Storm coming at K
Apr, 2018Views
96
Likes
Awards
Action Award
Zenith Award
Community Choice Award
Top Ranks
Top 30 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 20 rank
Top 20 rank
Top 20 rank
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at Kuaotunu on the Coromandel Peninsula NZ. in April, the Fall (or autumn). it was a cold and miserable day with worse weather on the horizonTime
2. The day was closing in and by the look of the storm coming over the hills to the west, I was not going to get a sunset shot, which was what I was originally looking for. It was going to be dark well before official sunsetLighting
The only lighting I was relying on was the sun and it had disappeared. I put my 50mm prime lens on, so I could open to f1.4. I had no flash. In reality I had run out of light for a shot and I needed speed for anything I was going to capture.Equipment
I used a Canon EOS-1D MkIII with a Sigma 50mm 1:1.4 DG HSM prime lens, I thought it was getting too dark for anything but an open aperture and that is all I had to open up beyond f5.6. I did not have a tripod with me. At the time I took the shot the lens was set at f4.5 for as much depth as I dare. Speed 1/1250. ISO. 200. I feared if I went higher ISO it would be too grainy.Inspiration
I was walking along the beach, the storm was coming, the clouds had blocked any chance of a sunset shot, or what I was hoping for, the sun to peak through the clouds for a few seconds. I did not have a tripod, it was getting dark, the clouds, the hills and the sea had that deep blue look that spelt lightning and rain, so I thought about packing up for the day. I stood by the creek, looking across at the deep blue vista, then suddenly, out of the blue came the red.Editing
I shoot in RAW and have Adobe Photoshop. I do not know how to use photoshop very well at all, so rely on adjustment in RAW. I tweaked the contrast and clarity a little and the black and shadow a little. As expected, the shot was underexposed, so I gave it more exposure. I usually need to do a little cropping, but with this picture, I do not think I cropped it at all.In my camera bag
My camera is a Canon EOS 1D-mark III, I like it for moving target fast shots. My lenses are a Sigma 50mm DGHSM f1.4 prime lens and a Canon zoom lens EF 75-300mm. I have a Polaroid, and ND grad filters for both lenses. A wire remote control and instruction book. I also have a little LED torch, a fold away umbrella and cleaning rags. I leave the battery charger at home most times and only carry a tripod when I am specifically going to use it. I feel for the type of shooting I do, I am weak on good lenses. I also have a 5 in 1 reflector and some home-made light boxes for shooting at home.Feedback
I do not know how many times I have packed up my gear too early after waiting for sunsets, or sunrises, only to miss a last burst from nowhere. At these times, dramatic changes can happen, and they come and go very quickly. While it is a rare occasion, waiting and being prepared for something out of the ordinary can be rewarding. In my view, the speed of capture is critical.
