Through My Lens Nr. 5
We are back for a new edition of Through My Lens. This time we are back in Mostar and I want to share some images from my hometown (both sum...
How to Take Glorious Sunset Images
Think ahead before shooting
While sometimes wonderful sunrise and sunset shots can be taken spontaneously, it’s often the case that the best ones come out of planning. Scope out places that might be good for sunsets in the day before you go out to take your images. Look for interesting places where there will be opportunities for shots that include foreground elements and silhouettes. Sunsets only last for a short amount of time, so you want to think about these things before they start or you might miss the shots you’re after.Zoom in and Zoom Out
This might seem like a useless headline, since it doesn't really say what to do, but let me explain. When you shoot with a wide lens (which does lend itself for sweeping landscape images) the sun will only be taking up a reasonably small part of the photo. If you want it to be a feature of your shot you’ll need to zoom in on it using anything from a 200mm focal length upwards. This will increase your need for a tripod as well, since the shoot needs to be sharp! So keep both parts of your zoom lens in use.Use Silhouettes as Focal Points
So a sunset is just a sunset. A truly great sunset image does need a subject. Since you will have to expose for the sky this naturally creates silhouettes that can be the focal point of your image. Instead of relying upon the camera’s auto mode a sunset is an ideal time to switch your camera into aperture or shutter priority mode and to take a variety of shots at different exposures. The great thing about sunsets and sunrises is that there is no one ‘right’ exposure and that you can get stunning results using a variety of them.Try Bracketing to get different results
Another way to get the right exposure is bracketing. That's a method where you look at what your camera suggests you take the picture at and then take a few shots that are under and over that mark. For example: if your camera says to shoot at 1/60th of a second at f/8 you would shoot a shot at 1/60 at f/5.6 and then at f/11. In doing so you end up with a series of shots at different exposures which will all give you slightly different results and colors. Most DSLR’s and some point and shoot digital cameras have a built in bracketing feature so you don’t need to do this manually.Shoot outside the auto white balance mode
When you set your camera's white balance to ‘Auto’ you run the risk of losing some of the warmth and golden tones of a sunrise or sunset. Instead try shooting in ‘cloudy’ or ‘shade’ which are usually used in cooler lights and tell your camera to warm things up a little. Alternatively, if you’re shooting a sunrise and do want a cooler moody shot you can experiment with other white balance settings.Other things to keep in mind when shooting sunsets
Use a tripod when necessary
If you’re shooting at longer shutters speeds and with longer focal lengths then a tripod or some other way of ensuring your camera is completely still is essential.Focus manually in extreme lighting
Sometimes when shooting in extreme lighting conditions some cameras can have trouble focusing. If this is the case for your camera consider switching to manual focus to ensure you get nice crisp shots.Look around you
The wonderful thing about sunsets is that they not only create wonderful colors in the sky in front of you but they also can cast a beautiful golden light that is wonderful for other types of photography. You might find a great opportunity for a portrait, landscape shot, macro shot etc behind you in the golden light.Keep Shooting
A sunset or sunrise constantly changes over time and can produce great colors well after the sun goes down or appears so keep shooting at different exposures and focal lengths so that you can get different images as the time progresses.An please share this post with others if you think they might find it useful. Sharing options are below.
No good travel photo collection seems to be complete without a great sunset photo or two. We all strive for them, their warmth, wholesomenes...
