Buckeye
Aug, 2015Views
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Awards
Creative Winter Award
Curator's Selection
Legendary Award
Member Selection Award
Featured
Contest Finalist in 400 Ducks Photo Contest
Peer Award
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Superior Skill
Genius
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken at a Lodge just outside Sequoia National Park called Buckeye Tree Lodge near the end of a cross-country American road trip. My best friend, my brother, and I had decided to go river swimming when we came across a gaggle of young ducklings. They were certainly not people shy as they came close enough for us to pet a few, take some wonderful shots, and even swim with them.Time
It was early evening and my family had just checked into the lodge for the night. Instead of heading to the pool, we decided to explore some waterfalls and caves on the river as the sun went down when we happened across the baby ducks.Lighting
The sun was setting on the right side of this picture behind a beautiful stone bridge. The light was reflecting off the rocks and water, making for a beautiful background. I think my favourite part about this picture is the contrast between the other dark, black ducklings behind this bright yellow one and the yellow on the rocks behind them.Equipment
Normally I would be shooting with my nikon (Coolpix) setting up shot after shot. However, this little excursion down to the river was a spontaneous trip and I only quickly grabbed my old waterproof Fujifilm for taking shots in under the waterfalls. This camera has been lovingly nicknamed "The Party Camera" because it can generally take a bit more of a rough adventure than my nikon or film cameras. It unfortunately does not have the capabilities of my other cameras, but served me well in this instance.Inspiration
This picture was pure, genuine, and not set up at all except to capture my friends and the ducks we had happened upon. This duckling gave me no time to plan and I clicked just in time to catch his inquisitive nature. I just wanted to remember my trip and this time we got super close to a gaggle of ducks and this photo was the result of that.Editing
I did enhance a few things in the editing program, Photoshop Lightroom. I changed the contrast to bring out the darkness of the other ducklings behind him and the ripples on the water. I also slightly enhanced the colour of the yellows on the rocks and the duckling. The colours were already pretty vivid but as I mentioned earlier, I was shooting on an old waterproof Fujifilm that did not bring out exactly what I wanted. This also meant that I sharpened the image as well, in order to bring out the hairs on the ducks head that the raw photo couldn't give me.In my camera bag
Usually my three cameras: Nikon coolpix, waterproof Fujifilm, and an old SLR film Canon. I also normally have my tripod and a plethora of spare SD cards. I am a student so a DSLR has not been in my budget as of yet but I am hoping that will happen soon!Feedback
You can't always capture everything you want. You could set up in what appears to be the perfect position/lighting/timing/whatever and never get exactly what you want. One time I sat on the edge of the Grand Canyon for two hours in the pitch black trying the capture a lightning storm on the other side. I was miserable that everything seemed perfect but only resulted in black or blurry images. I fiddled with every setting, moved my tripod all over the place, and still couldn't get what I pictured it would look like. There are also other moments where I can't get my camera out in time and I miss shooting an amazing image. It happens. We screw up, we get disappointed, and we are sad for what could have been wonderful. It is in this moment that I try to tell myself that in a year, I will have forgotten all about that one photo I failed at getting. Instead, I will go through my files and find complete gems. Ones that I never planned, set up, or fiddled with. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and made a beautiful memory without even knowing it. This duckling was one of those times. I hadn't planned on carrying my camera with me; I had no tripod or fancy equipment. I was just ready to capture a beautiful evening, my friends, and some curious ducklings. It was in this moment that all the images I never captured, those missed opportunities, faded away.
