High Tide
A one point aerial perspective of one of my favorite surf breaks on the coast of Manuel Antonio featuring my favorite local beach bar and local photographer Kev...
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A one point aerial perspective of one of my favorite surf breaks on the coast of Manuel Antonio featuring my favorite local beach bar and local photographer Kevin Heslin (on the surf board).
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Aug, 2017Views
6486
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Favorite Travel Memory Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol4
Contest Finalist in Above The Earth Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Isolated Cabins Photo Contest
Runner Up in Drone Photography Project
Contest Finalist in Drone Photography Project
Contest Finalist in Travel Photography Project
Contest Finalist in Islands Photo Contest
Runner Up in Palm Trees Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Palm Trees Photo Contest
Peer Award
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
All Star
Virtuoso
Emotions
Impressed
Relaxed
Top Ranks
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Paul39
November 28, 2018
Absolutely fantastic photography. I assume this was done with a drone. Love it.
Ultimate
Nicorkill_photo
March 17, 2019
I love this shot. It's almost split into horizontal bars of interest. My favourite is the bar surrounded by the trees. The green and orange 'pop' , WoW!
josephnancephoto
March 17, 2019
i really appreciate your thorough perspective of my photo. it really so kind of you. i’m glad you appreciate it ????
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in Playa Espadillas in Manuel Antonio (Quepos), Costa Rica. Pictured here is a local beach in the town that I currently live in, next to Balu's Beach Bar and one of my favorite surf breaks.Time
I remember my friend (and fellow photographer), Kevin Heslin, and I hopping on the local bus around 2 with our surf boards. We headed to our favorite break just as the tide was coming in and put our backpacks in the lockers at Balu's. I wasn't catching anything good that day in the water so I went in early to fly my drone for a bit. I probably came in around 3 that day and took this photo around 3:30/4, right when the tide was highest. I think the timing of this photo was so important because the tide make this beach look much more interesting than a normal beach shot.Lighting
We usually have pretty intense direct lighting in Manuel Antonio, but I remember this day being a bit overcast. This, coupled with the fact that I took this about an hour before sunset, really helped the colors of the trees, rooftop, and water really come through. Normally the colors I get around Manuel Antonio are super blown out due to the sunlight and I have to do a lot of post with my drone footage. Not so much with this photo.Equipment
To get this shot I used my DJI Mavic Pro and my iPhone 7+ to control it.Inspiration
I remember feeling incredibly creative that day. I just wanted to create something for myself and put that inspiration to use. I had flown all over the beach and not found much, but then I noticed the roof of Balu's from above. I found it super interesting and had no idea what it looked like before then so I was pretty thrilled. I wanted to capture the tide, the roof, and Kevin; so, I waited until the right moment and took the shot. I didn't really know what I had until getting the image blown up to 100% on my computer later that night.Editing
I think the most important post-processing I did to this photo was crop it from DJI's standard 16:9 ratio to a 1:1 ratio. This cut out a lot of unnecessary parts and let me draw attention in the photo to what I wanted to most: the roof, the tide, and Kevin on his board in the water. I have one preset that I put on 90% of my work, but when I applied it, I hated what it did to the colors. The greens didn't look right, the roof was way too exaggerated, and it didn't show the natural color of the ocean. So, I used a different preset that I developed, but never really use. It was as if it was made for the photo. I felt that the greens looked more natural, the roof stood out just enough, and it provided a really clean white balance for the ocean and Kevin's board.In my camera bag
I usually have one 35mm film camera, Canon 5D Mark IV, DJI Mavic Pro, and my iPhone 7+ that I keep with me in my Peak Design Everyday Backpack. I use either a 28mm f/2.8 or a 50mm f/2.0 on my film camera. And I always keep a 24-70mm f/2.8 or 50mm f/1.2 in my bag for my DSLR. I prefer to use Canon L series glass. Depending on what each job requires, I have a wide range of equipment that I keep on hand, but for my day to day activity the equipment I mentioned previously usually does the trick.Feedback
I took this photo within the first 6 months of owning a drone. I remember being super eager to always fly. I would compete with photographers in other countries who were super intrigued by aerial photography as I was. I flew every day. I was super amazed at how creative aerial photography allowed photographers to be. So, I would tell anyone who wants to take great drone shots to fly as much (and as safely) as possible. Look for things that you can't photograph from the ground, like the roof of Balu's. Look for unique textures, like the textures of the palm trees or the unique pattern of the waves. Look for colors that you wouldn't normally get, like the ocean at low tide on an over cast day. And always try to involve a subject that tells a story, like Kevin on his surfboard in the water. Doing things like this will keep your audience engaged in the kind of story you are trying to tell. I also have to stress safety. Luckily I live in an area with relatively few restrictions on drones and also few owners of drones. However, there are plenty of tourists who come to the local beaches and fly their drones recklessly close to other pilots or animals. Please always be aware of your surroundings and ensure that you know how to operate the drone you are using. Always update yourself on regulations in the country/city you are flying so that you can create amazing images safely. And, when necessary, acquire the correct permits to fly in/over parks. Other pilots, like myself, will thank you.