Sherry Britton
9:10 AM5 Reasons You Should Visit Bosnia and Herzegovina in Autumn and Winter
1. Mild climate in the South of the Country
For me this is the number one reason. Summer has its charm, but the temperatures go way up (a 45 degrees Celsius / 113 degrees Fahrenheit in Mostar is a regular in July), so much in fact, that they limit your ability to truly enjoy walking around the country and exploring everything. But when the temperatures drop around September and October, I personally love going out more. Even if you are just hanging out in one city, it will be much more enjoyable.2. Winter activities in the Mountains
Bosnia and Herzegovina has a couple of so called Olympic mountains, since the Winter Olympics were held here back in 1984. These mountains include Jahorina, Bjelasnica, Vlasic and others, and they are still visited today in winter. You can find many hotels, resorts, spas, mountain lodges, restaurants and of course ski paths there. As soon as the first snow falls, these places open up and welcome in visitors. The fresh air combined with some really beautiful nature here makes this one of the bigger reasons to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina in winter.3. Exploring the Region is easier
This is a combination of the first and fifth point. There are fewer people visiting and the weather is much more enjoyable, which makes exploring the country easier. But there are other factors here as well. The hotels and accommodations have more open spots, a car rental is easier to find, roads are not filled with many cars and finding those quiet spots seems that much more possible.4. Autumn colors in the Landscapes
When the leaves turn color, the scenery and country transform. The south is greeted by winds from the north and the green longer. Northern Bosnia and Herzegovina turns color much more quickly and you get sweeping mountain vistas, parks and valleys colored in red, orange and yellow. After the leaves fall of in winter, the scenery transforms again, and you can find beauty in those times as well.5. Fewer people in popular spots
Bigger cities like Sarajevo, Mostar, Banja Luka get a lot of visitors during the summer season. Sarajevo especially during the Sarajevo Film Festival, which is being held there every year. Nightlife is mostly crowded and while its really great to be in a city filled with life, the autumn and winter season actually gives you a chance to catch your breath and take a better look at the views in front of you.Bosnia and Herzegovina has become a really popular tourist spot over the last couple of years. Each summer, lots of people visit the country...
Natasha
August has been a pretty crazy time for me with my wedding photography work, but I'm hoping to squeeze in a little self portrait time soon to try out my new Sigma prime lenses.. watch this space!
The lovely Natasha came to stay with us for a week, so of course I couldn't resist asking her if she'd model for me.. and she said y...
Through My Lens Nr. 4
What "Through my lens" is about
This meme is about sharing your favorite blog post with the rest of us. The themes are open, there is only one rule: the images have to be taken by you. I want to see your photography!How this Photo meme Works
1. Share your favorite post under the linkup button below and follow the instructions there2. Only share the url of your post, not the url of your main page
3. In your post link back to this post of "Through my lens" and visit others!
It's has already been a month since I started this photo meme, and it's just unbelievable how time flies away. I want to thank each ...
Summer Sunset on the Beaches of Drvenik, Croatia
Drvenik is a small town located on the Adriatic Sea in the Dalmatia region of Croatia. I love it for it's beaches, nature around it as w...
La belle Otéro
9:53 AMCoastlines around the Old Town of Dubrovnik
In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Dubrovnik is among the 10 best preserved medieval walled cities in the world. Nowadays the city is swarmed with tourists, and it's actually nice to step on about and escape the crowds a little bit. A boat ride to the island Lokrum costs around 40 kuna (5 $) and also includes a trip back to the old town.
A feature of Dubrovnik are its walls (910.584 visitors in 2014) that run almost 2 km (1.24 miles) around the city. The walls run from four to six meters (13 to 19 feet) thick. The system of turrets and towers were intended to protect the vulnerable city. The walls of Dubrovnik have also been a popular filming site for the fictional city of King's Landing in the TV show Game of Thrones, which I have written about previously.
Next up is a shot of the St. Lawrence Fortress, often called Dubrovnik's Gibraltar, and it's located outside the western city walls. The fortress has a big court with mighty arches and, as its height is uneven, it has 3 terraces with powerful parapets with the broadest one looking south towards the sea. It lies outside the old town but you can take a look at it when you stand on the walls of the old town.
The old town harbor is the palce where our little journey started, and it's also the place where it will end. I hope to do a post about the inside of the old town as well soon.
How do you like the outer walls of the old town of Dubronvik?
Coastlines are always interesting to observe, especially if you have the chance to do so from a boat (like I did in this case). Dubrovnik i...