Dripping Tap
I saw this dripping tap in a Garden deep inside the Rift Valley in Kenya.
I saw this dripping tap in a Garden deep inside the Rift Valley in Kenya.
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May, 2016Views
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Shallow Depth Of Field Photo Contest
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in Kenya. We were doing a self-drive through that beautiful country and we were staying in Roberts Camp, on the edge of Lake Baringo. This dripping tap was situated in the Camping area. This is where Campers fetch fresh water. The calcification is very bad around the spout, but one can still see the proud brass tap it once was. "The dugout canoe does not know the depth of the water." - Kenyan ProverbTime
This was taken in the afternoon , around 3pm after we stepped off the Dugout Canoe we spent the day in on Lake Baringo. I was walking, bird-watching and stretching my legs after a day sitting in a Dugout. I heard the dripping of water and the soft coo-coo of Doves and the usual Bulbul-twitter and when I rounded a corner I saw this beautiful tap against the backdrop of pink Bougainvillea.Lighting
There was beautiful afternoon light coming through the bush and it was just a natural light photo.Equipment
I shot this image with my Nikon 7000 with the 105mm f2.5. Freehand as I was actually birding and didn't want to be burdened with gear - the Leica Binoculars around my neck and the Nikon 7000 slung over my shoulder was what I needed. I shot on f5 to try and blur the BG but also to retain enough DOF to get the tap in focus nicely.Inspiration
It was just a beautiful image I saw when I happened upon it. The Birds were sitting on the very low little cement wall basin that surrounded the dripping tap and of course, scattered when I rounded the corner. As I crouched to try and get a good angle, a little White-bellied Sunbird swooped in and had a sip of water from the spout and flew off again. I just thought how amazing it is...this old tap, most probably installed in the early 1900's,still providing water for birds and people alike - and how the consecutive generations of birds in the area must have introduced their offspring to the constant water-supply for a century or more. After I took my 3 shots , I moved deeper into the shade and sat for an hour or more there, watching the birds coming in to drink before retiring for the night.Editing
Very little. I shoot RAW and all I did with this was a quick exposure, contrast , highlights and shadows in Lightroom . Sharpened it 15% and needed no noise reduction or anything else. It was perfect as it was.In my camera bag
I always have my Nikon 7100 and D600 and lately, also my Sony Alpha6000 with 300mm lens. Never will I go anywhere without my trusted Nikkor 105mm Micro lens. The Nikkor 24-85 and the Nikkor 70-200. It all gets a bit heavy, but one pays a lot to get to these faraway, exotic places and to then NOT have the equipment needed because you left it at home (!)is not very clever. It's getting more and more difficult with the Airlines these days to get ones heavy Camera-Bag to go as Hand-Luggage - but the alternative (the HOLD) is too ghastly to contemplate. That's why I have invested in a smaller, lighter Camera-mirrorless, the Sony. When I have enough trust in it, I might leave my D600 at home. I hope I will never regret the decision.Feedback
This tap wasn't going anywhere in a hurry, but I am a Nature Photographer first and foremost. Therefore, be prepared-always. If you get the opportunity, sit still and observe. Nature comes to you in unexpected ways if you are quiet. Expect the unexpected and be ready.
