Clouds play at sunset
The ever changing sky, this was captured during a winer sunset in Pacific coast, Australia
The ever changing sky, this was captured during a winer sunset in Pacific coast, Australia
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Aug, 2017Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in Byron Bay, in the East Coast of Australia. It was shot during the Australian winter (during Europe's summer). In Byron Bay there is often a chance of a great sunset shoot because of its location in the East Coast. In fact it is the most Eastern point in the Australian mainland where the weather often changes quickly due to the humidity, sea conditions and wind. The natural beauty of this area lends itself to many beautiful opportunities for photo shooting, providing you remember to carry some gear, or at least a phone camera!Time
In winter the suns sets early, this one was shot just before late winter's sunset at 17:55pm. The clouds were making their own formations, as well as distant smoke from a possible sugar cane burn. You often get a few sea gulls doing their late flying rounds and adding more interest for the photos.Lighting
I like to use a low aperture for sunset shots to deliberately portray the warm and fuzzy effect. This was at f 4.5 waiting for the reflections in the ocean waves and the wet sand added extra golden glow. The foreground has a few rocks which add perspective but are under exposed on purpose. The light and shadows can be seen in the ocean waves, adding a layered look to the water.Equipment
I used my Nikon D5300 with 18-55mm lens, on top of which I attached a digital Stein Seizer wide angle lens in order to capture the whole scene. No tripod was used in this instance.Inspiration
The scenery changing in front of my eyes is always an inspiration for me. Sunsets are one of my many favourite subjects The mountain backdrop, the sun, the clouds and the sea made a lovely frame for the shoot. I made it to the shore in good time in this instance, instead of tripping over rocks in a hurry like I sometimes do. In this location there often are drummers by the beach, as well as roaming tourists (less in winter) plus fire twirlers, piece lovers and street musicians. I recall there was music being played. However, just the sunset alone was enough to excite my senses, with the breeze on my hair. I so wish to share some of its magic with others and capture a small piece of the beauty in a photograph.Editing
I felt the shot needed a little more light so I adjusted the light slightly higher. I love colour and I moved the colour scale also a little. I still prefer the photos to look as natural as possible. I have experimented with aperture settings and sometimes still forget to check the ISO for the sunsets, as most of the days are rather bright and sunny so the ISO may be too high for the setting sun, in this case it was 200.In my camera bag
I'm not one for heavy bags so it depends what I have in mind to "shoot". When I go bird chasing I take my Nikon D5300 and a 55-300mmm lens. When I set out for landscapes I take the 18-55mm plus Stein Seizer wide angle. (This doubles up as a macro but so far landscapes have been my greater interest). I also carry some stuff for cleaning the lenses, cloths and spray. (Salt water is hard on the camera, so I try to keep it dry). I also have a head lamp for night time/stars shots and a tripod that's a bit shaky but amazingly still stands! At times I come across a surprising scene and kick myself for leaving the bag home and that's when the phone comes out of the pocket to capture whatever is there.Feedback
Get to know your camera. The same settings as in my camera may not give you exactly the same result. For sunsets definitely try a low aperture. I often try a couple of different ones depending on how low the sun is, or if there is much cloud etc. Check the ISO as well and do some experimenting. Beware of having too much dark area in your framed view as the light and the dark form a much greater contrast in the low light. Experiment with a tripod and a longer shutter speed. I'm also still learning and having fun doing so!
