Lake Wanaka and its environs are like something out of a fantasy dreamscape.
I was on my way back from a tiring trek through Rob Roy Glacier, which was somewhat of a disappointment as there were very little photographic opportunities due to weather. When this fiery spectacle appeared before me, the disappointment of the uneventful and long day vanished in an instant.
I was a lecturer for a while before I moved to Canberra, so, I know I can talk and relate to people on different technical levels when it comes to this kind of thing. However, having said that, I still have a very long way to go before I can claim myself a professional enough to start teaching or offering lessons. It would be the height of arrogance to start charging people now whilst I'm still learning. I know there is good money to be made but it's not my biggest motivating factor. I do want to do it for a living, eventually, but, at the moment it's more for myself. And, whilst I'm doing this for myself, I'm continually learning about light, my equipment, how to capture and process. If someone wants to buy my work, then, that is the biggest compliment that can be paid; this is starting to happen now, actually. In due course, when the time is right, I will start offering tours to locations, and if requested, run some kind of classes on processing. I don't have the facilities or know where to start at the moment. It's a bit much. I haven't even completed my web site yet. I need to do that first.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bloodhound31
H, stunning again mate. Every time I see your handle under a post I know I am going to be noting how you frame, compose and see the world.
You could make a fortune teaching mate, because your photo's reflect your passion.
Baz.
Troy,
Cheers, buddy. I think this may be my favourite image I've taken thus far. As someone mentioned on another site, the image has a balance which I haven't seen in any of my other work.
As far as exposure goes, I spot meter midtone and shadow regions of the scene before deciding on an exposure which will provide me enough latitude in post-processing. Live View is your best friend. I used to have a little exposure chart dangling off my tripod. Now, it's all in my head and I'm getting better at doing calculations all the time. It becomes second nature after a while.
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Originally Posted by troypiggo
What he said. Thing I always notice the most is the exposure. Such awesome control.
Justin,
Thanks, matey! Ah, Terragen. Back in the day. I think what sparked my initial interests in this type of photography was software such as Bryce2, Bryce3D, and Alias|wavefront Terraformer. I never ever got to touch Terraformer, unfortunately.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JD2439975
Every cloud has a silver lining & this one's...magenta!!
If I didn't know better I'd say you'd been playing with Terragen, amazing country & those colours...
This is an amazing photo,just so beautiful,what an amazing place,and a special skill you have to be able to bring this to a audience.
The colours of the sky,look like something George Lucas could'nt even dream up for a far away planets sky in a 'Star Wars' episode,Yes Humayan you really caught something most magical in this image,
I'd buy a copy and have it framed to put in my house,
just wondering,you mention live view,do you use it all the time for this type of photography? I note you used tripod,and a spot meter,so you had a plan and set up procedures before you took this photo,I hope you don't mind me asking-I want to use some of my kit in a similar manner.
I think you you would be very good at tutorials,Humayan-You should consider that in the future.
thanks again for posting this fine image,its just totally beautiful.
I use Live View with both the x5 and x10 magnification to fine focus the lens. When it gets dark, it can become tricky, but, you'll just know when objects look crisp (you can take test exposures to make sure the lens is in focus, too). Using the depth-of-field preview button on the side of your camera body can help here, too, as it shows you what will be in focus for a given aperture once you release the shutter.
I don't use a physical spot meter for these (not yet, anyway). The little rectangle that pops up in Live View, acts as a spot meter. You can move it around the scene, and you will get an exposure level reading underneath the image. Simply adjust your shutter speed until it falls where you want it to (typically on 0EV). You have to bear in mind when choosing your exposure that you don't blow the highlights and clip your shadows. It's easier to blow highlights than it is to clip shadows when doing long exposures. If you find you're going to blow the sky whilst trying to expose shadows, you have three options: a) don't include the sky in the composition; b) bracket your shots so you expose correctly for the sky and everything else; c) use graduated neutral density filters to hold the sky back whilst you expose correctly for everything but the sky.
