derekbradley
FollowIt has been a long time since I've traveled home to where I grew up. It has been even longer since I've traveled there to take photos. I'm blown ...
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It has been a long time since I've traveled home to where I grew up. It has been even longer since I've traveled there to take photos. I'm blown away by the beauty in my hometown and taking in a little bit of it's nature this weekend, makes me crave to go back. Maybe one day...
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in Northern Michigan along the AuSable River in Roscommon, Michigan on a trail called the Mason Tract.Time
I drove up to this location early in the am, and hiked along the river until I found the perfect light.Lighting
This was natural light, but I walked along the Mason Tract and kept an eye on the light. I waited until I found the perfect rays and climbed through a swampy area down to the river.Equipment
This was shot hand held on a Canon 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 24-70 f2.8 IS II lens.Inspiration
I hadn't been home to where I grew up in years. My buddy's wedding was cancelled, but I never cancelled my vacation day, so I decided I'd wake up early, drive up north, shoot some photos, and then go play golf at a top 100 club I used to work at. I really wanted to catch the mist coming off the river, as it was really cold this particular morning. I captured that shot, but as I was climbing out of the marsh, I decided to look back and saw this. I thought it was incredible and had to capture it. It's my favorite photo from the weekend.Editing
I edited this shot in Lightroom. When I had everything how I wanted it, I removed a few sun glares in Photoshop, and messed with the color range a bit.In my camera bag
I always have my camera and lens I took this shot with, but also carry a 70-200 f2.8, a tripod, and ND filters. My lenses all have polarizers on.Feedback
Be patient. Walk around. Chase the light. Too many people find a great scene and wait for the conditions to be right. This isn't the shot I come to this location for, but it is my favorite. I kept moving and looking around. It's been years since I had been on this trail and had no clue what the light was going to be like, because I had never photographed it and never been on it for any other reason other than to bike or run. The best shots are often the ones you don't plan.