry Photo ContestTop 30 class
Backcountry Photo ContestTop 20 class week 2
Backcountry Photo ContestTop 20 class week 1
Photographer Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 12Top 10 class
Photographer Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 12Top 30 class week 1
Covers Photo Contest Vol 23Top 30 class week 5
Crystal Clear Photo ContestTop 20 class week 1
Monthly Pro Vol 14 Photo ContestTop 30 class
Monthly Pro Vol 14 Photo ContestTop 10 class week 1
Covers Photo Contest Vol 23Top 30 class week 2
Photographer Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 11Top 30 class

Categories

5 Comments | Report
chiefer33
 
chiefer33 July 16, 2015
I love landscapes. This drew me in and made me want to be there. To me, stunning shot Bill...Cheers.
billmcphail PRO+
billmcphail July 17, 2015
Thank you Jason I really appreciate you taking the time to look at my images and comment so positively on this one.
chiefer33
 
chiefer33 July 17, 2015
Your very welcome. Keep them coming and thanks for sharing.
traceprinslooreppin
 
traceprinslooreppin July 19, 2015
...superb image. :-)
BillW PRO
 
BillW August 19, 2015
Wonderful image Bill. After seeing this I had to look up St. Bathans. The whole place looks amazing. And being a golfer, well, lest just say I see several possibilities here.
Very nicely captured!!
adiestiano PRO
 
adiestiano December 29, 2020
Cool

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#St Bathans #Tailings #blue lake #gold mining #interesting landscape and sky

Behind The Lens

Location
This image was taken on a walk around the Blue Lake at St Bathan's in the Maniototo district, Otago, New Zealand. The Blue lake was formed as result of gold mining and Kildare Hill was slowly sluiced away to a deep pit as miners sought out and mined the gold seam. The pit filled with water after the pit was abandoned and the pumps ceased to drain the area, with the water appearing a vibrant blue on sunny days, due to the rich chemical composition of the schist and greywacke.
Time
This image was taken in the late afternoon, looking to the west / south west with the Dunstan Ranges to the viewers right of the image.
Lighting
The rather heavy sky has not been the best for showing the lake colour but it did enhance the autumn colour which was just starting to show. This area tends to be very warm in summer and very cold in winter and both spring and autumn can be quite brief.
Equipment
My equipment is simple but reliable - a Canon 500D body with a 18 - 55mm kit zoom lens. The lens was fitted with a skylight filter and a polarising filter. The shot was hand held with the lens set at 18mm, aperture 4.5 and shutter speed set at 1/60th. I tend to try and shoot at ISO 100 and this shot is no exception.
Inspiration
I love this area for the sense of peace and the sense of space. I hope this image goes some way to sharing the sense of openness and calm that exists here.
Editing
I tend to do quite basic post-processing with Lightroom 6. As an old film photographer I was used to dodging and burning in, but I haven't really begun to understand the scope of modern post processing.
In my camera bag
I carry a Canon 500D body, 18 - 55mm and 55mm - 250mm kit lenses. I also have a Canon 1.8 50mm lens and Tamron 105mm, 500mm and a 2x converter. I have a lens reversing ring for close up work and a range of filters. I have a very stable (and heavy) Linhoff tripod with ball head, which was originally paired with their 7x5" view camera - this is brilliant to use but heavy to carry, so I also have a lighter Velbon tripod fitted with a Manfrotto ball head. I also have a Canon Speedlight 580 EXII.
Feedback
In keeping with my age I think it is fair to say that I would regarded as 'old school' with regard to composition and lighting. I believe in the 'golden hour' for photography (just after dawn and prior to sunset) and trying to lead the eye into the image (I was always led to believe that the eye naturally tracks from bottom left into the image and looks to follow a circular style path through to the top right). That isn't to say that all images follow that rule - in fact I applaud the daring of many photographers here who succeed in overturning convention and challenge the viewer with whole new ways of presenting brilliant images.

See more amazing photos, follow billmcphail