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winter light
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winter light



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A snowy winter morning in southern Iceland.

A snowy winter morning in southern Iceland.
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cameraNIKON D810

settings Aperture f/16 ISO 31 Shutter 1/60 Focal Length 140/10 

upload_dateMar, 2017

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701

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Awards

Contest Finalist in The Horizon And Compositions Photo Contest
Peer Award
SeOdonnell paulfaria jaycouey akphotographystudio thejerd lwalker8575 Forrest_Imagery +15
Superb Composition
RMCROC ccollin Pauldc1
All Star
nadezhdagribanova_0336 loveMustangs
Top Choice
KevinKuchler sonuzphotos
Absolute Masterpiece
upalpatel
Magnificent Capture
ArthurGCowan

Top Ranks

Snow Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Snow Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Snow Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Blue Skies Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Blue Skies Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
View more
The Horizon And Compositions Photo ContestTop 20 rank
The Horizon And Compositions Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
The Horizon And Compositions Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 20Top 30 rank week 1
Winter Wonderland Photo ContestTop 20 rank
It Is Cold Outside Photo ContestTop 10 rank
It Is Cold Outside Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1

Categories

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#nature #snow #cold #bluff #ocean #sea #clouds #iceland
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Behind The Lens

Location

This photograph was taken on a cold winter day on the Dyrhólaey Peninsula In southern Iceland, which has a lighthouse, a few supporting structure, some wonderful rock formations, and glorious coastal views that seem to extend to infinity.

Time

This photograph was taken mid-morning, at a time when the light began to show through the storm clouds. Until that time, light snow was falling and views were impaired. This was my first trip to Iceland, and I was spellbound as I watched the light begin to illuminate the vast landscape.

Lighting

It is difficult to describe winter light in Iceland, other than to say that it has a magical quality. I had never seen light like this before--soft, muted, and mesmerizing. As the light began to break through the clouds, I knew that it was the light itself that I wanted to capture. I opted for a composition that would lead the eye into the horizon and allow it to linger there with the sky, clouds, and the soft, buttery light.

Equipment

For this photograph, I used my Nikon d810, which is a wonderful camera for landscape photography, with 36 plus megapixels capable of capturing fine detail. I also used my favorite wide angle landscape lens, the Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8, and mounted the lens and camera on my Gitzo Series 2 travel tripod, which I adore because it is very sturdy and yet fits into my carry on luggage with the ball head removed.

Inspiration

I was inspired by the light as it began to break through the overcast sky. It had a creamy, buttery quality that was so very beautiful. Without the light, the landscape that I opted to photograph--two small buildings and a human on an icy patch of ground--was unremarkable. But with the light, the scene displayed its stark and cold beauty.

Editing

I shoot in raw, and that always requires some post-processing. Processing this image was not difficult--I lifted some shadow, increased some highlights, added a bit of clarity and contrast to the icy foreground, did a slight curves adjustment, and added a luminosity mask or two.

In my camera bag

I pared down my bag a bit when I was photographing in Iceland, which entailed a lot of walking in cold and windy weather. I usually only carried one DSLR camera body, my Nikon d810, and two lenses--the Nikkor 14-24 and Nikkor 24-70--plus an assortment of filters. I carried extra rain sleeves for my camera and lenses, and several gigantic lens cloths to keep the moisture off my lens as I was shooting. My bag also included hand warmers, chocolate, nuts, water and, of course, extra batteries, memory cards, and a remote shutter release.

Feedback

I think that a photographer need to be moved by a scene in order to create a compelling image that moves others. For me, it is often the lighting that draws me to a scene and enlivens my senses and emotions. That's why landscape photographers often shoot in the early morning or late afternoon because these are the times when the light is most likely to transform the mundane into the magical. If you haven't done so already, invest in a high quality tripod and learn to love it. I resisted a tripod for several years, and now I don't leave home without it. The tripod allows for greater precision in focus, reduces camera shake, and improves overall image quality.

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