Understand Your Camera’s Limitations And Use Them To Your Advantage

End of Winter Day, Point Lobos State Reserve, California
Canon 1DsMKIII, 27mm, f/16, 1/2 sec., 100 ISO, Singh-Ray Slim LB Polarizer

In my recent blog post: Camera Sensors Are Good – Your Eyes Are Better, I discuss the relationship between the way our eyes see a scene’s contrast as opposed the the way our camera’s sensor can capture that contrast. If we truly understand the camera’s limitations, then we can turn those limitations into creative advantages.

Back in January of 2011, I took advantage of my camera’s ability to adequately record detail in the shadows and highlights of this dusk scene at Point Lobos State Reserve’s famed Cypress grove. I had been working with some clients on the previous evening when I saw a similar sky after sunset. Oftentimes on clear sky winter days, clouds will form at the northern tip of the Reserve as sunset nears (I have no idea why).

I had envisioned an image like this as I drove home and was determined to come back until conditions were right. The next afternoon I drove back to the grove and saw these clouds forming. I knew exactly where I wanted to go and framed this composition and waited.

What my eyes saw was completely different from what you see here. My eyes saw lots of detail in the foreground Monterey Cypress trees and surrounding foliage. But, I opted to simplify this scene by allowing no detail to record in the darks of my scene. It was easy, I just allowed my camera sensor’s limited ability to capture this range of contrast by exposing and controlling the highlights of the scene.

After the sun had set, I knew I would have a window of about 7-10 minutes to get my shot. Fortunately on this evening, the color on the undersides of the clouds intensified as the sun sank lower below the horizon. I could intensify this color by underexposing the scene a bit.

This image was a breeze to process and only took a couple of minutes in Lightroom.

The silhouetted Cypress trees allowed the bold colors of the clouds and their reflection on the ocean to bring this image to life. Had I tried to capture detail in the foreground foliage, I’m convinced the image would have become too chaotic.

NOTE: I have one spot available for my upcoming Winter Big Sur Workshop. We will be photographing a sunset in Point Lobos on one of the evenings of the workshop. Winter light along the Big Sur coast is amazing. Please click on the link below to sign up!

2014 Photo Workshops – Complete List

5th Annual Magic Light, Moonlight, and Pfeiffer Arch Workshop – Winter in Big Sur and the Monterey Peninsula – January 15-18, 2014 (Hurry – Only 1 Spot Remaining)

6th Annual Northern Arizona Workshop – Grand Canyon (full moon), Page (Horseshoe Bend and Upper Antelope Canyon) and Sedona – March 14-18, 2014 (WORKSHOP SOLD OUT :: WAITING LIST ONLY)

7th Annual Springtime in Big Sur and the Monterey Peninsula – Wildflowers, Misty Fog and Headland Color – April 14-17, 2014 (4 spots remaining)

5th Annual Kauai Workshop – Garden Isle and Tropical Paradise – June 20-24, 2014 (3 spots remaining)

2nd Annual Monsoon Photo Workshop – Grand Canyon National Park – August 9-13, 2014 (co-taught by Don Smith and Gary Hart – filling fast)

3rd Annual Fall Color in Grand Teton National Park – Workshop #1 – September 23 – 27, 2014 (WORKSHOP SOLD OUT :: WAITING LIST ONLY)

3rd Annual Fall Color in Grand Teton National Park – Workshop #2 – September 28 – October 2, 2014 (7 spots remaining)

6th Annual Arches/Canyonlands National Parks and Monument Valley :: Full Moon Over Red Rock, Arches, Canyons and Monument Valley’s Mittens – October 4-8, 2014 (10 spots left)

4th Annual Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks :: Bryce Canyon Hoodoos and Zion Fall Color – November 1-5, 2014 (10 spots left)

Software Discounts

Photomatix Pro 4.2 type in code at checkout: donsmithphotography 15% discount