Sunset Mesa Verde
Sunset at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.
Sunset at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.
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Dec, 2015Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this shot at the Lodge at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado.Time
This was taken at sunset. After a day of sightseeing and shooting with my daughter and her family we went back to the lodge to have some dinner. Once we got to the parking lot I saw that it was going to be a nice sunset so I grabbed my camera and tripod and walked down to the corner of the parking lot where I could get this shot. It was still a few minutes to actual sunset so I took a shot about ever minute or so. Another couple saw me and went back to their room to get their camera. Then some people in an SUV pulled to the parking lot and got out with cell phones and cameras. By the time I took this shot about 15 people had joined me.Lighting
This was shot with available light.Equipment
Canon 7D MKII w/Tokina 12-24mm f4 on Manfrotto tripod. ISO 100, f5.6, 1/640 secInspiration
I was tired after a day of sightseeing and shooting but knew this was going to be a great sunset that I could not pass up.Editing
I post-processed the image in Lightroom. I shoot everything in RAW format so my processing mostly included a User Preset I have for all my images. This preset adjusts the settings for basic items like Sharpening, Vibrance, Clarity, etc. I then used the Graduated Filter slider to lighten the bottom half of the photo and to bring out shadow detail.In my camera bag
At the time I took this photo I was used a Canon 7D MKII, a Tokina 12-24mm f4, a Tamron 28-75 f2.8, a Canon 50mm f1.8, a Canon 70-200 f2.8 L, and a Canon 2x II teleconverter. Since then I have converted to a Canon R mirrorless body and have changed my lenses to a Canon FD 24mm f2.8 w/adapter, Canon EF 50mm f1.8 w/adapter, Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro, Canon RF 600mm f11, and I could not give up my Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L. The beauty of the new Canon R mirrorless series of bodies is that you can use a countless number of FD and EF lenses.Feedback
One of the things I tell my students and photography groups is to always look behind you. When we pull into the parking lot we were facing away from the sunset and if I had not looked behind us and gone on into the lodge I would have missed this shot.
