Sundown Sheep 20160912-3
A herd of sheep were finishing grazing as the sun just dipped partway below the horizon.
A herd of sheep were finishing grazing as the sun just dipped partway below the horizon.
Read less
Read less
NIKON D810
Aperture f/14 ISO 400 Shutter 1/320 Focal Length 5000/10 
Lake Elsinore, California, US
Dec, 2019Views
74
Likes
Awards
2020 Choice Award
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 30 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
While traveling on the outskirts of my home town in Southern California, I came to an intersection where I saw open fields with sheep grazing. I had seen the sheep in other parcels of land before but this was unique because they were close to the road, only separated by a short wire fence.Time
This is one of my most unique photographs. I was tired from a day of photographing and the sun was very low on the horizon. Nearly sundown, the glow caused by the setting sun and the dust being kicked up by the sheep made the image pop. Late day shooting definitely has creative benefits.Lighting
The low angle of the sun was helpful in creating the image but it also posed some unique issues. At that angle, the sun would be almost directly into the lens. Moving to the other side would have killed the orange glow that the sunset was creating. Not wanting sun flare in the photo, I decided to pull over as close to the fence as possible and stood on the car to gain extra height. This essentially created a slight angle change to the sun, eliminated potential sun flares, and allowed me to capitalize on the deepening orange glow.Equipment
The photograph was taken with a Nikon D810 camera and a Tamron 200-500 f/5.6 lens. No tripod or other equipment was used.Inspiration
There are times that opportunities present themselves and, if you recognize them, you can take advantage of them. The inspiration for this photo came as I was approaching the intersection where the sheep were grazing in the nearby field. The curve of the road positioned me in a way that the sheep were completely backlit by the orange-hued scene. That created a "photo-opportunity" for me - I pulled off the road and planned how to position the car across the intersection to take the photo. The backlit sheep, nearly black against the orange backdrop, was the driving factor in wanting to take this photo.Editing
Normally, I do a fair amount of post processing but mostly limited to simple edits like cropping, straightening, and exposure. I use Lightroom almost exclusively and used it in this photo as well. Because I was slightly elevated from the subjects, I was able to eliminate the fence from the photo. However, the slope leading up to the sheep was a little excessive so I cropped some of it out. To balance the photo, I also cropped it slightly on top. Saturation was increased by several points to deepen the orange and provide greater contrast to the backlit sheep. However, I didn't want the sheep to be totally black so I reduced shadows slightly so that glimmers of definition would show.In my camera bag
Although I am mostly a landscape photographer, my go-to camera is the D500 with the 200-500 f/5.6 lens. That's because if often leave with just that camera and lens combination for a "quick" run to find something to photograph. Of course, those types of outings are impromptu and quick which doesn't afford you much time to be changing lenses etc. But when I travel for photography I pack a lot in my bag. I have a D810 along with the D500, a 200-500 mm f/5.6 lens, a 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens, a 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens, a 15-30 mm f/2.8 lens, a 90 mm Macro lens, a Benro tripod, a set of graduated neutral density filters (2, 3, and 6 stops), standard neutral density filters (3, 6 stops), 2 Yongnuo speedlight flashes with remote triggers, and a small section of tarp for laying on the ground or covering equipment. All of this gets packed into a large waterproof case that rides in the back of the car. When going on a plane, I pare down the lenses to the major three (24-70, 70-200, and 200-500) and only take one flash and trigger. I take both camera bodies and ditch the tripod having found that I can usually find a stable platform (tree or fence post) if needed for a low light shot. Regardless of where I am going, I always have three spare batteries, cleaning supplies, and a clean cloth for wiping down equipment.Feedback
Southern California is know for its great weather. But don't let that fool you. One of the key variable I have noticed is in the quality of light. Pollution, high/light cloud cover, and heat can create light issues that you may not normally think about. Heat waves cause distortion, especially in landscapes of desert venues. Regardless of where you are, pay attention to the light and think about the camera's reaction to it. You'll have better success that way, at least in terms of exposure and contrast. As for the photo of the sheep, that was an unplanned but not unrehearsed photo opportunity. Unplanned because I came upon it suddenly and recognized it as a great opportunity. Rehearsed because I frequently shoot in tough light just for the practice, looking for ways to create better photos even in less-than-excellent conditions. So go out near sunset and photograph something, anything - even if it is the backyard fence or a flowering plant. Evaluate the light, the sun's position, and think about its effect on the texture and color of the subject. Then process the photos and see how close you were. The other thing that I use is to not think of the photo as "the photo". When I came up on the sheep in the field, my first thought was "black on orange . . . great contrast of color". Then I thought of shape... the shape of the hill as a platform for the sheep, the sheep themselves and the need to highlight them. Thinking in terms such as colors, contrast, shapes and even position of subjects will open you to a much wider venue of photographic opportunities. Above all, get out and shoot - practice is learning and learning leads to great photographs.
