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The sunset hit these surfers just right! And away he goes!

The sunset hit these surfers just right! And away he goes!
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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken off the shore of Tybee Island, Georgia in December of 2015. It was a beautiful day with plenty of waves for these remarkable surfers.

Time

This was a relaxing sightseeing day for us. It was later in the evening and we took a drive from Savannah out to the island. I put my feed in the ocean and let the breeze blow by me. Being from Canada, it was pretty odd standing in water that wasn't frozen at the beginning of December but it was great. We went for a walk down the pier and had the privilege of seeing this man and some of his comrades surfing the waves in the sunset. They looked so relaxed, like the board was attached to their feet from birth. As I stood in envy of the calmness surrounding me I took out my camera and captured the moment to the best of my ability.

Lighting

Let the sun work for you. Let it move, take different shots and angles as it goes down for the night. You will end up with tons of shots that look totally different all thanks to the height of the sun!

Equipment

I used my Nikon D800 and a F2.8 70-200mm lens. I wasn't carrying my tripod so used the railing on the pier to steady myself.

Inspiration

I really wanted a beautiful photo of the ocean and it's serenity. I also wanted a photo of nice weather and how beautiful it was in Georgia for my friends back home to see. These surfers were doing what I would've loved to be doing but, unfortunately, December is the off season for tourists so there aren't any board shops or lessons available! Cheers to next time I see the ocean.

Editing

I try not to do a ton of post processing when it comes to photographing people. With this gentleman having the sunset behind him I lightened him a bit to see him in less of a silhouette. I also enhanced the color of the sunset to make it match what I actually seen that day.

In my camera bag

Typically I carry a bag with my Nikon D800 and 3 lenses: 1 macro, 1 wide angle, and 1 telephoto. I always have a tripod in the trunk if needed. I try to leave the flash in the car as I just find it gives such a cold non-natural light.

Feedback

This shot is all about timing. If you are trying to capture him with the sunset in behind it truly is a waiting game with the sun. If it's too high it will reflect on your lense, if it is too low the water won't shine. It is also about your placement. If you are standing with a 45 degree angle from your lens to the sun the reflection on the water should be just right and the surfer won't be nothing but a black silhouette. I stood and paced up and down the pier to find my perfect spot I wanted. Then I just had to wait for the guys to catch a wave and love it!

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