Morning
Aug, 2016Views
370
Likes
Awards
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 30 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in my front yard in Kentucky. Dew drops are one of my favorite subjects and it's fun to find different ways to photograph them. I have a certain spot in my yard that's on a slope and it gets the kind of light that I like, so I will spend a lot of time there looking for different tiny scenes to photograph.Time
You have to wake up early to get good dew pictures. I took this about 7:30 am, just before the sun got bright enough to dry up all of the grass. The sun has to be out in order to get the best drop shots, cloudy mornings won't "dew"! So, there's a very short window between when the sun first comes up, then hits the leaves and when the drops dry up for good. Also, insects are sleepier in the morning so it's easier to catch them being still!Lighting
In this particular shot, the sun hasn't quite come up hight enough to hit the subject yet. There's still a nice golden glow coming in and not too much reflection on the drops. You can tell it's morning, and you can tell a beautiful day is about to begin.Equipment
I use a Nikon D750, 105mm 2.8 macro lens, and a GorillaPod tripod for all of my ground shots. I never use a flash.Inspiration
I loved the way the leafhopper found the only dry spot to sit amongst all of the fragile dew drops. It was like he knew if he moved, he would get wet, so he's just waiting there for the sun to come up!Editing
This is actually several photos stacked together. I changed the focus very slightly with each shot, then I used Photoshop to blend them. It helped reveal more detail in the leafhopper and the drops by stacking them and gives the image less of a 2 dimensional look. After stacking, I cropped, then did minor adjustments with the brightness, contrast and sharpness.In my camera bag
I have an awesome "fanny pack" that I bought in an outdoor sporting gear shop that I converted into a camera bag. I can fit my camera and 3 lenses - usually a 8mm fisheye, the 105mm macro, and maybe a small 35 mm or my 70-300mm . The front of the pack has a bungee chord that I hang my GorillaPod from. I don't like carrying backpacks and I wanted something I can get into quickly to switch lenses, so the fanny pack works great for me. If anyone wants specifics on the pack I use, feel free to send me a message.Feedback
Other than the fact that you need to be willing to lay down in wet grass at 7:30 am, I think the best advice is to be aware of the light more than anything else. It makes all the difference. Have a lot of patience, relax, and enjoy the morning. It's my favorite time of day because I can take shots like these!
