A Beautiful Start
Sunrise at a tea plantation in Malaysia
Sunrise at a tea plantation in Malaysia
Read less
Read less
May, 2017Views
3170
Likes
Awards
Action Award
Zenith Award
Top Shot Award 22
Creative Winter Award
Summer 2020
Peer Choice Award
Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 22
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Virtuoso
Genius
Superior Skill
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 30 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rank
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This image was captured at a famous tea plantation estate at Cameron Highlands , MalaysiaTime
This was taken at sunrise from a look out point en-route to the famous BOH Tea Plantation estate. However, its not easy at it seems. Since it was a rained unexpectedly and generally Cameron Highlands is misty, you really need to hard press your luck for good light. . Everyday, it was either cloudy, too much mist or just rained heavily during my stay here.It took me 5 visits to get this image that I had in my mind. Also, its very accessible, expect a large number of crowd. Although sunrise was nearly around 6.40 AM, i was already there by 6AM to book my place at the exact point I wanted.Lighting
This place is 2000 meters above the sea level . So lighting is difficult here thru out the year because of the mist and the clouds. You would be very lucky if you can get great light in your first visit. However on a good day, the sun just emerges at the back of the mountain and shines beautifully on the lovely green tea leaves.For this image, I was also in luck as it rained rather heavily a few hours earlier , so the wet leaves had the lovely colours of the suns shinning thru them.Equipment
For the first time, I tried out my Fuji XT-2 for my landscape work. I had my 10-24 Fujinon lense mounted for this image. Besides this, my trusted Manfrotto tripod with a cable release. By the way this image turned out, no issues using the Fuji for landscape work. However, not letting go my trusted Nikon gear yet.Inspiration
Cameron Highlands is a major tourist attraction in Malaysia. I have seen many travel shots and postcards thru out the years of this valley which always stuck in my mind. I actually already had an image en-visioned in my mind even before I arrived here. I knew with a good light, I could get a very good image here. The challenge was always the weather where the forecast can be 20-50% accurate at best as the climate changes fast here. So, to get a lovely image from this place was a dream come thru.Editing
I knew the Fuji just didn't have the dynamic range of my Nikon D810. So I decided on 5 images from -2 to +2 with one stop intervals but I ended up using only 3 shots. I didn't use the -1and 0 exposures . . Then ,I started combined all the 3 images as HDR in Light Room and then with the usual exposure, highlight ,shadow adjustments and profile corrections. The one thing I love the most about Fuji is their simulations that you can choose in the profile.The colours that come out from this camera is so rich and vibrant. I wanted to have a warm image , so I chose shade for white balance and added a touch of magenta. Completing this, I exported to Photoshop together with all the 3 base image (with profile corrected) for selectively dodge and burning the final image.I had to also clone out some tourist getting their selfies in the tea plantation. Then some HSL adjustments to selectively make the green more vibrance and the sky more red .Finally using the Gaussian blur, the Orton look as I normally do.In my camera bag
Since I generally shoot landscape, I have my Nikkor 16-35F4 fixed ready to my D850. For my second camera, I use the Fuji X-T2 with the Fujinon 10-24 mounted which normally act as a backup or with the Fujinon 18-55, my everyday go to setup. Then there is the 70-200 Nikkor and the Nikon 20mm 1.8 for my astro shots. Lastly the usual suspects, shutters release, spare batteries, lens cleaning equipments and some strings.Feedback
Patience..lots of it. The weather is crazy, so be ready to spare at least a few days . Avoid rainy season which is March to June but as I said earlier, don't put too much hope in forecast . Wake up early to book your spot as the place is just beside a road and expect a lot of tourist . Temperature is generally 16-22 degrees and humid, so dress appropriately. Wear proper shoes if you plan to go down to the tea plantations as is rather slippery. I saw at least 3 people slide and fell while taking selfies here
