June 18th, 2023
Something that you’ll learn pretty quickly if you continue to practice landscape photography is that when nature gives you light, you take advantage of it. This is exactly what happened June 18th, as I was driving back home.
I’d spent a great weekend with family celebrating my brother’s graduation – and finally around 7 it was time to hit the road. As I was driving home I began noticing something – light. I was on the phone with my girlfriend and had a choice to make. Would I stay in my warm car, and keep driving home to the city? Or would I take a detour to a nearby lake I knew of, get out of my car, and brace the cold and rainy New England waterfront and shoot a sunset.
Obviously I got cold and wet.
Rolling Clouds
- Camera: Fujifilm GFX 100S
- Lens: Fujinon 32-64mm f/4
- Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec.
- ISO: 1000
- f/: 9
The first image I shot was a panorama. I lined up my camera and slowly spun from right to left capturing three consecutive images. My tripod had been left at home that weekend so the whole night I was making sure to keep the shutter speed high enough that I wouldn’t have a problem with camera shake.
Pitter
- Camera: Fujifilm GFX 100S
- Lens: Fujinon 32-64mm f/4
- Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec.
- ISO: 500
- f/: 4
Having shot the grand view, I decided I’d need to focus in on the details next. I was excited by the way that the droplets were making such crystal clear impact points on the relatively calm and smooth water. When taking this image I was trying to ensure that the cloud edges lit by the sunset were on full display.
Patter
- Camera: Fujifilm GFX 100S
- Lens: Fujinon 100-200mm f/5.6
- Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec.
- ISO: 1600
- f/: 5.6
I photographed this image on my telephoto lens. Having taken a a wide-angle shot of the raindrops I knew that my next step would be punching in – and focusing on the lake, not the sky. This image is that much stronger for it. I love the gradual decrease and shift in the colors in the foreground. The transition of the ripples in particular fascinates me. Under the setting sun there’s an eruption of orange colored ripples, catching the last drops of the fading light. Gradually as we step farther from the sunset, each ripple becomes nothing more than different shades of indigo staining the water’s inky surface under the cover of night.
& The Final Flourish
- Camera: Fujifilm GFX 100S
- Lens: Fujinon 100-200mm f/5.6
- Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec.
- ISO: 1600
- f/: 9
Nearly immediately after I shot the previous image I zoomed in a hair more on the final bit of light we were granted. I framed up this composition and I must say I love the balance the image has on display. The reflected light’s gradient is stunning – and the balance the rich dark clouds offer helps the composition of this scene. It’s a great counterweight to the bright spot in the center and bottom fifth of the image.
Satisfied with the shots I’d taken I packed my bag and decided it was about time to head out. This night reinforced in my head a principle I’d learned a long time ago in my time shooting photos. Just because a day is gray, it doesn’t mean the sunset will be bad. In fact – many of the best sunsets I’ve seen come RIGHT after a dreary rainy weather.
The best thing to do when it’s rained all day is watch the horizon. If you see a hole in the cloud cover and clouds rolling along overhead if the weather holds – you’ll be gifted an incredible sunset.
Zachary, I am so impressive with your photos. I feel as if i am standing beside your looking at the sunset. Great job!!