The Lonely Shell
Feb, 2016Views
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Top Shot Award 22
Contest Finalist in Shells Photo Contest
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on the beach of Shackleford Banks in the outer banks of North Carolina. Before anyone else had gotten to that side of the island, I saw this shell sitting there. This little island is notorious for having big shells just roll up on the beach. my kids helped me keep the space from having footprints or anything around it as I took the shot. I am inspired by so many things and I do not go crazy with edits. I like nature at its best.Time
I'm not even sure of the exact time of day because this was a while back, but we took the first ferry out to the island, so this would have been early morning, probably around 9:00.Lighting
The lighting felt a bit harsh on this day because of the bright sun and blue skies. It can be hard sometimes to get that right recipe. I did not want to move it for a better stage, so I just kind of moved around IT until I saw the perfect shadow and background. I tried the ISO 200 but it was not right, so I tried the ISO at 100 and it was good. Things may have been different if I had been on a different side of the island, so this just kind of worked out. I also got on the ground and laid down to take this, and that affects the lighting as well.Equipment
This shot was taken with my Canon EOS REBEL T5, ISO 100, Shutter 1/160, f/9, and my focal length of 34/1 I was laying on the ground and set down a flat card to set my camera on while I took the shot in order to protect it from the sand.Inspiration
I wanted to capture a solitary moment in time, before footprints and people walking around, when nature is safe and perfect. I feel like I was capturing this shell's moment before discovery. It may sound silly, but it's almost like it has its own personality, left behind and just waiting in the loneliness before it was "adopted".Editing
I don't usually do a whole lot of post-processing on my landscape or nature shots. I try to take the shot so I don't HAVE to do post-processing. I know it puts me in a different category then most "advanced" photographers, because I don't add effects and trick the eye, but I like nature to LOOK like nature. On this shot I think I added minimal saturation to bring out the blue in the shell and to define the sand's colors.In my camera bag
My Canon EOS Rebel T5, a basic portrait lens, telephoto and wide angle lens, a monopod and a tripod, white card and cloths. Tripods and monopods are amazing to reduce the shake, but I was on the ground on this shot.Feedback
My suggestion would be that in bright sunlight with some shadows, start off with ISO 200, shutter 1/250, and f/16 and adjust from there to get the right shadows and lighting. This shot was taken with ISO 100, Shutter 1/160, and f/9. You don't have to have expensive or fancy lenses or cameras to be able to take the landscape or nature shots you want. Ansel Adams didn't have a fancy digital camera. Be creative, get on the ground, move AROUND your subject to find the perfect lighting, or stand on something to get a different angle. I feel like I learn something new with each shot I take, and I love that about photography. Look for inspiration in the small things, sometimes they get overlooked. Document life. I submitted this photo to Alamy, and it was purchased as a stock photo, and it was all because I saw it sitting there alone, and beautiful.
