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Feb, 2016Views
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sweetsoulful
April 23, 2016
thank you! I have several i am working on - hoping to get them uploaded soon!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
In our small town, there are treasures hidden just about every where. For me, it's about having the patience to find them and creating a perspective that is interesting and engaging! Webberville is a rural farming community and this particular creek flows through acres and acres of farm land before it meets the Red Cedar River,which in turn flows into the Grand River.Time
This particular morning, I had gotten up and taken a look out the window - a heavy fog had blanketed our town and I knew this was an excellent photo-op. I snagged my camera and coffee and wandered around the outskirts, the sun was just starting to peek through the fog. I hit the low spot in the river walked around looking for that perfect spot where the light hit the trees and the fog was still thick. Seeing how calm and peaceful the river was and how clearly the trees were reflecting the water, I had found my spot!Lighting
The fog and light and shadows made for a perfectly dramatic, yet calming image. It was still early morning - normally a bright time of day, but the heavy fog acted much like a light diffuser. It creates soft shadows and gentle contrast.Equipment
This was taken with my Canon 5D Mark II and my 24-105mm lensInspiration
At the time, I was working on a photo challenge - the theme was black and white landscape.Editing
Yes! I did post process this image - I converted it to black and white, cropped the image in a little closer so the focus was on the river and the reflection of the trees on the water (the original was a horizontal landscape - but it seemed like the portrait really enhanced the size of the trees as well as the direction of the river). I also made some light adjustments to the shadows and contrast.In my camera bag
My bag always has my camera, my 24-105 and my prime lens (nifty-fifty, anyone?) - I also carry a speedlite, lens hood and of course - extra cards & batteries. I find that the basics never fail me!Feedback
Don't be afraid to slow down and take a good look around you - sometimes those magical moments you are seeking are found in the most obvious places. I have driven past this spot often - knowing how beautiful and quiet this spot was and always wondering how I could really bring that out in a photo. That morning, I instinctively knew that I had to go - knowing that the fog might somehow give this place a more magical feel. I would say that as you go about your day-to-day, make a mental note (or keep a list of ideas in your phone even, I have done this too!) of the places that interest you. Everything looks different in different types of light and at different times of day- different seasons even. Go back to the places that capture your attention when the weather or the seasons change. See how they look - and figure out how those pieces all need to fit together to create the images you want. I just found a really fantastic quote - I loved it so much that I have it posted on my wall - "photography is putting one's eye and one's heart on the same axis." (Henri Cartier Bresson). Genius! This is what photography is for me, and for so many of us - and it really is how the most thoughtful images are created - it's storytelling using light and heart and mindfulness.
