October 22, 2009
There are times when I go out for a shoot with specific expectations, and don’t get the shot I wanted because there’s bad light, wrong weather conditions or something messing up the composition. There are times when I pre-visualize a shot, things line up perfectly and I get exactly the shot I wanted. And then, there are times when I go out, not expecting to get a single good shot, and end up getting a killer image.
This was such a time. And these images are the most surprising and satisfying.
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Posted by Rob under Filters,Fine Art Prints,Hot Shots,Landscapes,Quebec | Comments (8)
October 18, 2009
Liquid Gold Sunset Over Lake of Two Mountains
Canon EOS 5D MkII
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM lens at 20mm
f/22, 2s, ISO 100
Filters: Singh-Ray 3-stop hard GND, Lee 2-Stop hard GND, B+W 105mm polarizer
Gitzo GT3541LS tripod with RRS BH-55 ballhead, cable release
Hey all,
Rob here. I kind of missed the spontaneity of writing small, quick blog posts… You know, something that highlights a mood, a thought, an event, or a specific image. Gustav and I will keep on writing the longer monthly blog posts, but I also want to write more often to stay in touch. So this is the first post of a new series of “My Hot Shot”. There may a few per week, or only one per month – it’ll depend on my work schedule.
This shot was taken on Labour Day 2009. The beautiful clouds that were hanging around at 17:00 sadly disappeared by 18:15 as I was preparing to head out for this shot.
The bright, cloudless sky made the exposure rather difficult. I ended up using two graduate neutal density filters to hold back the very bright sky. I placed a 2-stop GND just above the rocks (about 2/3rds of the way up), along with a 3-stop GND at the horizon. I also used a polarizer to remove the harsh reflections from the wet rocks in the foreground.
I absolutely love the golded layer of water – this is really what makes this image special. The composotion also works well because of the placement of the horizon, the sun, the tuft of grass in the foreground, and the way the rocks leads your eyes into the sun.
Hope you enjoy it! All the best,
Rob
Posted by Rob under Filters,Hot Shots,L'Ile Bizard (Quebec),Landscapes | Comments (0)
October 13, 2009
G’day Everyone,
In last month’s blog, Rob explained his technique for photographing insects and other small wildlife without a tripod. Equipped with a macro lens, a strobe, and a diffuser, Rob enjoys (or so he claims) chasing his flighty subjects across the meadows and through the forests and wetlands hoping to creep up on them whenever they land, if they ever do. First, he has to find his subject. Then he as to keep up with it. If it lands, it may not land in an accessible location let alone a photogenic one that will enable him to create a pleasing composition. Even if he’s lucky and all this actually happens, he still has to hope that his photographic quarry allows him to get his lens within inches of it and keep the subject within the thumbnail-thin DOF long enough to get off a frame or two before he has to commence chasing it all over again. Whew!!! Asked why he does it, he says “It’s all about the thrill of the hunt.”
Let me tell you something about the so-called thrill of the hunt – it’s overratted. Ain’t what it’s cracked up to be. Me? I take a much more genteel approach to macro photography.
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk on Meadowsweet
Canon EOS 1-D Mark ll N
Nikon 200mm Micro Nikkor f/4 (with Canon/Nikon adaptor)
.4″ @ f/22, ISO 100
Gitzo GT3145LS tripod with Novoflex focusing rail
cable release and mirror lock-up
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Posted by Gustav under Fall,Macro,Seasons,Technique | Comments (0)
