hamilton pool-HDR
May, 2017Views
582
Likes
Awards
People's Choice in Alone Time! Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
Top Ranks
Top 20 rank week 1
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 1
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 2
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken in Hamilton Pool Preserve in the spring. Hamilton Pool is part of the Travis County parks system, it's a nice hidden little swimming hole at a pretty cool grotto.Time
This was taken around 10AM. The grotto is very popular, the parks system limits the number of visitors to reduce the impact to that area so you have to reserve spots to visit. It happened to be cloudy when I made it there.Lighting
So far I've been unlucky with lighting at this spot - I've visited several times and each time it's been cloudy - that's not the norm for this part of the world! It is a grotto so there is a good deal of rock overhang, so lighting is subdued. I was not using a flash.Equipment
I used a Canon 5D Mk III with a 28mm prime lens for this shot. It's pretty damp under the grotto, the 5D has slightly better weather protection than my 70D. I was shooting handheld, a tripod would have been awkward to carry down the trail to the pool and I was expecting ample light.Inspiration
I love Hamilton Pool, and try to visit whenever I'm in the area - it's a pretty place even if you can't go swimming (the pool is closed periodically for various reasons).Editing
I just did some slight color work in Lightroom, the photo is mostly untouched.In my camera bag
I normally carry a Canon 70D with a Tamron 16/300mm mounted and a 5D Mk III with any number of lenses ranging from a 8mm diagonal fisheye to a Sigma 200-500mm telephoto, depending on what I'll be shooting. I'm usually looking for cool things at random while traveling, so I don't get to plan a lot of shots beforehand - I've found I spend the most time with various prime lenses and the 17-300mm Tamron though, the Tamron's range lets you capture almost anything on the fly and reduces the need for lens changes out in the openFeedback
Watch for snakes! We came across a couple of venomous snakes on the trail down into the valley this trip :)
