University of Ghana Library
This is the library at on the Legon Campus at the Unviersity of Ghana, reflected in the fountain pond.
This is the library at on the Legon Campus at the Unviersity of Ghana, reflected in the fountain pond.
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May, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo at the University of Ghana in Accra, near the centre of their campus. The building in shot is the University library, a real hub of activity.Time
We had stopped off on our tour of the campus at the library just after a huge rainstorm at about 3pm. The cloud cover provided us with a brief respite from the otherwise punishing afternoon heat.Lighting
I really wanted to embrace the pastel colours used in a lot of Ghanaian architecture and the cloud cover from the storm meant that I was able to capture the real visual experience without having to worry about the intense African sun creating problems with glare on the pond and off the pale colours of the building.Equipment
For this picture I simply used a Niton Coolpix point-and-shoot as this was all I had available on our whistle-stop tour of the University.Inspiration
I was really enjoying experiencing the Ghanaian lifestyle, particularly in their education system. This picture provided me with the perfect opportunity to capture the beauty of the country in a focal point of their constantly developing society: the University.Editing
I was lucky in that the conditions for this picture were favourable, and there was not much work to be done in post-processing. I played with the contrast and saturation in order to try and create three distinct components in both halves of the picture: the library and the trees, contrasted against the bleak sky. Obviously the most significant feature of the processing is that I rotated the picture 180 degrees. For me, this adds an extra dimension to the image, because it's not immediately apparent as the pond was so beautifully still and reflective. It takes a second to realise, and a few more seconds to be intrigued and appreciate the beauty of the setting.In my camera bag
My pack-up usually consists of a few essentials and then whatever else I think I may need depending on my environment or what I hope to capture. My main vessel is the Canon 70D, a brilliant DSLR by all accounts, which also offers full HD video recording for keen videographers such as myself. I have a range of lenses but the basic 18-55mm it was supplied with works wonders and is small enough to keep in the case. I also carry the Nikon Coolpix as a quick and easy digital point-and-shoot camera, equipped with full HD video and a handy 22x optical zoom. In addition to the cameras I keep the Joby Gorillapod as an all-purpose tripod, along with other accessories such as polarising filters for every eventuality.Feedback
Taking advantage of your environment is key. The weather plays a huge part in this which means that generally you have to get lucky. However, you also have to be able to recognise a good opportunity, otherwise your luck will be meaningless. Being able to spot a well-choreographed environment or appreciate dramatic weather and lighting conditions is a really important skill to have, and practice makes perfect.
