New Dawn
Jun, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I remember meeting up with a group of friends, after waking up around 6AM. They already were experienced Landscape photographers. Hanging out with them this time, I tried to photograph a theme that was new to me: Sunrise! And so, to this location, on a winter’s day morning, we arrived. With great expectation, I witnessed the brief moment often known as Blue Hour (the moments immediately previous to the first appearance of the Sun). Such beauty! It was cold,— very cold—, and an ambience of such quietude, wherein one could just listen, here and there, the taking of photos… Each one of us was committed to the registering of the most beauteous moments we could. We stayed until the sun was high, circa 9:30AM, exchanging our photographic ideas and impressions, all the while being smoothly heated by the first rays of a winter’s day Sun.Time
This was taken on 30th January at 8:38AM, 2016. It was one of the best mornings I can remember ever witnessing...Lighting
As this was my first attempt at landscape photography at sunrise, I had some difficulty at establishing a good duration for the exposure of so dynamically peculiar a lighting... Starting with 3 minutes, the result was under-exposed… with 5, and then 7 minutes, still under-exposed… At the 10-minutes-attempt, it was still not quite perfect. Meanwhile, with the experimenting of filters and some more prolonged shots, the light was constantly mutating and getting brighter, and still was I prolonging the time of exposure! I had to find the correct time!... Then, after trying 15 seconds, this photo, finally, resulted. I made another one and already I had to reduce the exposure to 13 secs time, for the presence of the Sun, as expected, became satisfactory… I confess I was nervous for fear of losing that precise moment in time; knowing this was a race against it (or, perhaps better said, against the light)…Equipment
This was shot with a canon senior, one Canon EOS 20D, with a Canon16-35 mm 1:2.8 L II USM, a Lee filter system 100x150 3-stop soft-edge graduated ND and a tripod.Inspiration
Already for some time, I wanted to photograph this moment of the crepuscule,— the so called Blue Hour. Already was I acquainted with the technique which it required, so I wanted to experience it. I reckon, it was a challenge, that I well accomplished.Editing
It is usually said that landscape photography requires a lot of processing. In my case, I prefer to make the best of what already is within my reach at the moment that I take a photo. Thus my use of filters. In this case, the graduated ND filter I used gave me the possibility of balancing adequately the quantity of light in accordance with the long time of exposure, and highlighting the hot and cold colour tonalities. I did not find any utility in the use of double exposure, being able to capture all I wanted in a single one. The only thing I thought peremptory, to do in post-processing, was a slight correction of horizontality for the photo was a slightly atilt due to some difficulty in adjusting the tripod/camera in the horizontal because it was dark and the ground was irregular.In my camera bag
I usually photograph exteriors, so, the first thing I always pack now a days is my new Canon EOS 5D Mark III (this new model was a gift to myself (and I am still testing it…), deciding to give my 20D to my daughter). The second thing I pack are the lens used in this photo: a canon 16-35 mm 1:2.8 L II USM, thirdly, but not least, is my canon 200mm 1:2.8 L ultrasonic (heavy, but worth it for when I want to catch some distracted person or something more delicate in the midst of some confusion…) And like Corindimopoulos: «I like my equipment to weigh a lot, it gives me faith in the quality and robustness...»Feedback
It is often said: «One of the features of a landscape photographer is to have patience and wait for the right time»; but I also add that we should have some idea of how much time this will take, the waiting of the ´´The light`` and ´´The right time``. For even if the sun comes and goes everyday it does so quickly! Oh!... and to not forget: - A handkerchief to cover the visor while the camera stays exposed. - A head lantern: to take this kind of photo at sunrise we need to arrive at our spot while it is still dark, usually a location with no light. In this manner it is not easy to adjust the horizon to the correct position. And if on a dock it is not easy to choose the spot to focus… A lamp in one’s head is very helpful lest one should mistake one filter for another… Also, remembering to switch off the lantern when not necessary, for it may ruin our work or our friend’s. It is peremptory to note that the cameras are ‘’open’’ and all the while exposed! If one’s spot is near the water, caution is needed for the rocks are slippery!... ;))) ---and that is all, Thanks so much!!!
