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Apr, 2018Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in a beautiful little wooded area right down the road from my house in Cameron Park, CA. The little creek running through it always has unique cascades depending on the time of year.Time
I like to revisit this location in the early morning and late evening for nice moody lighting and especially ideal long exposure conditions. This photo was taken about an hour before sunset in the fall, and the direct lighting on the trees in the background made for some great contrast with the creek which had just fallen into the shade.Lighting
The lighting in this photo was difficult at first, as the sun was a little bit too high and shadows running across the frame were far too harsh. So I waited it out (all the while wading thigh-deep in the nearly freezing water). But it worked out, the sun reached a point which worked perfectly with my settings. My white balance ultimately put the cherry on top, truly allowing the oranges and browns in the fall setting to pop.Equipment
I actually took this photo while teaching myself manual photography. I was using my very first DSLR; a Nikon D5500 with the 18-55mm kit lens that came with it. I have since upgraded my gear but it’s fun to prove that engaging photos can be taken with any gear. I also used a tripod in order to accomplish the long exposure for those milky little cascades.Inspiration
Quite simply, I just wanted to learn how to take long exposure shots. I knew of this little creek down the street from my house, and decided to go practice and learn to take beautiful landscapes with moving water. I spent hours fiddling with settings and took hundreds of photos of this one spot, and ultimately walked away with one of my favorites.Editing
Of course! Surprisingly I didn’t need to do a whole lot, as I was pleasantly surprised with the initial shot. But I stuck to some basic post-processing; minor adjustments to highlights and a small bump in saturation just to really make those oranges in the trees and water reflection really come to life.In my camera bag
At the time I just carried the Nikon D5500 and kit 18-55mm kit lens. I currently carry a Canon 6D with a Canon 50mm f/1.4, Canon 100mm f/2.8, and Canon 17-40mm f/1.4. I also still carry my good’ ol’ D5500 crop sensor with a Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 for wildlife. And of course I always have my trusty tripod and ND filters for long exposures. Not the fanciest stuff but it’s fun pushing it all to it’s full potential.Feedback
Don’t be afraid to sit in one spot for hours, don’t be afraid to take 500 shots of the exact same frame, don’t be afraid to get in the water. Just don’t be afraid to commit. I’ve since taken lots of super fun long exposure shots of water, many of which I got myself into very uncomfortable situations in order to get the shot. But it’s always worth it, cause your shot will always stand out from the shots taken from somewhere safe and easy.
