Cloughleagh Bridge, Manor Kilbride, Co. Wicklow.
Magical Place in West Wicklow, Ireland.
Magical Place in West Wicklow, Ireland.
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Dec, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken under Cloughleagh bridge in Manor-Kilbride a truly gorgeous place in West Wicklow, Ireland on the way to the Wicklow Mountain National Park.Time
It was 12.45 pm on a overcast day in April, exactly an hour after I arrived at this majestic spot.Lighting
The light that day seemed to intensify the green moss in the forest, which can be seen as you look through the bridge. It was darker under the bridge, and as you look up to the forest, you can see the slightest touch of sky through the trees. Just beyond the bridge, the river is lit up by the sky above, highlighting the flowing water, but there is no direct sunlight. The light is soft and even.Equipment
This was shot with a Canon 600d with a 18-55mm lens, and for this particular shot I used the wall of the bridge itself to stabilize the camera.Inspiration
Although the day was overcast, there was a certain quality of light that brought the colors alive in the forest, and a crisp freshness that is apparent in the photo. I wanted to practice my water shots, and I went up and down the river before returning again to the same spot. This time I went under the bridge, and placed the camera against the wall and took my shot. I wanted to capture the essence of the place, and the contrasting elements, the river with its gentle roar making its way down to a bigger river, and the silence of the trees all around, still leafless on a cool spring morning. The beauty of the area always draws me back, and I always feel refreshed and inspired, and leave with beautiful memories, some of which I try to capture in a photo.Editing
It was photographed under the bridge, so I needed to lighten it somewhat, using Photoshop and also when I took the shot I had set the exposure compensation down 2 notches, so I knew I would probably have to do some post-processing. I was happy with the result, as I could also see better the stone work under the bridge, which I think adds to the shot. As I progress, I tend to do less, and set up shots so the minimum post-processing is needed. That said, a little change here and there can make such a difference, so I am always thankful for those tools.In my camera bag
I carry my camera everywhere, a trusty Canon 600D, with a Canon 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 lens. Usually I'll have a Canon lens ef 50mm f/1.8 ii. Nowadays I carry a X2 circular polarizer and a X2 ND filter from Breakthrough Photography and I'll often have with me a SRB Photographic close up lens set for both lens. Usually but not always I'll have a tripod and some good micro cloths.Feedback
For water shots, like a river, a tripod or something to stabilize the camera is essential, for this shot I simply used the wall of the bridge. In Ireland especially, we do get a lot of overcast days, which can be brilliant, a natural filtered and diffused soft light, so for this type of shot overcast days are very often the best, because we don't have direct sunlight on the water, which can greatly alter the image. It can be a good idea to underexpose shots like this to 1/3 - 1/2 stop. Experiment with shutter speeds, for this I used a speed of 1/4 sec. I much prefer to shoot upstream and in this image you can see how the eye is drawn upward. Always be careful, its tempting to get closer and closer, and while it looks like I'm actually in the river itself, I am actually standing on a flat dry rock, under the bridge. Something I didn't have with this photo was a polarizer, and it's really worth investing in, it will take out the glare and greatly improve the detail. Make sure lens are tight and tripod steady, and take your time, and have a cloth at the ready, checking the lens for splashes. If the conditions are not right, just move to different location or subject matter and come back, it can make all the difference. The settings for this photo were f8 1/4 sec ISO 100, with a exposure compensation down two thirds. Lastly its always good to have a good idea of the settings needed for a shot like this, so you can be ready and have a mental checklist of all the necessary elements so your camera can capture the scene.
