Peaking through
puerto rico sun rise
puerto rico sun rise
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Feb, 2016Views
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Awards
Creative Winter Award
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Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 7
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this picture in San Juan, Puerto Rico while i was on vacation for a week. This little section of the beach happened to be part of my hotels property.Time
Its hard pushing yourself to wake up for sunrise while on vacation, but i made the effort every day i was there. This is pretty much a contradiction to what vacation is supposed to be(rest and relaxation), but i enjoyed it. This was taken at sunrise at 7:30 AM.Lighting
While i didn't experience any heavy rain showers while i was there, it was quite cloudy every morning. The sky was full of deep red colors just on the other side of the seawall, but i was fortunate to have some of that color peak through to where i was shooting. Sunrise colors never last long, so you always have to compose your shots quickly.Equipment
This was shot with a Canon 5d classic equipped with a 17-40mm L lens along with a circular polarizing filer. All mounted on a Slik pro 700dx tripod.Inspiration
No matter where i happen to be, i always try to shoot at least 1 sunrise photo a week. Being on vacation in a tropical country, this opportunity was a no brainier. This particular spot caught my interest as no one would ever imagine it was 20 steps from my hotels doorway. The distinct rocks along with how the waves pushed water up and through them made this a location i couldn't pass up.Editing
I shoot RAW 99% of the time which allows for some detailed post-processing. However, i usually like to keep my landscapes as natural looking as possible when editing in Photoshop. In this photo i added a slight boost to contrast and vibrance along with minimal sharpening. Ended by adjusting the highlights and shadows to give the sky and water more depth. When dealing with sunrise photos, its easy to go overboard due to the amount of colors you're dealing with.In my camera bag
My photography gear is limited but adequate, so i'm usually carrying everything i own in my bag. I carry a Billingham Hadley packed with my Canon 5d classic, Canon 7d, Canon 17-40mm L, Canon 24-70mm L, Canon 50mm f1.8, Rokinon 8mm fish eye, batteries/chargers for both camera's and an assortment of lens filters. I keep my tripod in a separate bag, only carrying it when needed.Feedback
To anyone looking to capture something similar, consistency is the key. Find local spots that interest you and visit them at least once a week during sunrise or sunset. During these selective hours, the amount of color in the sky makes it is a lot easier to compose an image that stands out rather than say, high noon. At the most you will get 10-20 minutes to compose your shots, so the more you practice shooting at this time of day, the easier it becomes. Most importantly, is to not let gear hold you back. All of my equipment listed above besides my bag was purchased used through craigslist. People entering photography tend to think you need the best, most recent gear and that is far from the case. Simply going out to shoot on a consistent basis will help you far more than the latest camera body or newest lens. Shoot RAW, try new angles, and don't rely to heavily on Photoshop. As someone who is self taught, as long as you enjoy what you're doing, the rest should come naturally.
