Raven Rest
This photo is an example of not being prepared. I left the house that day with my standard loadout, 8-16, 16-55, and 50-140. I was going up into a deep storm in...
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This photo is an example of not being prepared. I left the house that day with my standard loadout, 8-16, 16-55, and 50-140. I was going up into a deep storm in the high mountains, no thoughts of trying to do wildlife photography. I left my 100-400 lens at home, as well as my wildlife monopod and gimbal. So, when I was coming back down from the stormy heights and I glanced this pair of Ravens [Mind you, for the fourth time that day] simply sitting on a dead tree, I grabbed my camera and began trying to compose the image. The Ravens were patient, though they were intimately aware I was pointing my camera at them, walking back and forth trying to get this framing just right... But I was framing against nothing, a white bank of heavy fog.... So where did that Moon come from? Well.... I cheated, and added it. Though, I have to admit I was fairly amused at how easy it is to add things into an image. This shot may eventually end up on my website, though not at this moment.
ISO: 800
Aperture: f4
SS: 1-250th
Focal: 181
See More At:
www.blackthornephoto.com
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ISO: 800
Aperture: f4
SS: 1-250th
Focal: 181
See More At:
www.blackthornephoto.com
Read less
Apr, 2022Views
1942
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Awards
Chatter Award
Contest Finalist in Wildlife Friends Photo Contest
Achievement in Originality
Zenith Award
Top Pick Award
Halfway22 Award
Staff Favorite
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Genius
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was shot in Western North Carolina, along the Blue Ridge Parkway.Time
This photo was taken at around 8 in the morning on my drive home, after a sunrise shoot. I had packed everything back up as the fog rolled in.Lighting
The scene was shot with natural light, heavy diffusion from the fog, and or cloud layers frequent on the parkway. Despite the low visibility, it really can act as a giant soft box in the right situation.Equipment
This was shot with a Fujifilm X-T3, hand held, with a Fuji 50-140mm lens and a 1.4x teleconverter. I braced against the side of my vehicle rather than trying to get a tripod out in the moment. There comes a time when gear just gets in the way, you can miss a shot just because you were struggling with gear.Inspiration
Honestly, the inspiration for this shot was annoyance. I had spent a morning trying to get a decent composition further up in the mountains, and nothing was working, the fog was rolling in. It had felt, up till that moment that i was just spinning my wheels. That's the way of it really, you can have great success, or great failure shooting landscapes or wildlife. In this instance, I was familiar with the Ravens, I had spotted them several times that morning, perhaps they were following me, or perhaps I was following them, either way, when I saw them sitting atop this old dead tree, I thought perhaps I could salvage the morning yet.Editing
This image, as you can imagine, or may have read from my original description is edited. First, I had to give it a pretty hefty crop, these birds were small in the frame no matter how hard I tried to zoom in. Then, I began trying to isolate them from the white mass of clouds behind them, and bring out a bit of subject separation, but I felt the photo, while acceptable, was lacking something important. I played around with a few different ideas, until one night I was editing a photo of the moon, and thought to myself "I wonder how something like this would look behind the Ravens". So, I added a moon in, and let it help frame them.In my camera bag
My general equipment breakdown is pretty varied, but as for my core kit we have my camera, right now the Fuji X-H2, a 8-16, 16-55, and a 50-140. I like to have a Teleconverter in the bag for the 50-140, at least one lens cloth, and a shower cap. On top of that I like to keep a set of rings for my filter system, a quick and easy CPL, and a few in body filters as well. The 8-16 has its own specialized CPL, it adds weight, but when you need a CPL, you have to be ready. Often I keep two sets of gloves in the bag, one lightweight set, and one heavier duty set, I also keep a rocket blower in the bag, and typically a tripod strapped to the front. I don't always keep all of that in the bag, it really depends on what I'm doing that day, but for just cruising around looking for something visually appealing, that would often be found in my bag.Feedback
This really comes down to keeping your eyes open, and being ready to stop, and give it a try. How often have you been riding down the road, seen something and thought to yourself "Maybe I should Stop and Take This Picture" only to keep driving? Only to tell yourself, "Maybe Next Time", Every time you say "Maybe Next Time" that's your indication, maybe it's time to try it This Time.
