The mist from the hot springs brings out an ethereal texture for the purple light of sunrise.
The mist from the hot springs brings out an ethereal texture for the purple light of sunrise.
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Awards
Action Award
Contest Finalist in Frames Of Nature Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Mother Nature Photo Contest 2021
Legendary Award
Contest Finalist in Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 7
Contest Finalist in Early Signs Of Winter Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Ice And Snow Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol 6
Community Choice Award
Contest Finalist in Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 14
Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 29
Contest Finalist in Covers Photo Contest Vol 44
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
Virtuoso
All Star
Genius
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tomingramphotography
February 25, 2018
Congrats on being a finalist in this months Covers Contest. One of my favorite other then my own :-)
ConorEgan
March 13, 2018
Thanks, Kathy. You kow the light was already so soft and the colors so delicate most anything i did to it made it look worse.
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Behind The Lens
Location
In the Eastern Sierras near Mono Lake.Time
It was early in the morning. If you have a great location, you want to maximize the image by taking it in ideal light. In this case this was before sunrise which allowed the soft light in the scene. If the sun was up there would be really harsh light which would have made the photo much more challenging.Lighting
Again, it was the pre-sunrise light that made for a soft, evenly lit scene. The mist coming off the river also adds a softness to the scene.Equipment
I used a Nikon D7200 and Tamron 24-70mm lens. This shot is a three shot panorama and was shot on a tripod. If you have the time to take a panorama it allows you to use a lower resolution camera like the D7200 to create a much larger final photo.Inspiration
I had visited this location months earlier during the day when the light was not as good for the photo. I noted the spot in my head and went back and camped there in a later visit to get up early and get the shot. It is a very nice composition with the curving river, dramatic mountains, and mist coming off the water. The hot water also has a very interesting color due to what I assume is all the geological activity and algae growth. It's hard not to be inspired by the scene!Editing
First I had to merge the panorama in Lightroom. I had to do some basic adjustments with contrast and saturation and sharpness as the RAW files were a little muted, as is typical. I also cloned out a sign or two that were really distracting. This image is a case where if you get it right in the field, there is not too much post-processing that you need to do back home.In my camera bag
I used to use a Nikon D7200, but have since switched to a Fuji X-T3 with a 10-24mm, 18-55mm, and 55-200mm lenses. This system is great and way lighter and more compact than the Nikon system. I also have a Lee filter system. Using filters helps get the shot right in the field and limit the processing that you need to do back home.Feedback
1) Explore. Go off the beaten path and try to find out-of-the-way scenes that will capture your viewer's attention. 2) Get up early. Try to get to your location well before sunrise so you can get set up, try different compositions, and have lots of time to shoot as the light is changing. 3) Don't be afraid to re-visit a location. If you see a spot that looks really interesting but the light is not right, go back again and again until you get the best possible shot. 4) Shoot a lot and decide what you like later. I took almost 80 shots that morning. Try vertical, horizontal, move your composition slightly. Also the light will be constantly changing so shoot away and decide later which shot best captures your scene.