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Nature Photography : Tutorials : #04

 

Using wide angle lenses in the early morning, or late afternoon, with the sun behind you can be a problem.

Often you find your own shadow in the shot and this will definitely brand you as an amateur (unless of course it's done on purpose for effect).

Take this shot of the valve controls on Manton Dam near Darwin, it has two main problems. Firstly, as mentioned, my shadow is clearly visible striking the classic "taking a photo" pose. And secondly there is a light pole heading into the ether at the top of the frame.
 
Fig 1: My first photo with my shadow clearly visible and a distracting pole.  
 
I can move one way to reduce the prominence of the pole by hiding most of it behind on of the subjects but this doesn't help with the shadow.
 
Fig 2: The pole has mostly gone but we still have a shadow.
 
 
By moving the other way and tucking my elbows in the pole is now hidden behind another of the controls and my shadow, although still visible, is not obvious.
 
Fig 3: If you're looking for it you can still make out my shadow, but it's not that obvious.  
 

The pole still bothers me and not long ago there would have been nothing I could have done about it. These days of course we have Photoshop.
 
Fig 4: Pole!, what pole?  
 

 





 


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