Silhouettes and Reflections (21)

Requirement

5 images

Purpose

Show how to make a successful image composed of 

• the sun with star effect
• an interesting reflection in water
• black shapes of vegetation.

Technical learning

Elements of success for this type of backlit image are:

• Clear sky
• Sun relatively low in the sky
• Use of wide angle lens at a small aperture (so tripod)
• Water with an interesting reflection
• Other landscape elements with compelling shapes in silhouette
• ND grad filter

Exercise instructions

• Pick a clear sunny day and a scene with water
• Use your widest angle lens at its smallest aperture
• Choose a moment when the sun is low in the sky
• Seek reflections in the water and a clear interesting silhouette
• Shoot image to produce a strong sun star effect, with simple composition that uses foreground reflections, with an ND grad filter, bracketed 5 times at intervals of 1 stop 
• Pick the image that works best.

Images and review

Triggs Lock, Wey Navigation Canal 

Used a fish eye lens (15mm) to create
the sun star effect
Even though it has a fixed aperture of f2.8
its width is sufficient to create this effect