Destroyed by Volcano
a church in Montserrat destroyed by volcano eruption.
a church in Montserrat destroyed by volcano eruption.
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Mar, 2016Views
1435
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Awards
Super-Wide 14mm Lens
Contest Finalist in Beauty In Ruins Photo Contest
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Genius
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David_Blakley_Photography
June 23, 2016
Congrats on becoming a finalist in the "Beauty in Ruins" contest. I like the details in the charred timbers.
derekgalon
June 23, 2016
Thanks! That was an amazing place. what you see on the wood is thic coat of silver powdery volcanic ash. with every step you created a puff of it in the air...
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
The image shows interior of a destroyed church in Plymouth, Montserrat, West Indies. Plymouth was the capital town of Montserrat until its tragic end. It is area destroyed by volcano some 20 years ago, and still off limits to public, with volcano still active and dangerous.Time
I don't remember time of day. mid-day, I expect. I was hired to photograph Montserrat for its Tourism Authority, and had a rare chance to have a glimpse of destroyed towns. We went there for mere 90 minutes with a special guide from volcano institute constantly checking conditions.Lighting
I used tripod and only natural light. exposures were long, but tripod and remote control made it possible.Equipment
Nikon D700, I think, tripod and remote. P photographed also outside, and then i hand held my camera, and used polarizing filter, often taking bracketed photos. you can see more photos from that series on our blog here https://ozonezonebooks.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/montserrat-another-photo-shoot-trip-to-the-caribbean/Inspiration
I was hired to do various photos of Montserrat, with these destroyed towns being only a small part of the job. Even our visit there was short, it was one of most memorable shoots of my life. It was like photographin a war zone. The moment of destruction is registered there at every step, like frozen in time. Personal belongings scattered in panic and visible through broken windows of houses half-buried in lava, mud and ash… offices hurriedly left in the middle of work… pages of musical scores dropped on the floor of a shattered church – perhaps left behind by members of an evacuated choir… something I will never forget.Editing
Post processing is rather simple here - at least as for my style of work. refining details (so you can see well this silvery volcanic ash everywhere on benches and floor), saturation adjustment, some dodging and burning, and little bit of perspective correction. That's all.In my camera bag
My bag is painfully heavy. and often I still need another bag too. Nikon D800, and D7100, 4 or 5 lenses - from superwide to tele, 24-70 f1:2.8 zoom, 105mm macro, and so on. Remote cable, ND filters, polarizing filters, spare batteries. Then often SB800, tripod (carbon fibre for its light weight). That goes with me most times. and sometimes i need additional stands for flashes, umbrella, a firefly light modifier, and other things. my drone goes usually on top of my backpack, along with canon video camera. Heavy!Feedback
this was once a life time shooting opportunity. so, you have to control excitement and focus 110% on your job. no distractions. you need to make sure what you do is at your best. pay ettention to details, light, composition, perspective, etc. no chatting, nohurrying, it just has to be the best possible work. Good luck! By the way, Montserrat just now opened this "forbidden zone" to short guided tours. So, now you can experience a similar thing. An island well worth visiting.
