photosbygeorge
FollowFound this beautiful array of tulips in the center of Munich. It was a beautiful afternoon-evening with clear skies and beautiful golden light. ...
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Found this beautiful array of tulips in the center of Munich. It was a beautiful afternoon-evening with clear skies and beautiful golden light.
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in the city center of Munich, Germany. I always take my camera when traveling for work and this evening the light was just beautiful. In the city center there are these large rectangular planters and at this time of year they were filled with tulips and absolutely breathtaking.Time
Golden hour is my favorite time of day to shoot and this shot was taken in the evening with the golden light of the sun filtering between the buildings and backlighting thee tulips.Lighting
For me, the lighting is what makes this shot between the backlight and the warmth of golden hour. I specifically wanted to highlight the flowers with the backlight as it makes the colors and petals stand out. Exposure is very important when shooting with backlight to ensure there is enough detail in the shadows.Equipment
I currently shoot with a Canon 6D (used to take this photo) and in this case no flash or tripod (though I generally shoot landscapes and macros with a tripod). For this image I used my 17-40mm lens at 40mm.Inspiration
I love flowers and even though I was in the middle of the city I wanted to try and get an image that highlighted the flowers and minimized the urban surroundings. To do this, I used my 17-40mm lens at 40mm and got as close to the flowers as possible in order to fill the frame with flowers.Editing
Yes, I always post-process my photos and in this case I used both Lightroom and On1's Photo Effects 10. I shoot raw in order to get as much digital information in the resulting image as possible however I find that the resulting images often tend to feel flat. My adjustments are about making the final image feel the way I want to remember the event and are not focused on replicating exactly what the natural eye sees. I usually start in Lightroom and adjust contrast, highlights, shadows, and clarity, to get a good base for the image. Then I'll often open the image in On1 Photo 10 Effects and apply filters like dynamic contrast and sunshine. All of these are done so that the image "feels" like I want it to. I often keep playing until I get something I like:) In this case I also modified the color temperature of the top of the image to warm it and make the light more golden.In my camera bag
In addition to my Canon 6D body, I normally have in my bag a Canon 17-40mm f/4 L lens, a Canon 24-105mm f/4 L lens, and a Sigma 150mm prime macro. I also have a 14mm f/2.8 Rokinon prime that I use for shooting the Milky Way but it's not always in my bag. For filters, I usually carry a 10stop ND, a 3 stop ND, and a circular polarizer (sometimes I also carry a graduated ND, and a 6 point star). For the macro lens I usually carry my extension tubes for extra close macro work. Finally, there is my remote shutter release, head lamp, brush to remove dirt and dust from the lens, jet blower, and other miscellaneous items.Feedback
First, I would fine a number of photographers whose work you admire and study their work. From looking at other's work I have learned to try and be more aware of my surroundings and keep my eyes open for shots. Second, always try to incorporate light in your images. Light is even more important than color and composition (though don't forget these:) Finally, don't be bound by any specific common aspect ratio. This image was taken with a 2:3 aspect ration but then cropped to 4:5 aspect ration because it worked better. I've seen many images that work great with a 1:2 ration.