Meditation
Le Mont Saint-Michel at dawn - at high tide and without the usual crowds...
Le Mont Saint-Michel at dawn - at high tide and without the usual crowds...
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Sep, 2018Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This picture is taken from the meadows overlooking the Mont Saint-Michel tidal island in France, at high tide.Time
I spend 2 days at the Mont Saint-Michel tidal island when there was spring tide, beginning of september last year. Because of the spring tide the stretch of land between the mainland and the island gets flooded, and you can see the island and the abbey at its best. This picture was taken right after sunrise, around 6:00 AM. The upcoming sun lights the side of the monument, and there is still some light fog. It was a warm and calm day, so the water reflected the abbey nicely.Lighting
The early morning light softened the colors and brought warmth to the scene. I used a ND filter so I could have a long shutter speed, to smoothen the ripples of the water. I was lucky that the person in middle did not move all that time because she was enjoying the view as well.Equipment
I used my trusted Olympus OM-D EM1 with the 12-40mm f/2.8 pro lens, on a tripod, and using a Cokin ND8 filter.Inspiration
I had been at the Mont Saint-Michel a couple of times before, so I knew the place definitely is great for pictures. It can however be very crowded during the day, and I wanted to take some shots at different times of day. So I planned to go there specially for taking some pics during spring tide in september, when there was still a good chance of good weather. That particular morning there was a little fog, and the water had just started to withdraw. I got off the bridge connecting the island with the mainland, and went in the wet meadows, when I noticed this lone lady sitting on the water edge. It made the picture complete, as for me it emphasizes the spiritual/magical atmosphere of this place.Editing
I used Lightroom to do some basic post-processing, as I always work in raw. The lighting was improved by reducing the highlights and improving the shadows, and increasing the contrast and luminosity a little.In my camera bag
My travel kit is always made to the specific occasion. Usually it exists of 2 Olympus OM-D E-M1bodies, one combined with an Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO, and the other with the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens. Additionally I pack an Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens and an Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f1.8 for portraits. Besides that I carry a Sirui tripod and some neutral density filters, together with lots of batteries and spare memory cards.Feedback
Take your time exploring a place before starting shooting. Visiting a place several times, at different times of the year definitely helps in knowing the light conditions and to figure out which are the best photo-locations. I find it nice to get a feeling of what a place is about as I try to encapsulate some of that 'feeling' as in my images. If possible avoid the busiest hours, so you have some more room to work. Early morning is a good time, as the changing light allows to make completely different images in a short period of time. And of course: do not forget to enjoy the beauty of the place in the first place!
