Blue Eye
Hveravellir Geothermal Nature Reserve, Iceland
Hveravellir Geothermal Nature Reserve, Iceland
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Sep, 2021Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
Aerial shot taken in the Hveravellir Nature reserve in Iceland late August 2021.Time
I took this image shortly our arrival in the area, early afternoon. This kind of picture is best taken in daylight, so that the ISO can stay as low as possible.Lighting
It was a cloudy day but thankfully without precipitation. The top down view is incredibly fascinating and unless it is hazy or there are low clouds, it can be captured in any light. Perhaps a bit of sunshine would have helped to highlight some of the ripples around the pool and the beautiful blue colour of the pool itself, but Iceland isn't famous for sunny days! :)Equipment
This is a vertical panorama stitched from 4 images taken with the DJI Mavic Air 2 drone.Inspiration
I visited this geothermal nature reserve in the Highlands a few years ago, and I couldn't believe how these bubbly springs changed! Some had a different colour, other became more or even less active. This time I had a drone with me, so I decided to look at the spring from above, from a completely different perspective!Editing
This is a vertical panorama stitched from 4 images. The steam coming from the hot pools created a haze, and the colours came out a bit dull. I captured the photos in RAW format and made the basic adjustments in Adobe Camera Raw - dehaze, contrast, highlights, and shadows. I also enhanced the blue colour a bit. I stitched them into the final panorama, which I edited in Photoshop.In my camera bag
Whenever I plan to shoot outdoors, I usually carry my full-frame Canon R5with the 16-35mm wide-angle lens in my bag. If there is a chance to spot wildlife, I also pack the 100-400mm lens, as I love animals! I am a big fan of long exposure shots of running water or moving clouds. Therefore you can always find several neutral density filters as well as a polariser in my backpack. Spare batteries and memory cards are a must! The latest addition in my gear bag is the DJI Mavic Air 2 drone. I only carry it to places where flying a drone is allowed and not annoying people or threatening wildlife.Feedback
When flying the drone, it is crucial to know the rules and under no circumstances should you fly above people. When capturing geothermal vents and pools, the drone can steam up quickly depending on the wind direction. Don't fly the drone too close to the hot vents, either. It is better to fly higher and capture multiple shots and merge them afterwards. You will get a higher final image resolution and less steam in the image, which means the colours won't be dull and hazy. This kind of image is best taken in daylight to keep the ISO as low as possible.
