IMG_1644-Macraes-Mine
Macraes Mine is a big open cast Gold mine in Otago NZ. I loved the way the shadows & highlights stood out down the side of the pit ...
Read more
Macraes Mine is a big open cast Gold mine in Otago NZ. I loved the way the shadows & highlights stood out down the side of the pit
Read less
Read less
Nov, 2020Views
105
Likes
Awards
Ecovision Award
Ignition Award
Contender in the Photography Awards
Winter 23 Award
Action Award
Chatter Award
Contender in the Visual Poetry Project
Gem Award
Achievement in Originality
Top Pick Award
Staff Favorite
Halfway22 Award
Jewel Award
Curator's Selection
Judge Favorite
Treasure Award
Winter Award 2020
Peer Award
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank
Top 20 rank week 1
Top 30 rank week 1
Top 30 rankCategories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
![Sterling [my Grandson] after a long day at the beach. He has come to the end of his energy & humour](https://cdnpt01.viewbug.com/media/mediafiles/2016/08/17/67929155_widepreview400.webp)
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on a trip to the South Island of NZ. Macraes Mine is the biggest opencast mine in NZ. The floor of this pit is well below sea level. Good thing it is inlandTime
This was taken mid/late morning on an early Autumn day. Not an ideal time for good light but that was when we were passing so just had to make the most of it.Lighting
I wanted to emphasis the starkness & environmental aspects of open cast mining hence I shot in Black & White & pushed the contrast. I also used a 70mm- 300 zoom lens to isolated part of the pit for visual impactEquipment
Photo was shot on a Canon 60D with a 70mm - 300 lens. I always shoot on full manual so I have full control of lighting, aperture etc. As I was travelling I did not have much gear with me. Sometimes lack of gear keeps it simple & makes one really think about what/how you are doing the photo for best impactInspiration
The starkness & the desolation of the subjectEditing
I tweaked the contrast & ran a red filter to emphasis the black & white starknessIn my camera bag
After suffering a badly busted ankle when a horse summersaulted on me I can no longer carry weight so I tend to travel light on gear. My base gear is a 60D canon camera & a Canon EF 24 - 105mm 1.4 L USM lens. At times I will use Canon EF a 70 - 300 1.4 5.6 USM zoom. I like this lens for isolating subjects & background bokeh. I do have other lens and flash, tripod etc at home but due to the weight factor I tend to only take them for particular planned subjectsFeedback
Keep it simple, isolate your subject, limit distractions. Sometimes limiting colours can be very effective. Go with your first gut thought...that is usually the best shot. You don't need expensive or fancy equipment - just a good eye & a willingness to find a different angle/view.
