Star Bright, Star Light
Taken in the Sonoran Desert located at McDowell Mountain Ranch Gateway Reserve in Scottsdale AZ
Taken in the Sonoran Desert located at McDowell Mountain Ranch Gateway Reserve in Scottsdale AZ
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Oct, 2017Views
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Covers Photo Contest Vol 42
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
Outstanding Creativity
Genius
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Behind The Lens
Location
The photo was taken in the Sonoran Desert located in Scottsdale, AZ. The Sonoran Desert runs just south of the Mexican border and heads North through Tucson, passed Cave Creek, AZ. My house if just south of Cave Creek where we live in a community that it up against a small mountain range called the McDowell Mountains. When I shoot pictures, the mountain is towards my back while I face the direction of the Sunset.Time
I found that the best time to start taking pictures is 45 minutes before Sunset and 20 minutes after Sunset. This way, I can get the full spectrum of colors thought the Full Sunset. However, it very important to have clouds to get the full colors of the Sunset. before the Sunsets, one can get these nice Star burst, and after Sunset, you can get Sun Rays setting out of the Bottom that displays rays coming out of the ground...very cool.Lighting
The way to make this work is to get the full color spectrum of lighting within the shoot. Normally when you shoot towards or into the sun, the foreground in the shot is generally under exposed causing the picture to be too dark. To over come that, I shoot 5 pictures at different exposures. I use my camera setting on my exposure meter to determine which exposure needs to be taken. I normally use (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2) on my meter to take these shoots. Ten I add them together in post production. When I shoot, I normally take about 500 to 600 pictures. It generally takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete the post production.Equipment
I use a Canon Rebel xTi with a 72mm Quantaray Lens, with an 8 point star filter. I used a tripod. I have my camera setting set to A-DEP. (Auto-Depth of Field) which allows the camera to remain automatic while I adjust the exposure throughout the shoot.Inspiration
Well, in order to get a good picture, I try to place or have at least 3 different mediums...Sky, Ground, Plants! If you can get water into the shot, it make the shot even better. Than, it's important to the main focal point at least 1/3 up the view screen from the bottom and 1/3 to the right or left of the flame. Try not to center the subject. By placing the focal point 1/3 up and 1/3 side to side, allows your eye to move all over the finished product, giving the view more things to see in the shot. If you place the subject at center, than you limit the eye movement.Editing
Post production is key. I use a HDR program that is free from Google. It called HDR eFlex Pro 2. However, I think there is an pro 4 out that is free to use. This software allows me to load all 5 exposure into one shot. By adding these 5 exposures, it gives me the full range of lighting to work with in post production. This is where you can actually adjust the lighting that's in the foreground. Plus the 5 exposures actually gives you better detail within the shot. This is all due to the different exposures. Once added together, than you can add or decrease the lighting within the shot. This helps bring details out in the shot.In my camera bag
I use a stool with various drawers that I use as my camera bag. Because my shoot takes about an hour and 10 minutes, it's not to have a place to sit, rather than on the ground next to a cactus...ouch! Plus, I can place a soft drink and some snacks to take with me for the shoot.Feedback
The key to a great picture is the layering with different exposure to help get detail within the shot. To do this, you have to determine which bottom to hold down that will allow you to adjust the exposure meter on the fly. I say fly, because that's a hockey term. Changing on the fly means to change things on the go without stopping. So, it's important to know how to adjust the exposure, for each shot by holding down a certain button. I use the AV+/- button on my camera to adjust the exposure meter. I start from the right side of the exposure meter (+2) to the far left side finishing with (-2).
