We do a lot of driving when we're in New Zealand, through some amazing scenery. I've seen it all before, but it's never the same. The kids are used to me screeching to a halt and shoving the car in reverse to "get the shot". Sometimes literally, because I've seen a rabbit or hare to shoot!
I guess because I'm a hunter, I tend to "see in telephoto". It's often a little detail in a big scene, or a compressed part of the view. The longest lens I carry is 45mm (90mm in 135 film equivalent), and I am looking to go longer.
Often in the evening light, I find it hard to get the DR I need to capture what I see. I also find it hard to get the colour balance right. Sunrises and sunsets are not "natural lighting", especially in New Zealand. The whole scene can be drenched in colour that looks downright bizarre if I try to re-create it in post processing!
I'm enjoying this kind of landscape photography more and more. No point trying to think too wide if my natural world view is narrow! I'm enjoying seeing a pattern emerge, and I think I'll focus more on the "view from a gate" style images. I used to build fences and gates as a teenager, so I guess there's some therapy to be gained there.
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MackenzieCountry, near Burkes Pass.
E-PL1, Panny 14/2.5 @ F7.1 |
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Canterbury foothills.
Taken from across the road so that I could get the compressed view of the mountains fading away.
E-PL1, 45/1.8 @F7.1
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A "Taranaki gate" in the MacKenzie Country. This pool was surface water from heavy rain, which is rare here. So I doubt I will ever get this scene again.
E-PL1, Panny 14/2.5 @F6.3 |
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Pivot Irrigation near Tarras, St Bathan's Range in the background. Many of us don't like these things marching across the fields, but at least here they match the contours of the land. This sunset was even more ridiculously pink than I've shown it. No-one would believe it if I went for the real colour!
E-PL1, m.Zuiko 45/1.8 @ F5, ISO800, about 75% crop. |
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Catching the morning sun, Upper Clutha Valley. Kids nearly got whiplash when I stopped for this one!
E-PL1, m.Zuiko 45/1.8 @F2.8
About 75% crop. Should have stopped down more. |
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Aoraki, Mt Cook. Morning light in the MacKenzie Country.
E-PL1, m.Zuiko 45/1.8 @ F4, about 50% crop. |
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Cloudy Peaks, Burkes Pass-Fairlie Road. How many times will it take to capture what I see here? Next time....there will be many next times. Next time, I'll use HDR techniques.
E-PL1, mZuiko 45/1.8 @F4, very tight crop. |
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You can call Kiwi farmers many things, but you are always welcome if you do the right things.
E-PL1, Vivitar 135/2.8 @F2.8
Will use this lens more if I can get it to focus to infinity! |
