Gate Bolt
Jan, 2014Views
866
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Fall Award 2020
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Magnificent Capture
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at Old Jackson Fort in Savannah, Georgia. My husband and I were travelling the Southeastern coast. While he was enjoying the historical sites, I had my camera ready at every opportunity to take pictures of the architecture, landscape, etc.Time
It was late afternoon when I took this photo. We were running out of time to tour the fort before closing time. It was winter and the light was fading as quickly as the time.Lighting
I prefer to use natural light in my photography. But in the case of this photo, I really wanted to capture the uniqueness of the rusty bolt against the green gate door. It was mid-December, late afternoon and the door was in the afternoon shadow. Therefore, I was forced to use the camera's flash to highlight the color contrast.Equipment
I used a Nikon D60 with the NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens. I also used the camera's built-in Speedlight flash.Inspiration
I enjoy taking pictures of old architecture, especially the unique features of an old structure. When I saw gate entrance, I found it difficult to capture its size, color, and features in the late afternoon light. So I took a lot of photos at different angles trying to single out the various features of the gate door. And the contrasting colors of the bolt and door are what really got my attention.Editing
With the shadow and color contrast, I really wanted to bring highlight the color. So, I used Photoshop to tweak the contrast and ramp up the color saturation.In my camera bag
At the time of this photo, December 2013, I was using a Nikon D60. However, I have rheumatoid arthritis and it became to heavy and cumbersome for my hands. My father, also a photographer, suggested a Sony ILCE. Now I rarely leave home without it.Feedback
If you're a photographer who prefers to use natural light, my suggestion is get loads of pictures of your subject at different angels. Natural light requires flexibility. Always try to see your subject at a different angle. Become familiar with your camera's built-in flash. Even in natural light, that additional boost of light can make all the difference. It usually won't detract from the natural light if you know how to use it. Practice and patience will pay off in the end.
