Float the Sky
While photographing the sunset at a local lake, I saw this leaf floating across the water, being blown by the breeze. I was able to take my time and let the le...
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While photographing the sunset at a local lake, I saw this leaf floating across the water, being blown by the breeze. I was able to take my time and let the leaf come toward me and catch it in the right position. I brought out the reflections of the sky to look a little abstract.
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Jan, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at Lake Thunderbird in Norman, Oklahoma. I was out enjoying a sunset and shooting for a photography mentorship and weekly Project 52 I was taking part in.Time
It was a perfect March evening, nice thin clouds, light breeze, the sun had just slipped past the horizon and golden hour was fading to blue. I was seated on a log near the water when the breeze picked up and this leaf started sailing toward me. I got really excited, thinking I might miss it and snapped a few quick shots.Then, took a deep breath and realized the leaf was travelling slowly and turning on the water. I was then able to observe the leaf and take my time to check some settings and frame the shot how I wanted it, waiting for the leaf to be in the right position.Lighting
The only light available was the left over sunlight as night was approaching. There were nice reflections on the water and the last vestiges of light were glinting off the leaf.Equipment
This was shot with my Canon Rebel T3i using the EF-S55-250 kit lens. The only other equipment would be my knee to steady my elbow!Inspiration
I needed to get away, clear my head and do some thinking alone and knew the lake would be a quiet spot since weeknights in March aren't too popular! I took the camera to also spend some "camera therapy" time and work on some assignments for a mentorship and weekly challenge I was a part of. The evening was perfect with only a few other people roaming the park, doing the same thing I was, looking for some peace and solitude. I was shooting the sunset as it was progressing when this leaf slipped across the water and presented itself as a wonderful present! I have learned a lot about photography and my camera since taking this shot, but it remains my very favorite for what it represents. It was the first time I felt like a photographer rather than just another person taking pictures.Editing
This photo was processed in Lightroom 5. I had only been shooting in raw format a few months and was also new to using Lightroom. I wanted to maximize the reflections in the water so that is would look like the leaf was floating on the sky. I also used a radial filter in Lightroom to lighten the leaf and distinguish it from the surrounding reflections.In my camera bag
Well of course I have my Canon Rebel T3i and always have the EF-S18-55 and EF-S55-250 kit lenses. I also love my cheap ND filter for bright skies and long exposure. Got to have that remote trigger because lots of things can be used as a tripod, but sometimes the 10 second self timer just isn't enough! My other faves are a large magnifying glass that turns the world upside down and reversal rings to make macro safer (I had been freelensing, holding the lens wrong way round!)Feedback
Always observe your surroundings, just because you go out with a mind to shoot something specific, keep your eyes and mind open to things that present themselves to you. Take your time and observe your subject, patience will pay off. Even if that butterfly your watching flutters away, stay and wait, it usually flutters back or is followed by another one! Shoot from your heart, it shows in your work! Lastly, don't be afraid to process that photo to show the viewer your true vision!
