lucamac

Digger

The place where you stand will soon become a big hole...

The place where you stand will soon become a big hole...
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Sep, 2016

Views

2190

Likes

+650

Awards

Zenith Award

Top Shot Award 22

Creative Winter Award

Curator's Selection

Featured

Runner Up in Large Machines Photo Contest

Contest Finalist in Large Machines Photo Contest

Peer Award

+235

Superb Composition

+76

Top Choice

+38

Absolute Masterpiece

+38

Outstanding Creativity

+36

All Star

Superior Skill

Magnificent Capture

Genius

Emotions

Impressed

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Behind The Lens

Location

I took this photo in Finale Ligure, a small seaside town in Liguria, IT. It was winter (late winter, if I remember correctly) and this digger was about to prepare the beach sand for the next summer season, as part of seasonal routine work.

Time

It was about 11 AM. I always have my camera at handy when I go there (as the sea is my passion), but since it was about midday I didn't expect to take real interesting pictures. Yet I almost stumbled upon this excavator there. Making a picture of that kind was something I had in mind for a lot of time, even if it was on some kind of generic "to-do list" which is more easily filled then consumed. But the way the machine was parked, the shovel teeth "biting" the sand, the surrounding environment... they were so corresponding to the picture I had in mind, that I literally had to give it a try.

Lighting

The picture was taken in natural daylight. I was really lucky anyway. The day was cloudy (with the sky more or less fully covered) and therefore the shadows, even at 11 AM, were really mild.

Equipment

I used my Canon 7D camera, with a 15-85 zoom lens at 15 mm. In spite of not being a "premium" or "advanced" lens, this zoom is really versatile because it is slightly wider than most "all-purpose" lenses. Those 15 mm are equivalent to 24 mm on a full frame and therefore allow some interesting wide angle photos.

Inspiration

As I am an amateur photographer, always in search of inspiration and training, I surf a lot on the internet. I was fascinated by the usage of wide angle lenses to capture and show daily objects, machines, and tools with a perspectival distortion that enhances a particular. In this case I put the focus on the shovel, to display the excavator as some kind on monster, biting the sand, and about to dig a big hole just where the stand point of the photographer is.

Editing

This photo was edited in Lightroom with the usual color and exposure and lens distortion correction. I then passed it through Nik Color Fx for some further adjustment. I don't remember the exact formula, but I'm sure I used the Bleach Bypass filter on the shovel because I like the dramatic effect it has on the metal surfaces and the detail enhancement it gives on the encrusted mud. I also worked to enhance the sky rendering in Photoshop (the sky actually comes from a different photo of the same period, so accurate and manual image clipping was necessary). Finally, I just removed a few unwanted small object from the sand. The last action was the black and white conversion (again with Nik). This was not on my original intentions, but by trying I found that in this case the BW was putting more focus on the contrast getting rid of the distractions of the chromatism.

In my camera bag

My bag includes my Canon 7D camera, along with a few lenses (a 15-85mm zoom, a prime Sigma f/1.4 30mm, the awarded Canon f/1.8 50mm, and a Tamron 70-300mm tele). I recently added a mirrorless Fuji X100T camera, which I like a lot especially for its great sensor and the wonderful colors it renders. I also have a bunch of filers (CP, ND, star, close-up), a tripod, and some cleaning tools. What I miss? I miss a full frame camera and a few high quality prime lenses. Anyway, before even thinking to approaching the purchase, I have to make some progress with my ability and my photographic eye!

Feedback

I have much more to learn than to teach. Anyway, if I think to my personal lesson learned from this photo, here it is! This was a kind of composition I had already in mind before taking the picture. Actually, I had had it in mind for lots of time and I just came, unexpectedly, to a lucky moment where I was able to recognize the opportunity and make it. Therefore I would say that the best photos are obtained when one is already able to figure out in his mind what the result will be, because more accuracy can be dedicated to the small details that will make the result outstanding. About this particular kind of photo: to obtain something similar, use your widest lens, go close to the element you want to enhance, shoot, check, and go closer. Use the distortion, and don't be afraid to divert the proportions. Finally, don't let the final result to be too much HDR-exorbitant; use just a hint of the HDR-like rendering tools and filters (bleach bypass, detail enhancer, tonal contrast, etc.) without making them easily recognizable.

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lucamac

lucamac

Digger

The place where you stand will soon become a big hole...

Behind The Lens

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