Thursday, February 6, 2014

Pangasinan | Sunrise Photos From Lucap Wharf


PANGASINAN | Sunrise Photos From Lucap Wharf
Looking At Hundred Islands From Afar


While sunrise or sunset photos are a staple for photographers on the road, it's not exactly the sun that they are after. It's the dramatic change in colors and hues in the horizon during the break of dawn or setting sun. The sun projects a horizontal light which can sometimes be at eye level with the photographer, it does well in casting shadows, and bathing everything in sight in throes of different shades and colors. It's the time of the day when light is naturally saturated in colors.

While I mentioned that its not the sun that photographers are after. Composing a great Sunrise or Sunset photos are a challenge for composition. The first and obvious trick is for the photographer to realise that the sun is not the central focus here, it is merely the source of ambient light. Like many landscape photographs, finding a great foreground and subject also works here.

What is there to look out for when capturing the sun, is the rays that it cast. Shadows on cloudy horizon can make your pictures less boring or the sun's reflection over the water. The changing temperatures from cold to warm also works wonders even when you are shooting on the same spot, you'll get a different photograph altogether.


In ambient light, this photo looks cold. In different hues of blue and the boats shadows making up for a good foreground over the waters, with the horizon in shades of purple.


Capturing the sun's reflection in the water, is probably the only exception to the rule of thirds. This type of setting can allow you to put the horizon of the subject in the center while keeping the interest in the photo. In this photograph, I waited for that moment when the slow moving boat would make contact with sun's reflection in the water. To capture movement and direction, I decided on the last second to pan the photo a little to the right so as to capture the water ripples that the boat leaves behind.


Capturing silhouettes and shadows is another trick that can be done. Silhouttes give your photo that boost of drama. I have many jump shot photos where the subject is hidden in shadows. Placing the focus in front of the light source does the trick, you just have to look out for the shapes making sure that it is interesting.


A change in temperature can change a lot. See that the foreground in this photo is the same as the first photo, but this time the sun is already peeking in the horizon, casting warm light. As it does, the shadows intensified, making the corners of the photo darker but still capturing shadows.


Since I am using a kitlens, the maximum zoom in still allows the chance to capture distant movement. Though movement depends on the location itself, this photo shows the different hues in the sky, while the people on the boat cast a perfect shadow, the trails in the water provides a sense of direction.



Francis Balgos is a Call Center Agent, Weekend Travel Warrior, Amateur Spelunker, Sometime Surfer, Newbie Mountain Climber, Photography Enthusiast, Certified Beach Bum, A first born son, True Explorer...

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