Last year my friend and tremendous Cape Cod photographer, Betty Wiley, told me about Grey’s Beach on the Cape. This year I decided to take a look, glad I did.
I am often reminding students, and myself, that it’s important to look at other perspectives. In this case getting low creates a very different image than standing up (see image below). To my eye, the image made while standing up is static when compared to the more dynamic version where I put the camera on the boardwalk.
Lessons:
- Perspective matters. Get high, get low. Try them both and everything in between. I know, I know, it is not as easy to get up after getting down! This is a good reason to have a swivel LCD screen.
- This image was made at 2PM. Stop thinking there is a best time to make photographs. There is just light, it is up to you to figure out what to do with it. I think, so called “harsh light” worked pretty well here don’t you?
- Be patient. My first capture was made with a bald blue sky. As I stayed to explore, I noticed clouds building. When one wandered into the perfect spot, I was there to make the capture.
Good Morning, John ! That’s a wonderful lesson, one which your low POV example really drives home ! Moreover, that same image is simply stunning given how you’ve managed the tonal scale. That sort of control of all the Zones reminds me of Ansel Adams’ work.
Slainte !
Thank you Bruce. Quite a compliment. I have been working on my B&W processing with the help of Cole and Chuck. I have a long way to go but I do feel I am making some progress.
Hi John –
You are 100% correct about the light. It works very well and great images can be made at all times of the day – not just the hour at the beginning and end. I really like them both.
And, the most important gear in a camera bag for low perspective shots would be knee pads! (Only half joking!)
Brian
Thanks Brian. As I did not have knee pads, THE ONLY reason I attempted this shot was because there were hand rails I could use to get back up!
Great lessons as always. I’m a latecomer to mid day photography and am learning to love it. When I was a Scout leader we would teach the Boy Scouts that weather determines what we wear not what we do. I guess in photography that could be paraphrased as: “Light determines how we photograph, not if we photograph.”
I love the photographs, particularly the top one. You always manage to find such cooperative clouds.
Always good to hear from you Rich. Yes! Go make photographs all day!
The perspective in the first image is as strong as it gets. Really grabs your eye. And the dramatic sky to go with it… Good recipe.
Thank you Steve.