katelecates

Transitions - Holly Shelter

the image is of a metal ramp leading down in to a flooded field, there is a line of barren trees. In the distance is the last bit of warm light from the sun. Ab...
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the image is of a metal ramp leading down in to a flooded field, there is a line of barren trees. In the distance is the last bit of warm light from the sun. Above are the trailing stars with their reflections in the flooded field
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Mar, 2019

Views

1242

Likes

+103

Awards

Contest Finalist in Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol4

Contest Finalist in Covers Photo Contest Volume 3

Contest Finalist in My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol 7

Peer Award

+22

Outstanding Creativity

Absolute Masterpiece

Superb Composition

Top Choice

Superior Skill

Virtuoso

Emotions

Impressed

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Behind The Lens

Location

This image was taken in the Holly Shelter Game Lands of North Carolina located in coastal Pender County, North Carolina

Time

I took the ground portion of this image during the blue hour after sunset. The stars were taken later that evening as night deepened

Lighting

the ground portion of this image was natural lit by the last fading light of the setting sun.

Equipment

I used the Canon 5D iv and the Sigma 14mm F/1.8 DG HSM art lens. The tripod I used was the Manfrotto 190cxpro3 CF tripod and a Sirui K-30 head' The camera was triggered with my Vello wireless intervalometer.

Inspiration

A year before I took this image, I first conceived this image. New to the area, my husband and I were driving through the game lands when we saw this flooded field. Stopping, I checked {using the TPE app on my phone} the location of the sun,stars and the moon. Deciding on a composition, I planned to go back the next new moon. However, the weather didn't cooperated. By the time the new moon schedule, the weather and my schedule all can together, the water had drained off the field. I also had to take into account when the game lands were open to drive through. Finally almost a year later it all came together.

Editing

For me this was the most complicated image I ever attempted. I set up just before sunset taking shots in the fading light focused using a DoF guide to get as much in focus as possible. Once I was done with the land images , I refocused to infinity and sat and waited until it was dark enough to take the star images. All images were imported into Lightroom where I got rid of any plane trails. adjustment to wb, contrast, exposure, the usual LR adjustments. I settled on 3 exposures 10sec,20sec, 30sec all at F/13,IO100 14mm. I processed them into Aurora 2019 into an HDR base image for the ramp and trees. The star images were shot at F2.2, ISO3200, 15secs. for 150 shots. The star images were processed in StarStax. I then brought the stacked star image and the HDR image into Photoshop as layers changed the blending mode to lighten. Afterward, i had to do little touch ups to the exposure, saturation, clarity of parts of the image. Also cloned out some branches.. neatening up the image. Lastly I brought the image into Topaz DeNoise to further reduce any noise in the image. I learned a lot working on this image, it really helped my PS skills.

In my camera bag

When I plan on going out night shooting the first thing I make sure is in my camera bag is a head lamp and extra flashlight. A powerful flashlight helps to light what you want to focus on in. I always bring my Sigma 14mm art lens. The intervalometer is a must as are hand warmers to deal with the humidity of coastal North Carolina nights. wrapping the hand warmers around the lens help to keep the lens from fogging. Plenty of bug spray or wipes to keep the little critters away. Regular hand wipes to clean off the bug spray so as not to get it on my camera and lens!

Feedback

Patience.. this image to a while to produce. Night photography is a slow process. Practice becoming very familiar with all the buttons on your camera as it can be easy to get mixed up when working in the dark. At home go in to a closet close the door and change the settings on your camera..it's really helps practicing before you go out on a shoot. If your lens has an infinity marker on it, check how accurate it is at home during the day. If you know the marking on your lens is true that makes focusing on the stars so much easier... you set your lens to infinity and you are done. Let someone know where you are going and about when you will be done. Get to the site early so you can figure out your composition in the light. Hope these suggestions help. Enjoy!

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katelecates

katelecates

Transitions - Holly Shelter

the image is of a metal ramp leading down in to a flooded field, there is a line of barren trees. In the distance is the last bit of warm light from the sun. Ab... Read more

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow katelecates

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the image is of a metal ramp leading down in to a flooded field, there is a line of barren trees. In the distance is the last bit of warm light from the sun. Ab...
Read more

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.