leonardburgess

IceCrystals1-24'13_5448

Canon EOS REBEL T1i

settings

Aperture f/5.6 ISO 125 Shutter 1/50

upload_date

Jan, 2014

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256

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+37

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken on one of the old storm windows of my house (I don't have newer double thermal pane windows). The window frosts up and forms these ice crystals when the temperature gets into the teens and single numbers creating unbelievable natural design and patterns.

Time

I get up at the break of dawn, hoping for a sunny day, so when it gets bright enough I’ll be ready. I have 7 windows and have to run around the house, usually in my bathrobe, to check all the windows to find the best crystal formations because the temperature changes so fast and the crystals will start to melt.

Lighting

The lighting in this type of subject is what comes in from the outside. So the sun or bright sky is the source coming through the ice crystals. What ever is on the outside in brightness, different colors, form and pattern will illuminate the ice in incredible ways. That is why you must move around for each shot to see what happens through the ice.

Equipment

For this shot I used a Canon Rebel T1i with an 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens, held with no flash or tripod.

Inspiration

I’ve been taking pictures since I was 15 (I’m now 83) starting with a Kodak box camera back in the 1950s. At an early age I was fascinated by the fantastic crystal formations in the winter on the house windows and always had wanted to photograph them. Back in 2006 I was able to do so with a new Canon G-9 digital camera and have been photographing hundreds of them ever since. I basically shoot nature and wildlife from bugs to the moon and anything in between. I also love to do abstract photography.

Editing

To me It's all about the image. My equipment can do what I need done, and to me it's not so much about what tons of equipment can do and more what I saw and felt at the time of the shot. I then try to bring that moment or feeling to life. Usually the overall photo is rather flat and with no brilliance to the colors and the light and dark areas have been digitally recorded over or under exposed, so you have to go get the "not like what it was" areas and bring them out and make them right. To me Photoshop Elements helps bring, more to life, what the camera didn't see and make it right. But, I try not to over-saturate or over-sharpen, but make it look as natural as I can.

In my camera bag

I don't have much equipment with me when I'm out shooting. My main camera is a Canon Rebel SL1 with 2 Canon lenses, an 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens and a 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 IS II zoom lens. I always carry a small Canon SX700 camera, which is a great little camera that has a 30 times zoom. Of course I have camera cases, lens caps, extra batteries and digital cards and a flash unit with me and a tripod in the car. I very rarely use a flash.

Feedback

It’s best to take the photos at a reasonable speed with a high f stop and a low ISO. Hand holding the camera is necessary because the ice formations are so small and I literally must take many photos in a short time. It’s best to shoot at different angles and distances because the light and color coming through the ice changes with each camera position. I’m able to hold the camera against the inside window on the close shots which makes a very stable situation when shooting at a very slow speed.

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leonardburgess

IceCrystals1-24'13_5448

Behind The Lens

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