I use the last option. It's challenging and the most difficult option, but, when it works (such as in this photo), it's party time.
I tried graduated ND filters on a photo workshop at Cradle Mtn. I sold them afterwards. I found it was much simpler to shoot two photos - one exposed for sky and one for the landscape and blend them in PS.
PS now has various "filters" that emulate most of the available "real glass filter" you would screw onto your lens. IMHO, the only one you can't replace in your kit bag is a polariser.
The other advice was to learn to shoot in manual mode and "read" the histogram.
There's lots of different types of neutral density filters. I'm not sure of the NDX terminology, but, I'm assuming they refer to 2-stops and 3-stops. 3-stops (ND8?) is a harsh filter and you have to be careful with its use. Typically, you'd want a set of 2-3 stops.
This image was indeed taken with a 3-stop filter. It was still quite bright, and the filter helped to add some drama to the scene; it also helps to draw the eye further down into the image.
A graduated filter is one which is half-transparent, and, the other half neutral density. The dark part is placed above the horizon and the clear part below the horizon. You expose for the foreground and the filter should hold the light back in the sky. The other way to do it, without a filter, is to bracket several images and then blend them in post.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hotspur
Thanks for the tips Humayan.
Yes,it sure would be party time when you bagged that image.
These Neutral Density filters,I believe there are two types ND 4 and ND 8
I think someone recommended the ND 8,is that the one to use in these types
of photographs? Can they be adjusted like a circular polarizer filter?,you mention 'graduated' in your reply so I take it they may be avaliable.
Which one do you feel is a good one to buy?I have been thinking about purchasing one for sometime,and would like to get a good quality one.
I noticed StephenM uses one in some of his rainforest photos of creeks,and the water comes out looking a really nice colour.
Thanks again for the helpful tuition.
Cheers Chris
David,
Yeah, when I first started using them, they annoyed the crap out of me. It all came down to the quality and intensity of light that you shoot in and having the right strength filter at your disposal.
I, too, blend when I don't shoot with a grad. But, you know me, I'm pushing myself to get it in one shot.
I have made my own neutral density effects in Photoshop in the past. It's actually very easy to do. But, the result looked artificial. That was probably just me, though. I will try it again, but, I prefer the simplicity of the filter.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidTrap
Great shot H,
I tried graduated ND filters on a photo workshop at Cradle Mtn. I sold them afterwards. I found it was much simpler to shoot two photos - one exposed for sky and one for the landscape and blend them in PS.
PS now has various "filters" that emulate most of the available "real glass filter" you would screw onto your lens. IMHO, the only one you can't replace in your kit bag is a polariser.
The other advice was to learn to shoot in manual mode and "read" the histogram.
DT
lol, hopefully not too annoying, Leon! Cheers, mate. I owe you a print or two. ; )
Quote:
Originally Posted by leon
You are so annoying H, those pics are sensational, you have a real gift.
Leon
Luis,
Thanks! When a fellow landscape photographer is happy, then, I'm happy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by luigi
Wohow!!! This is a fantastic landscape, love the palette of colors you got.
Congrats!
Luis
Jen,
Sure, if the weather is kind, and, I'm at Snake Valley, we can shoot sunrise over the misty and foggy dam. : )
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jen
very nice H Oh i can be your first guinnea pig student on processing tips at Snake Valley Im a good student honest
On all these modern camera bodies,there is a 'metering mode' spot etc etc,What do you switch it into when doing such shots like this?
I do like the 'drama' and the way the eye is drawn into this photo,this is what photographers dream to get-that almost 3D like feeling by viewing the image-I can almost hear the trout coming to the surface in this pic!
Crikey missed this one, another beautiful image Humayan the colour is striking congratulations and thanks for the tips through the thread I need to utilise Live view it's something I haven't yet explored on my camera.
Im a good student honest 
