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Contest Finalist in Shades Of Green Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Snakes Photo Contest
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in front of my house in the Endless Mountains --- farm country --- in Pennsylvania. Garter snakes and Black snakes make their homes in barns, and keep rodents in check.Time
My little friend had been enjoying the late morning sun.Lighting
Just a bright, sunny day...but when I first saw my little friend, he was lying in a place not conducive to a good portrait. I thought that with a little luck I could steer him (without spooking him) to a nicer place to shoot. After a few re-directs he raised up in this beautiful sunlight.Equipment
Shooting with a Nikon D750 and 24-120 zoom handheld.Inspiration
These snakes are friendly (harmless), though avoid encounters with humans for the most part. Any given day I may spy one and spend a few minutes just watching. I enjoy taking portrait-type images of all animals.Editing
I always shoot a bit loose so I can crop creatively. In this case I added a vignette to emphasize my subject.In my camera bag
I like to travel light, unless I've planned a serious shoot. Before I leave the house I have a general plan for targeted subjects, requiring one or two bodies. Two bodies allow me two lenses without having to remove a lens from a body.Feedback
Shooting in natural light requires planning for best time of day. Sensitivity to understanding light, controlling light, is the basis for great image-making. Remember that it is not a matter of shooting a subject, but capturing the light reflected from the subject.