Mystery Bay
Mar, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in a tiny town called Mystery Bay on the NSW South Coast in Australia. It was a half an hour walk along a beach to a rocky outcrop. People try to climb on the rocks but their expeditions are often cut short due to the huge, crashing waves that cover the rocks in writhing sea foam.Time
It was about mid-afternoon when I took this photo. I was on a family road-trip, and Mystery Bay was just going to be a quick stop, but the giant rocks at the end of the beach were too tempting. I grabbed my tripod and camera, and set off along the beach. I didn't have much time to capture these photos with my family nagging me to hurry up and telling me "there are more beaches and rocks you can take photos of".Lighting
The sun was slightly behind me, perfectly illuminating the rocks and not over-exposing the sky. I didn't use any artificial lighting here. My priority was to get the rocks slightly under-exposed to give me more flexibility when post-processing and as not to was out the sky completely. This was one of the best shooting conditions I've experienced. It was right place, right time.Equipment
This was shot on a Canon 600D with a Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 and a lightweight Velbon tripod.Inspiration
Seeing the waves crash over these giant rocks in the distance, I just new I had to get closer. Standing at the base of the rocks, watching the water crash over the top of the rocks and rush down through the cracks was stunning. The brooding storm clouds really created this sense of danger and drama, and I wanted to capture that.Editing
There was lots of post-processing for this photo. One of the biggest points of editing was the sky, which was almost completely over-exposed in the raw photo, so I had to pull it down. To recreate that brooding, stormy atmosphere, I made levels, hue, and saturation adjustments. I added a lot of sharpness and clarity enhancers to really bring out all the details of the rocks and sky. I turned down the vibrance in the rocks to better balance with the clouds, and add to the feeling of impending danger. Using brush adjustments, I reduced the exposure of the water, as they were over-exposed in the raw photo. Overall, there were some other basic adjustments to get the final look.In my camera bag
The first lens I always pack is my Sigma 17-50m f/2.8 lens. It is so sharp and the colours look fantastic, especially if you add a polarising filter to it. My trusty Canon 600D body goes in next, which has been at my side for about four years now. Even though it's not a full-frame camera it still takes great images. I then pack my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 in case a portrait or macro opportunity presents itself. Although, now I have my Sigma lens I find myself using the 50mm a lot less. Finally, I pack my Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5. This lens is so wide, I sometimes get my feet or tripod in the shot at 10mm. The sense of freedom and scale you get from shooting at such a wide angle is phenomenal - it's almost a fisheye. I always make sure I have my polarising filter packed to boost a landscape's colours and mess around with reflections. Finally, I pack my Triggertrap kit, which is basically an intervalometer that you control with your phone. I'm really interested in time-lapse so packing this gives me that option.Feedback
Take your camera everywhere. Some of my best photos have been spur of the moment. If you are travelling like I was at the time this was taken, get yourself a really good general-purpose lens (like a 17-50mm) because it will make your holiday photos way better. Secondly, scope out the area before taking any photos. I'd been to Mystery Bay on a previous trip, so I had a rough idea of where I'd like to capture the waves from. Getting an idea of where the sunlight will be angled, and where best to frame your photos will not only save you time, it will allow you to focus more on getting that golden shot. Thirdly, capture photos with the final product in mind. Photography is an art form and encompasses both in-camera and post-processing elements. Don't be afraid to manipulate, augment and really shake up how your photo looks in post, because post-processing is just as important in getting the right look and feel as the in-camera work. Fourthly, use the burst mode on your camera for capturing waves. That way you can pick the exact moment you want. And finally, keep your eye out and photograph anything that you think is interesting or looks good. You never know - it might turn out to be a masterpiece.
