Sunrise
Waikato, NZ
Waikato, NZ
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Jan, 2016Views
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Awards
People's Choice in Breathtaking views Photo Challenge
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Magnificent Capture
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
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Behind The Lens
Location
It was taken on a hill from the fence-line of my rural property in New Zealand looking over frosty grass, rolling paddocks, distant hills and tall trees.Time
It was taken early morning just as the sun was rising. It was a freezing winter morning but fortunately I didn't have to trudge too far in my pjs and gumboots. As I'm on top of a hill I get an awesome view from my boundary. I find early morning is ideal for these sort of photos as the lighting creates a soft pastel one-colour effect along with the dark shadows, tree silhouettes and soft mist.Lighting
Timing is important...a few minutes too late and the sun rays start to dominate and make the image lose that softness. And it's hard on the eyes!Equipment
I used my Sony a6000 mirrorless camera with a Sony FE 70-200mm zoom lens. I set it to aperture priority- f 6.3, ISO 200, 1/250. My camera was handheld with image stability set on my zoom lens.Inspiration
I find early mornings, especially on clear, cool, frosty days, so beautiful and breathtaking that it inspires me to try to capture the scene on my camera. I have taken many photographs In this location and each one is different in some way ...whether it's the colours, lighting, shadows, or weather conditions. For me this time of the day is perfect to capture the peacefulness and beauty of scenery.Editing
I always shoot in raw so some processing is necessary but in this case only a little was needed. I used Lightroom and increased the exposure, contrast, decreased the shadows and upped the clarity a little.In my camera bag
Along with my camera and FE 70-200 lens my bag always contains an extra battery and extra memory cards. I learnt the hard way on a group photo trip where I had to leave half way through the day because of a dead battery! Never again. I travel lightly for comfort and my Sony a6000 is ideal as it's incredibly light.Feedback
Find a location with a view, preferably on a hill, check the weather the night before and wake early. Plan to get to the area just as the sun appears on the horizon. Set your camera to aperture priority and use a medium aperture to allow more light through the lens. I find f6.3 up to f8 a good starting point for this type of early morning scene with the lowest ISO possible. And stay warm!
