Fingers of God IMG_8196_HDR
The sun breaking through the clouds during a heavy storm created this dramatic image.
The sun breaking through the clouds during a heavy storm created this dramatic image.
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Jan, 2017Views
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Awards
Fall Award 2020
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
Ahaura, on the West Coast of the South Island, New ZealandTime
It was mid afternoon on a very stormy day.Lighting
Nature smiled on me! The lighting was a feature of the storm. The shafts of sunlight through the storm clouds created the dramatic lighting.Equipment
It was taken using a Canon EOS 6D. EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens.Inspiration
We had planned a photo trip after dropping a friend off at Murchison. The weather was horrendous but we took our cameras hoping the storms might pass. After brief excursions from the car trying to protect cameras from the rain the storms seemed to separate giving brief interludes. The clouds and mist over the hills on the other side of the valley looked worthy of a shot. When the shafts of sunlight broke through creating a perfect spotlight on the lone tree I took lots of shots exploring different angles, focal lengths and exposures. I was sure I would have something worthwhile and also recognised that it was a perfect candidate for HDR treatment. I was correct and I have a number of slightly different images that I am more than happy with.Editing
The first thing I did was to create an HDR image from 3 exposures, allowing me to bring out the drama in the sky. I decided to try converting the image to black and white to further enhance the drama of the scene. I used the orange filter preset in Lightroom then tweaked the exposure and highlights until I had an image I was happy with.In my camera bag
I carry an EOS 5DSR and a EOS 6D as a backup. Spare batteries. EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM, EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM. Black glass filter. Cleaning cloths & fluid. An old face flannel for drying the camera should there be rain. Remote release. I also carry a Gitzo tripod with a ball head.Feedback
This was a classic case of there is always an opportunity. A day of truly torrential rain and storms is not a favoured photographic scenario but I got some great shots that day. Always have a camera in the car and be prepared to seize the moment. It is also worth experimenting with camera settings and taking lots of shots (I took over 50 of this at the time).
