chicago sunrise
Aug, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo on the northernmost beach in Chicago, on Lake Michigan. I had climbed a lifeguard tower to get a good view.Time
I took this photo at sunrise on a beautiful summer morning. I was in the midst of teaching myself how to photograph at night, so I decided to go to the beach about an hour before sunrise and practice there, since there are great views of highrises, the lake, and the downtown skyline. I repeated this practice for several days in a row, so I could try to improve my techniques after viewing my results. This photo was taken on the fourth day, after I perched myself up on a lifeguard tower. The skies were the most clear they had been all week, and I was excited to capture the sun from the moment it came up. The golden reflection on the clouds at the horizon appeared before the sun peaked itself over the water.Lighting
I was inspired by the way the sun's rays were absorbed by the clouds. Even before the sun hit the horizon, you could see the golden reflection on the puffy clouds above, as well as in a whispy, mirage-like appearance at the horizon. I was equally inspired by the pinks, purples and blues that layered themselves under the fading night sky. I wanted to capture the light as it completely changed the view from night into morning.Equipment
This photo was shot on a Kodak PixPro, with a tripod.Inspiration
I love mornings, I love the beach, I love sunrises on Lake Michigan. Those elements all led me to take this photo. I really loved the colors, and the way the golden light reflected of the clouds, air, and water.Editing
I barely had to do any post-processing on this photo, thanks to the vibrant colors and great conditions that morning. I increased the contrast very slightly, and adjusted the brightness to reflect the true-life experience of that morning.In my camera bag
As a new photography buff, I don't have much (and even less since my camera bag was recently stolen!). But I always carried my simple Kodak PixPro, with an awesome Canon 12" tripod, that was sturdy, strong, and super-portable. I also kept a portable battery-charger, lens cleaner and a great towel for cleaning the lens.Feedback
Chicago tends to have a lot of activity going on around the lakefront, that might not be predicted, or even visible from a mile away. I definitely had to learn to be patient, as I said, this was my fourth sunrise shoot in as many days. Another thing I learned, was not to judge my mistakes, but to learn from them and apply them the next time the opportunity presented itself. I also learned that some days I set out with a subject in mind, but the universe doesn't always comply, so I try to go with the flow when I get thrown a curveball. I employed the technique of photographing the same thing every day for several days in a row, so that each day I could see the results of the different combinations of camera settings and exterior conditions.
