Circles and Stripes
Aug, 2018Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken on a led photo shoot on Barnham Cross Common, near Thetford, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. This is no part of a nature reserve where chalk and Breckland soils meet.Time
This was taken in the middle of the day, by the banks of the River Thet, whilst trying to get close enough to capture images of dragonflies. I noticed the snail clinging on to one of the blades of the grasses and was taken by the contrast of the swirls of the shell to the straight blades of grass. The image was taken on 6th June 2015.Lighting
I like to keep the lighting as natural as possible, so this was taken in daylight, but was partly diffused by high cloud. I did not have a flash with me, but carry a small gold reflector to light the underside of the snail.Equipment
This was shot on a Nikon D800, Nikon f2.8 105mm macro, no tripod but with image stabilization on.Inspiration
I was just caught be the contrast of the snail against the grass. Not only the swirls of the shell contrasting with the straight lines of the grass, but also the yellow and brown colours of the shell against the green backdrop. I like to look down and carefully explore quite small areas, deliberately looking for finer detail and also a vantage point which the human eye may not appreciate.Editing
This image required very little post-processing due to the diffused lighting created by cloud. I have increased some shadow detail and added some vibrancy and a small amount of saturation. I have deliberately avoided any sharpening as most modern high resolution camera images do not need this.In my camera bag
I usually carry a Nikon D8– or a Nikon Z7, my go to lens for general photography is the Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 lens, and when using the Z7 carry the lens adapter. My macro lens is a;ways in the bag, not only for close-up work, but also for portraiture. When I am photographing nature close-up my must have are my extension tubes, which allow me to get even closer. A good camera rucksack with waterproof cover is essential, as are my Lee Graduated filters and circular polariser. A seat pad and heavy duty bin bag are also very useful, as I am often lying on the ground. Finally, a tripod with a moveable central column is also a necessity.Feedback
Before shooting take time to fully explore the area you are shooting in and look very carefully. You will often find several subjects in a fairly small space, especially when shooting very close-up. Always look down as well, it is not something we naturally do, you will find something that nobody else has seen.
