raygradel
FollowI was driving some back roads admiring the clouds when I saw what I thought would make a great foreground subject to use with them....
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I was driving some back roads admiring the clouds when I saw what I thought would make a great foreground subject to use with them.
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Bazz
February 25, 2016
Fantastic capture! Looks great in black and white. Thank you for entering my Barn challenge! Good Luck!
sep54
June 10, 2016
I really like your black and whites. I myself am up there in years but a newbie at photos. I want to try b&w's, thanks for showing yours.
raygradel
June 10, 2016
Thank you for the compliment. I didn't start shooting until I was 58 and have only been doing it less than 2 years. I have some breathing trouble so I can't venture far without a companion. You can do anything you set your mind to as long as you work within any limitations you may have. My black and white shots are convertions from the original color photoes. I shoot Nikon and do any basic retouching with View NX2 and then convert to black and white with On1 effects free10 which is a free editing software download. Happy shooting and good luck.
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Behind The Lens
Location
Many of the opportunities for the photos I take occur by chance. Not the best method for trying to get the perfect shot in the best light but I love taking day trips in the car and coming across new places and things to shoot. I love the randomness and unpredictability. For me it helps to keep things interesting. For this shot it was the clouds that had gotten my attention and I simply went out in search of something to put in the foreground. Driving along rural back roads, I came upon this barn at the end of a driveway. It stood alone with no home or other buildings around but seemed to want to testify that once a family farmed this land.Time
It was mid afternoon, the sun was still somewhat high in the sky.Lighting
The light was behind me and offering a lot of contrast. The original color image was too bright and saturated to suit me so I thought it might convert nicely to black and white.Equipment
I used my Nikon D5300 with a Tamron 17-50 Lens with a polarizing filter. Hand held without flash. F10 at 1/400 shutter speed.My equipment is very minimal so when I plan for a shot it has to be in a location in which I can control the light solely with aperture, shutter speed and ISO. That is somewhat limiting. That is why I try to challenge myself to make the best of what I run across just as I find it. I shoot in manual mode exclusively.Inspiration
Its not a big thing for me to shoot abandoned buildings but sometimes rural farm homes and buildings really get my attention. Many people shoot abandoned factories or institutions, many of which contain artifacts of what happened there. Farm homes and the buildings surrounding them inspire me more because of the personal struggles and triumphs of raising a family, building a life and working together and it is very meaningful to me. It's kind of like preserving some of that essence before it becomes dust in the wind.Editing
I added some contrast and converted to black and white.In my camera bag
My Nikon D5300. A Tokina 11-17mm f2.8. A Tamron 17-50mm f2.8. A Tamron 60mm f2.8, and a circular polarizing filter. That's it. If I can't shoot it with that I can't get the shot. I would love to add a good complete set of ND filters to the bag someday. It would open up a whole new universe to me. I do have a Vanguard Alta 283 CT tripod as well.Feedback
If you are a pro or more experienced photographer you could be giving me advice. However to anyone just starting out, shoot in whatever raw format applies to your camera. Shoot in manual mode and get yourself familiar with controlling light with aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Control the camera to control the light. Control the light to improve as a photographer. From there you can explore additional equipment, styles and techniques.