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©2010-2016 Julie L. Brown, All rights reserved
Charleston, South Carolina
March 28, 2016
An iconic tourist attraction for Charleston, South Carolina, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge has been photographed many times over, and there are no shortage of images of it to be found on the internet. Now, I have no problem with replicating popular shots-weather conditions will vary, and each photographer has the potential to portray the scene uniquely-it's kind of like checking off images from your bucket list. However, there is always the challenge of looking for different compositions whether it be by choice or necessity, but this classic perspective worked best for me.
My workshop leader, Joseph Rossbach (check out his website-he does gorgeous work!) positioned us on the river bank well before sunset. As it got darker the lights on the bridge came on, giving the structure a wonderful glow. On this cloudless evening, the post-sunset color wedge on the horizon expanded as the twilight deepened. I was able to optimize the color palette during post-processing using Lightroom, NIK, and ON1 Photo 10-great new software that is worth the purchase price by its photo browser alone-the images render quickly so that you can flag, rate, select, or delete your images from your card or hard drive before uploading them into LR. I was so pleased with the results that I had this image printed on a 24x36 sheet of aluminum with a high gloss finish to hang in my living room. It is stunning!
Camera notes: The 42.4 MP Sony a7rII has a full frame sensor that is enabling photographers to capture images with an expanded dynamic range in one shot. For many scenes, there is no need to shoot multiple frames at different exposures for HDR or create compositie images later in post-processing. The lens used was a Canon 70-200 f4L mounted on a Metabones T-Smart IV lens adaptor for Sony FE.
One of the most important aspects of the Sony mirrorless bodies , in my opinion, is a feature called Focus Peaking . In manual focus, the edge areas in the scene are illuminated by red or yellow, so that you can clearly see what is in focus. This is extremely helpful in getting sharp images, especially in low light or at night.
Since I am now about two years behind in processing and posting images from my photobirding and landscape image-making trips, I have decided that in 2016 I was going to take a different approach. Many photographers periodically reflect on their work and at the end of 2015 I started to realize that it was time to get out of my rut. Instead of trying to post every image from an outing or trip, I am going to select images that I find most compelling, and talk about where, why, and how in my narratives. What I enjoy most about my immersion in photography is that every image represents a unique place in time for me, and there is a story to tell within and behind each subject and composition. Along with the motivation to take my craft up another level in the field, I have also spent some time trying to become faster and more proficient in my processing workflow, both in the programs that I use everyday (Lightroom and Photoshop), and in learning to use new ones (ON1 Photo 10 and Capture One Pro). Why do we make images? Is it a fascination with the gear-the technology, the process, or is it both a purposeful and serendipitous way of seeing and sharing our personal experiences? For me, it is all of that, and more. What is it for you?
To see my spotlight images, click here .
This photoblog is my nature journal and travelogue. Many of my wildlife images were made in environments impacted by humans. My goal is to feature each animal in a way that allows the viewer to sense the essence of its life in the wild. The purpose of the accompanying narratives is to enhance awareness and appreciation of our natural world, as well as to inspire everyone to protect and care for it.
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This image has been featured in 1 Remix collection.
SONY ILCE-7RM2
30 seconds
F/11.0
ISO 100
70 mm (35mm equiv.)