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Elaine Mueller Tweedy
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Project 52 - Week 21: Sunset

5/26/2017

4 Comments

 
Maybe we should have called the theme for this week "Searching for Sunsets."

Forecast:  Cloudy, Showers, Rain, Rain, Cloudy, Partly Cloudy, Showers, Rinse, Repeat.  No one checks Weatherbug like I do.  It's the best and most used app on my cell phone.

So, what is one to do when capturing a sunset means moving to another state?

Here's what I did.
Picture
Meet Corey.  He is a rescue from One Life To Live Pet Rescue in my area.  I had made arrangements with his Mom to meet and do a photo shoot on an evening when the sky was less than spectacular this past week.  It actually looked like a plain, white bed sheet that had been washed about 6,000 times until it turned that color between off-white and gray. 

Corey had been surrendered to a high-kill shelter in South Carolina by his owners, before coming to Pennsylvania and the rescue.   He is about 2 years old, a Shepherd/Black Mouth Cur mix.  His new Mom has spent much love and patience retraining him and he is a fantastic poser, not to mention those expressive ears and eyes!

The key here was to go back through sunset photos I have taken (as my own stash of backgrounds) and some overlays to find what I thought could mesh well.  Some of the things that are helpful to keep in the mix when I have a notion in my head to use a background or overlay are:
  • shoot with the thought of the overlay or background in mind
  • make sure the horizon (whatever it is made up of--in this case trees and brush--is flat and even, or easy to work with in terms of placing an overlay/background)
  • choose the overlay or background to blend well with the color of the subject
  • remember that "blur" is your friend.
Truth be told, you can't just plop an overlay or background into a photo and hope it all works.  Dodge and burn are helpful tools to give you shadows where needed, or to brighten up areas as well.  Even adding a little bit of brush on color can help get a reflection to mesh with the color of the sunset.

I thought this choice and the color of this sunset blended well with Corey's coat color.  I wasn't looking for direct opposites here, but wanted to stay in the same palette.

The photo was taken at 7:30 p.m. with a Nikon D800, using a 24-70mm Sigma lens.  The settings were f/3.2, 1/200, ISO 100, reflector camera left.

Here is one more taken at a different angle.  In this photo I broke my rule about a flat/even skyline.  It takes much more work to get an overlay between those tree branches, but challenges are fun, too.
Picture
I think Corey is a charmer, and one lucky dog to have found the perfect spot to land.

For more of what I am sure will be real, and beautiful, sunsets, take a stroll through the blog circle, starting with Kim Hollis of BARKography based in Charlotte NC.  Happy and restful Memorial Day weekend to all!  I hope you have many and great sunsets!
4 Comments
Jessica
5/26/2017 06:51:45 am

Thanks for sharing your tips! Clearly you're weather was very similar to that in Pittsburgh this week. I'll be playing around with your suggestions in the future!

Reply
Kim Hollis link
5/26/2017 07:40:02 am

These images are beautiful. Really nice job!

Reply
sandra mccarthy
5/26/2017 12:21:05 pm

Lovely choice of sunset to go with your images. I've only done sky swaps a few times, I definitely need more practice. I would not have known you did a sky swap if you didn't talk about it. Nicely done.

Reply
Darlene link
5/29/2017 06:58:35 pm

Beautiful, Elaine! Corey is a stunning dog and I"m sure mom is thrilled with these! The sunset swaps look awesome!

Reply

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