hope
Mar, 2016Views
459
Likes
Awards
Member Selection Award
Spring Selection Award
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
All Star
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 2
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo at a local golf course a few miles away from home. It wasn't a planned shot, as I was there to fix a computer, not intending to take photos. I happened to be in the right place at the right time and snapped a few photos as I became inspired by the scene before me.Time
This was taken around 5 P.M. on February 9th. It was nearing sunset during winter, leading to this soft lighting against the harsh yellow of grass struggling to stay alive after the snow fell and melted. It was beginning to show signs of spring, and that was the hope I refer to in the title.Lighting
I knew I wanted to work the sun in somehow, and tried a few different angles before I realized the best way to fit it into the shot was off to the left, where the rays could visibly overlap the barren landscape giving it a promise of the future, along with letting the chain add a layer of depth. I kept the lens flare on the right in the shot, adding another layer to the scene.Equipment
I used an iPhone 5S to snap the photo quickly and efficiently, knowing it would turn out exactly the way I wanted it. No tripod, no flash, no detachable lens.Inspiration
I saw the way the sun and clouds looked in the sky, full of so much warmth and magic above the seemingly drab and dreary winter landscape, and realized that I could showcase the two coexisting together, winter and spring, giving the landscape a new life. I let the sun speak for itself, telling us that hope is always there in some form, and that positivity can be shared through a single photograph.Editing
I added a bit of color to make the water and blue sky pop and stand out even more than they already did.In my camera bag
I keep my iPhone 6s Plus with me at all times for simple day to day photos, and my Canon EOS Rebel SL1 for the more advanced photography when I want to take my time and dedicate myself to a shot.Feedback
To capture a photo with the sun in optimal position, you need to find out what you want in the scene and how you can incorporate the sun into it. Early morning during and after sunrise or late evening just before sunset is the optimal time to get out and start taking photos. Find a place you'll want to dedicate an hour or so to. Experiment with the composition, figure out what pleases your eye the most. Ask yourself questions, like "should that tree be in our out of the shot?" and "How much of the chain should I show?" Try crouching down or reaching up to find the right angle. And make sure you're always having fun with your photography, because it shows in your photos.
