Making My Way
After being stood up by a client for a photoshoot, I ended up on a dirt road several miles south of home just before sunset. With my remote shutter and tripod, ...
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After being stood up by a client for a photoshoot, I ended up on a dirt road several miles south of home just before sunset. With my remote shutter and tripod, I decided to make lemonade and took some awesome selfies!
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Sep, 2015Views
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Awards
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Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
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UnkleFrank
September 26, 2015
A wonderful capture. Great story line. Your perseverance paid a bounty for you. Congratulations on a most deserving "Staff Favorite" award. Good for you.
myphotobox
September 27, 2015
Great photo and great way of using circumstances to make this photo happen.
nfparham
October 04, 2015
Great photo. Love your work. I really loved the photos you took of my friend Amanda, her daughter, and the twins. I hope someday I can learn to run photoshop as well as you.
PRO+
adavies
September 26, 2017
I was just told that this was the first photo that I awarded on VB...still love it! Beautiful image...really well done! :)
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken midday in the back country of Iowa, somewhere south of Nevada, Iowa. I had just gotten my brand new Nikon D810, and had a session set up with a client. They no showed on me, so instead, I got in the car with my husband and two kids and we went for a drive. When we found this road, I said stop! I have to take a picture. I got out my tripod and remote trigger, set up and shot, and did some photographer selfies.Time
There wasn't anything particularly special about the sky, other than it was nearing sunset. The sky was just so vast, something that I'm not especially used to being from Alaska. Living in Iowa now, I'm always mesmerized by the sky.Lighting
The road was going north to south. Not especially wonderful for dramatic sunset lighting. I figured I could work my photoshop magic and add a sunset to the right so it would match the lighting on my skin in post production.Equipment
This was actually my first time out with my Nikon D810. I brought along my 85mm f/1.8 lens, Calumet remote triggers and Sunpack tripod.Inspiration
I had a plan in mind, I wanted to find a road that would trail away in front of me for a picture to show a path to my photographic future. To symbolize that I am the master of my own artistry and business. I was upset that I had been stood up by a client, but I wanted to take the opportunity to make a meaningful self portrait. And a big thanks to my husband for shouting out "it went!" when I asked if the shutter worked about half a mile down road.Editing
One of my favorite things about photography is photo editing. I've spent hours and hours learning how to composite in photoshop. For this shot, like I said, I had a plan. I wanted to find a long road with a big vast sky. I was going to add a dramatic sunset to set the mood of my image. When you have two kids, it's not easy to get out at the exact time of day you want to, especially when that time of day happens to coincide with dinner. But I was still able to achieve the exact look I wanted with a little help from a sky, a sunset, and some fancy curves adjusting and frequency separation. It embodies exactly what I wanted it to. A woman looking out into her future and seeing limitless possibilities.In my camera bag
I always carry my staples with me: my D810 camera body, my 35 and 85mm lenses, my remote triggers and my tripod. Sometimes I have my reflector as well, but I like to travel light.Feedback
If you want to capture a dusty road, sunset picture, and have it be natural, make sure you find a road running east to west! In order to achieve this depth of field, shoot wide open, making sure you compensate with shutter speed and ISO so your whites aren't blown out. Sometimes in also helps to adjust the white balance to shade or direct sunlight, to give a warm feel to the end result. And be passionate. Bring a prop. Tell a story! And don't do what I did, never cut off your feet in a shot! :)
