Backlit boquet
Colorado wildflowers against the morning sun.
Colorado wildflowers against the morning sun.
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Aug, 2021Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.Time
The photo was taken on the morning of July 27, 2021, between that last part of golden hour and right about when the light gets too harsh.Lighting
It was a cold and clear morning and the light was amazing. This photo was taken closer to when the morning light starts to wash everything out, but when it backlights a subject, it is perfect.Equipment
I used a Canon 5D Mark IV with the EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM II lens.Inspiration
The light and wildflowers were my inspiration for this shot. As mentioned before, the light was becoming harsh and I was ready to put the camera away and move on. Then I turned and faced the sun and looked down. The flowers had such a magical glow to them and I knew I had to take the shot. Crouching down on the wet ground was worth the effort.Editing
I used LightRoom for the initial RAW adjustments and stitching. Believe it or not, this is a panorama of two horizontal shots. Shooting a panorama was not a thought when I shot the photo and during post-processing I had difficulty choosing which shot I wanted to edit because they each had some qualities I liked and what was missing in one was the other. I merged the photos when I realized there was enough of an overlap between the two photos to make a panorama. Beyond that, minimal editing was done on this photo. Photoshop was used to make local and global adjustments to color, contrast, and tone.In my camera bag
When it comes to what I carry with me, I tend to be a packrat and I usually have more gear than I need. Along with my camera (a Canon 5D mark IV) and the 24-70, I have the 16-35 f/2.8L USM II and the 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM II. Depending on hiking and what my shooting goals are, I'll pack the Really Right Stuff TVC-33 with the BH55 ballhead or the much more compact Really Right Stuff TQC and BH30.Feedback
When shooting in the morning near the end of Golden Hour, don't be afraid to keep shooting after the light is harsh and be on the lookout for backlit subjects because you never know what you'll see when you face the sun. Be sure to position yourself in the shadows when shooting into the sun if avoiding lens flare is your artistic intent. As always, have fun, and don't be afraid to break the rules. If I hadn't, my final image would have been completely different.
