This summer during my ramblings with the dogs and the camera, I discovered a secret spot. Just by the side of the road but with a magical feeling to it that is simply unmistakable. A magnificent #Vintage Point with a great view of Lough Corrib, snuggled among the wild Connemara vegetation.
I fell in love with this place, it became my go to and secret sanctuary, I passed by it every time I was out. Even the dogs felt it, and they would stop there on their own.
Recently someone requested of me to choose a photo of my special place and to describe how I took it, what was my process, what camera I used, what lenses... I thought Why Not?!
I am also entering this image for the #VintagePoint project organized by
Light
I don't believe that it is necessary to have great and expensive equipment to be able to take good images. Don't take me wrong, I will not pass on my favourite Canon EOS 5D Mark III if you are offering :-) or my latest discovery the gorgeous Light L16 compact camera but I still believe that composition, good light and the right intent have much more important roles while taking photographs.
and I have a bunch of lenses that I use according to what I have in mind of shooting although at the moment I am in love with a simple prime Canon USM F1.8 50mm lens, that I use most of the time.
This is the equipment I used to take some of the photos here, the rest are taken by my phone which is a Huawei.
Some would say, a F1.8 50mm lens is not a lens to be used outdoors, but well, I have my weird ways... I have been told quite often that it is unusual to take landscape images with F1.8 aperture but for some reason I make them work. Those are not my words. And I am quite happy, because I have my own view of the world, this is how I see it, and it happens to be through a lens with F1.8 aperture. I love the fact that there is so much left to the imagination while the main subject is in perfect clarity.
It is difficult to choose just one image to describe a place especially when using shallow debt of field.
But I think the magic atmosphere of my secret place among the wild grasses of Connemara is pretty well captured here:
Usually the images form in my head while I walk and look around, I see them before I take them, then all I have to do is point the camera and shoot knowing that what I imagined will be exactly as I thought it would be once they are committed to the memory card. That really takes some practice!!
My only rules are:
- always have the camera with me
- take all photos in manual mode so I have control over the light and the aperture measurements.
- always shoot in RAW
Basically, My process is as follows: I walk by, I see something that captures my imagination, the image develops in my mind, I grab the camera, set the settings, take that photo, when I get home I process the RAW file, work on it a little (checking the histogram, adding a bit of contrast if needed, sometimes changing the white balance according to the light conditions), I don't really like too much alterations or edits and that's it really...
Ready to go!!
All my secrets exposed from a #VintagePonit of view.
First have a look at some photos taken with my phone so you get a better feeling of this magic place.
I secretly call it Where the fairies go to dance
And now for the photos taken with Canon 400D
Doesn't this look like the place where the fairies meet?!
And this is unusual for me, Here you can see some photos taken with aperture setting of F5.6
simply because I needed to capture a bit more details
July mornings in Connemara
Bridgit's Gardens
