The Road
Dec, 2015Views
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Contest Finalist in I Love Trees Photo Contest
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Alwolfe
August 17, 2017
This is undoubtedly one of the best shots I have seen of a road! May I ask where this is?
kellytatephoto
August 17, 2017
Thank you so much! This one was taken in the Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland
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Behind The Lens
Location
The photo was taken at the Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland. I didn't plan on going here, but based on recommendations from locals I made a detour, and I'm glad I did!Time
This is one of my favorite shots, but it was also one of the most frustrating. I took it at about 9 in the morning, which was prime tourist bus time. I was amazed at how many people where there: It took a lot of patience to wait for the road to clear. The weather was trying as well, as it was raining on and off, and I had to continually clean my lens and at times shelter my camera. Since the road is also drive-able I kept having to move my tripod to make way for local traffic and lost tourists. Needless to say, to get to the point where I could just click the shutter was challenging. I only got six clear shots in a couple hours of waiting for the right combination of conditions.Lighting
It was mostly cloudy and at times raining. The sun did peak through occasionally, but ultimately the lighting behaved for a late morning shot and the trees helped to diffuse some of the additional light.Equipment
I used a Canon 70D with a Tamron 70-300 mm lens on a Manfrotto tripod.Inspiration
After heeding advice from some locals, I stopped at the Dark Hedges on my way to another location to scout things out. I walked up and down the road several times looking for the right angle and location. After taking several 'pre-scouting shots' I finally found my sweet spot and waited. I wanted something that captured the both the magical and sinister feeling I had when I arrived.Editing
Yes, I edited two exposures of the photo in Lightroom 5 to enhance the contrast, clarity and combined them using HDR pro in Photoshop. I then did some localized adjustments to help define some of the foliage and added a vignette to pull viewers into the photo.In my camera bag
Honestly, I probably carry too much. I've been trying to cut down on things, but I always seem to want things 'just in case'. Currently I have a pretty good compromise, and I carry my Canon 70D body, along with some Tamron lens: 17-50mm, 10-24mm and 70-300mm and circular polarizers for each lens. I also carry a shutter release, Cokin graduated Neutral Density filters (2 stop, 4 stop and a 6 stop), as well as a 9 stop Hoya variable ND filter (which I love!) And last but not least a Manfrotto 055 carbon fiber tripod which has saved me on more occasions than I can count, it's so stable!Feedback
If you are planning on going to an easily accessible, well-known area you will need to have patience beyond what is required for typical landscape. It is likely that lots of other people will be there as well; tourists, other photographers, and the occasional truck advertising restaurants that will make a permanent parking spot in the middle of your shot as soon as all other conditions have aligned.
