Haunted Mem Gym
An experiment that wound up looking like a photo taken on a cloudy, moonlit night.
An experiment that wound up looking like a photo taken on a cloudy, moonlit night.
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Apr, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This is a composite photo. The building is the University of Idaho, Moscow Campus, Memorial Gym, or "Mem Gym" as we call it. The second photo used is a cloudy sky that I shot from the side of US Highway 95 just north of Viola, Idaho.Time
The "Mem Gym" photo was shot in full daylight, mid-afternoon. The cloudy sky was shot about 8 AM.Lighting
I actually used two different lightings for this image. The "Mem Gym" is in full daylight. The cloudy sky, obviously, was much softer light. It was this combination that helped create the final product.Equipment
My camera is a Canon SL-1. I used my go-to lens, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/1:3.5-5.6 IS STM on both photos. In both cases, I had the image stabilizer on. I had the focus on manual for the clouds, which created a slightly soft focus. The autofocus feature was used on the "Mem Gym."Inspiration
I almost always have my camera with me. When I see something that looks picturesque, I take the shot if I can. In the case of both original photos, it was just an opportunity shot I took while on my way to other activities. It was only later that I got the idea to combine them.Editing
Yes, I did a bit of processing. I am actually new to digital photography so I decided that I wanted to experiment with composite photos to see what I was capable of and what my software would do for me. I chose the "Mem Gym" because it had a cloudless sky and I wanted to see if I could add a cloudy sky behind it. I didn't really achieve my goal, but I did come out with an image that I thought looked like a few beams of moon light coming through both clouds and fog to illuminate the tower. I liked the look a lot, so I darkened it a bit more and saved it. I am fond of saying that "happy accidents" can and do happen and we should be open to them when they come along.In my camera bag
I carry my SL-1, an 18-55mm lens, a 100-300mm zoom lens, a spare battery, a hot shoe flash, a polarizer filter, and a couple battery chargers. That's about it. I carry my tripod in the truck with me and I will drag it out if I go out specifically to shoot. I'd like a couple more lenses, a better tripod, and a few neutral density filters, but for now, I like what I am getting with what I have.Feedback
First, keep your camera with you! You never know when that "just right" image will present itself to you. Take the picture when you can and you can always process it at a convenient time. Camera phones are good for scouting locations and for selfies, but they just don't capture things well most of the time. Second, know the limits of your equipment so that you can maximize the potential for a good shot. If you know a subject is too far away for the lens you're using, change lenses or try to get closer. Third, take a few extra seconds to think about the composition. A well-thought out composition can be the difference between a great photo in camera and a lot of processing time that might not pay off. Fourth, don't be afraid to shoot the same location several times to get different light, different angles, different seasons. Many places take on a whole new character over the course of the seasons. There's a bridge in the University of Idaho arboretum that I see differently every time I pass it. It has been a great subject. Also: when you think you're done shooting a spot, turn around! You never know what you might turn up with. Several of my favorite shots were taken after I first thought I was done shooting and then turned around just to be sure. Fifth, get on YouTube, Vimeo, or similar websites and watch how-to videos for the kind of photography you want to shoot. All of us can use new knowledge and occasional reminders of good technique. Professionals in any field will constantly train. Photography benefits from this, too, whether or not you're a pro or a hobby shooter. Think about what you want to tell or document with your image. As both an art and a science, you can be both artistic and documentary at the same time. You can also do each to the exclusion of the other. Don't be afraid to express your vision! If you need to break the Rule of Thirds once in a while, do it. It's your art, make it what you want it to be to tell the story you want to tell the way you want to tell it. Happy shooting!
