View across the Lake
Oct, 2016Views
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jonathanbird_0233
November 24, 2016
This was my first attempt to produce an HDR picture. Happy with the way in turned out but looking to improve.
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Behind The Lens
Location
This shot was taken in Thorndon Country Park, Essex, UK, close to where I live and has been featured in more than one of my photographs. The lake, forest and open park land lends itself to so many photographic options.Time
This was one of my early shots, taken soon after purchasing my new camera. I was looking for places to use for practice and knew of this area close to home which I had visited a lot for walking and bike rides. So, with a free afternoon I set out with my entire photographic equipment, body, lens and tripod to try out an HDR capture technique I’d been reading about. I tried several locations around the lake with shots of the lake or trees and different exposures playing with the settings on my new toy trying to learn how to use it, that process still goes on! This was taken on October 21st 2016 at 2:26 PM.Lighting
There was no additional lighting used in this shot. It was a relatively dull day in October in the UK and I just got on with the shot with the available daylight.Equipment
This was shot with my Canon EOS 760D with the kit lens EF-S 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, and the addition of a tripod.Inspiration
I’d bought my camera not long before taking this shot with the aim of using it at my son’s wedding. He got married in Dallas TX so I wanted to be able to take some good quality shots to remember the day. With this in mind I had made my purchase based on what I could afford and set out to practise when ever I could. I’d seen photos with colour ranges I knew were just not possible with out some sort of manipulation so after a little research off I went to play. I can't say I actually used this technique at the wedding but I did get some good shots which easily rivalled the official photographers.Editing
Being new to the game and experimenting I'd used a technique I'd read about in the help section of the software I was using at the time which had initially come free with my laptop, Corel Paintshop Pro. This involved taking multiple shots at different exposures then combining them within the software. This produced a number of options as results, some more pleasing than others, each could be tweaked before finally producing an end product. I didn't really know what I was doing but played with the various sliders and adjusted bits until I was happy with the result.In my camera bag
Since starting my photography journey there has only been one or to additions to the bag. I’m still using the original kit I purchased, the Canon EOS 760D with 18-135 zoom but have added three more lens’ to my collection. I have a Canon EFS 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM for those wider angles, a Canon EFS 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM for a bit more reach and a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. Not much else has been added bar an extra travel tripod and a few filters. In addition, I always have the Camera on my mobile phone and I’m still using an Olympus Tough I’ve had a number of years, you can take it anywhere, drop it or submerge it and it keeps knocking out shots (This has been extensively tested). I have though given in to the pull of Adobe Photoshop for my editing.Feedback
In these days of digital photography final results can be almost instantaneous and compared with the old 35mm film days cheap once you have made your initial out lay on equipment, so get out there and practice. I've taken thousands of shots and discarded the majority but the ratio is getting smaller. Go out with an open mind. The best planning for one particular shot may mean nothing with changeable weather conditions. The old adage, failing to prepare is preparing to fail, sums it up. Take your time to learn, read the help pages, see what others are doing, realise what mistakes you make and how to correct them. But at the end of the day remember its your work and what you like may not be what another person likes, it's all subjective.
