Reception Problems? Just Adjust Your Antennaby David McMahon
Sometimes the most vibrant skies appear when you least expect them. This range of dramatic sunset hues suddenly appeared on a heavily clouded horizon in south-east Melbourne just before the Easter break in 2008.
As luck would have it, I had my 70-300mm lens on my camera, so I had to make an instant decision. I knew it would only take me three or four minutes to get in my car and drive to the top of a hill for a clear shot of the colours.
But I knew that in that short span of time, the brilliant colours could have disappeared completely. So I decided instead to use the lens to its fullest reach and try and eliminate as much suburban clutter as possible.
I shot nineteen frames very quickly, using different objects as silhouettes. This, the third image in the sequence, had the most dramatic colours and things dissolved quickly to grey after that. The skyshow lasted less than five minutes …. had I driven, I would have missed capturing the colours!
I do not crop, enhance or post-edit my images in any way. Shot with a Pentax K100D, using a Sigma 70-300mm lens. F5.6, 1/60 sec, ISO 800, focal length 300mm.
Sometimes you just gotta work with what’s there… I actually like the antenna’s etc… makes the image interestingly different from the usual… well done!! : )
Thank you, Jenny – the range of colours in the 19 frames I shot went from purple to gold, to bronze, and every colour that you commonly see in flames!
Thank you, Tridib. I always advocate using silhouettes where possible in shots like these – but shooting a sunset from a suburban street is something else altogether! Glad you liked it.
Wooooow just wooooow! brilliant work! I loooooove it! Instant fav!
Thank you so much, Carol. Strangely enough, it was just a grey susnset that suddenly looked as if someone had switched on an oxy-acetylene torch! Great to know you like it.
– David McMahon
Tomi10almost 3 years ago
great shot David, Looks like the sky’s ablaze.
Thank you, Thomas. One of those evenings when some unseen artist daubed the whole sky!
Incredible sky! Incredible time span for you to be able to get this capture before it simply went grey!! Fantastic work! Nature truly is an amazing wonder…so much to be discovered at a moments notice!! :)
Thank you, Rita. The credit goes entirely to Nature – I was just the person who hit the trigger. I was very lucky that I spotted this amazing sky show!
Comments
Sometimes you just gotta work with what’s there… I actually like the antenna’s etc… makes the image interestingly different from the usual… well done!! : )
Thank you, Jenny – the range of colours in the 19 frames I shot went from purple to gold, to bronze, and every colour that you commonly see in flames!
– David McMahon
This picture highlights the contrast between our everyday concerns and the unobserved glory of nature going on around us.
Thank you, Betty. I was lucky to have an upbringing that made me appreciate (and make time for) the beauty of Nature. You’re absolutely right.
– David McMahon
That is an awesome sky and the colours are fantastic Excellent work David.
Thanks, Colin. It’s interesting to look back on the entire sequence now and see how quickly the colours morphed and changed and faded away.
– David McMahon
beautiful shot, great colors
Thanks, JustArt. They appeared with no warning and disappeared ever so quickly.
– David McMahon
Like you say, never walk away from a sunset. :)
Thank you, Indrani – you’re so right. I’ve said that many times on my blog. It’s my credo, for sure.
– David McMahon
Great capture!
Thank you, Tridib. I always advocate using silhouettes where possible in shots like these – but shooting a sunset from a suburban street is something else altogether! Glad you liked it.
– David McMahon
Wooooow just wooooow! brilliant work! I loooooove it! Instant fav!
Thank you so much, Carol. Strangely enough, it was just a grey susnset that suddenly looked as if someone had switched on an oxy-acetylene torch! Great to know you like it.
– David McMahon
great shot David, Looks like the sky’s ablaze.
Thank you, Thomas. One of those evenings when some unseen artist daubed the whole sky!
– David McMahon
Incredible sky! Incredible time span for you to be able to get this capture before it simply went grey!! Fantastic work! Nature truly is an amazing wonder…so much to be discovered at a moments notice!! :)
Thank you, Rita. The credit goes entirely to Nature – I was just the person who hit the trigger. I was very lucky that I spotted this amazing sky show!
– David McMahon