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Driving to Princeville, we came across an overlook of rice fields in Kaua'i. The rooster seemed to be enjoying the view too. ...
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Driving to Princeville, we came across an overlook of rice fields in Kaua'i. The rooster seemed to be enjoying the view too.
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Sep, 2015Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken near Hanalei, Kauai during a vacation in December 2013. We stopped to take a look at the rice fields and this rooster decided to pose for me.Time
This picture was taken in the morning. We had left the restaurant after eating breakfast and were on our way to the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park for the day.Lighting
This picture was shot looking southwest in the morning and the lighting was already good thanks to some cloud cover, and I didn't have to do much in terms of adjusting for light.Equipment
This was shot on a Nikon D90 with a 18-135mm AF-S DX Zoom-Nikko Lens. I didn't use a tripod or flash when taking this picture.Inspiration
The shot was iconic of our experience in Kauai. If you haven't been there, roosters are everywhere! We would often sit outside at a coffee shop for breakfast and roosters would gather around our table. Shooting the roosters in that environment wouldn't have produced a good shot, so when I saw the rooster overlooking the rice fields, I knew I had to take my shot. Thankfully, the rooster was photogenic. On subsequent visits I have never been able to catch a rooster in similar repose.Editing
Post processing, I did adjust both the shadows on the rooster so he would stand out more, and I adjusted the contrast of the rooster and the fencing so they would also stand out more.In my camera bag
I'm really low maintenance, so in my bag I just have a 18-135mm AF-S DX Zoom-Nikko Lens and cloths for cleaning lenses. I'm hoping to upgrade my camera soon!Feedback
In this shot I think I got a bit lucky. I know photographers don't really want to read that, but in all honesty, the lightening of the morning sun along with magic of the photogenic bird created a moment I don't think I could ever replicate. I've tried as we've returned to Hawaii several times since this shot was taken but haven't been able to get any similar shots. In this case, I think it was a matter of being at the right place at the right time. I will say though that I've found the best times to take photos in Hawaii are soon after sunrise and sunset. My last piece of advice is to make sure your camera settings are always ready for the type of environment you will be in prior to venturing out! Never ever turn off your camera when you are out and about - your batteries will survive but your shot can disappear in a moment!
