So its been a while since I have gone out to shoot- I really, apologize. I desperately want to get out and shoot more, production and training the new assistants has had me tied down, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Wait…that sounds like I am dying or something. Im not dying…well…I guess in a really broad perspective we are all dying, but no, nothing immediate is planned.
I decided to try to catch the sunset tonight on Maui. This is what I ended up with:So its been a while since I have gone out to shoot- I really, apologize. I desperately want to get out and shoot more, production and training the new assistants has had me tied down, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Wait…that sounds like I am dying or something. Im not dying…well…I guess in a really broad perspective we are all dying, but no, nothing immediate is planned.
I decided to try to catch the sunset tonight on Maui. This is what I ended up with:For those of you who are interested in how I arrived to this, the thought process went something like this: (all but the last 2 shots are SOOC = Straight Out of the Camera)Show up at the Beach “Dang” I think “The sun is going to be hiding behind a bunch of clouds. Looks like I may be wasting my time. Hmm…well, lets focus on making a nice texture of the waves and we can have the sun in the background behind a cloud or something, try to salvage this.”“Ok, this is good, and I like the texture of the waves, but I want it more misty, more flowing type feeling. Let’s play with slower shutter speeds from .5-1.5 seconds.” Camera goes on tripod. “That sky looks super boring….lets try a Red Cokin Filter to liven things up a little. It will probably look fake. Why do I hate cats?”“Dang, I forgot on a full frame sensor that stupid filter holder gets into the shot. Its going to need to come off. I will also need an addition .6 grad filter to bring the exposure of the sky down. Can probably hand hold them as long as I dont move the camera.” (Filter gradient edges were aimed at the horizon).“Ok, this is looking a little better, lets play with some different compositions of rocks. Dang that sky looks so stupid and fake. Lets move the tripod around a few inches 30 different times.”“Ok, I think I really do like this original set up. Sky still looks fake. Lets see what happens if we tweak the foreground with Michael Andrew Paintballer Pro Presets ”
“Now we are talking….a little. Need to straighten the horizon out, remove the surfers with the clone tool.”Final Image:
Canon 5DII , Canon 16-35mm 2.8 L @16 mm, Hand holding Cokin Red and .6 grad filters, f13, Shutter Speed 1.3″, ISO 50 , Processed with Michael Andrew Paintballer Pro Presets
Michael – Love this post. I love learning how you work through your thought progression to improve a shot. Great learning tool!
Love this process breakdown. More of this please! Great result as well!.
Ha ha, "Why do I hate cats?"…
"why do I hate cats" lol
I really dig it. LOL @ "Why do I hate cats?"
Love knowing that even a perfectionist can be as scatterbrained as the rest of us. 🙂
Gosh Michael I cannot wait to save up the $’s to get this program from you! Saving up some shots I have taken to use it on. Thanks for Sharing.
gorgeous!