Followed a suggestion from one of my 365 friends (thank you!) to get my wide angle out and re-think how to use it in rural shots and had fun today despite being somewhat more bitten up. I re-did a daisy field scene, did some leading line work on the dirt road down on Bonners Landing -- our area of Beaver Island, and then tonite, the early phase of the sunset presented some new opportunity. This is from 3 shots, processed using Photomatix, then Color Efex, but with an attempt to keep it as natural as possible -- except for the sun flare.
Happy almost 4th of July for all my US friends!
Lovely composition Taffy, I want to sit on that swing and look out to the lake, or is it the sea? did you add the flare in through Topaz? And have you tried the lavender oil to keep the mozzies away?
@elaine55 The flare was actually real -- with my 14-24 lens, one of Nikon's best apparently, I can often get one if the sun is at the right level. So, I just crouched behind the swing so the swing and trees would serve as a frame and it came out in all three of the shots. I didn't use Topaz on this one. And, we've gotten the lavender oil but I was too lazy -- just put on the net and didn't use oil or spray. My own fault!
Lovely composition, Taffy, very clever. When I first saw this, I thought it was done with your 10-stopper, but you have done a very good, natural looking HDR here, congrats! Getting HDR's natural looking is really my main aim when I use it, and I am using it quite often now with my sunrises. Great sun flare here!
Amazing sun flare....did you go to f22 for that on your wide angle?! The swing looks incredibly inviting, and I love how the sun lights up the path underneath!
Rainy here today but I can imagine myself sitting on your swim. I need some photo inspiration myself. Should get dressed and try some drop shots like some people do. Ugh wake up. LOL
That would be a wonderful spot to sit and relax. My son (who lives on our boat in the summer with his girlfriend cause rent is too expensive on the cape in the summer) has a cat living on board with them.
@creampuff Thanks Eve. I'm grateful for co-leading a technique challenge last year on doing flares -- that's when I learned how to do them myself. They can make such a dramatic difference to a photo!
Such a well balanced composition . . . and great sun flare!
The swing provides.