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After the storm
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After the storm

by Patrick O'Healy

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 31, 20161,299 views4 comments
January 29, 2016 in Antigua in the Caribbean  I set my alarm for 5:30 and trudged down to the beach from our cottage. After crossing the beach I headed up the hill to the road that leads to Devil's Bridge, a blowhole, which seemed the best close location for the sunrise. By the time I reached the road it started to rain. I turned and started down the hill fearing the damage to my equipment. Halfway back down the hill, the rain abated, so I turned around went back up. I walked a hundred yards or so and the rain resumed and was pounding. I ran to an old food trailer, (I just posted a photo of it in POP Photos), and stood in the lee of the driving rain. I tucked my camera and tripod up into the remains of the canvas canopy and put my bag with other equipment on the tire. I tried to stand close to the trailer to avoid the rain, but all the rain from the roof poured down on me. Consequently, I stood about a foot from the trailer and got soaked to the bone while waiting for the sun to rise and the rain to abate. I could have wrung out my clothing I was so wet. Absent this food cart, my equipment would have been soaked.  But, the good news is that the rain again abated and I was able to shoot the sunrise.

Nikon D4  Nikkor 24-120  27mm  ISO100  1/30  f/13  RAW  White Balance Auto  Processed in LightroomCC2015, PhotoshopCC2015, NIK and TK.  Thank you for your feedback. 

Comments

4 comments
Comment posted by Wayne Jones on January 31, 2016 at 9:36 PM
Great story, Patrick, and a dramatic sunrise shot to go with it.  I often hear people bemoan blown-out highlights, but I think the brilliance of the Sun in some situations should be "blinding," and this is one of those situations.  The somewhat centered composition seems to work well here, but I find myself wishing to see what lies just outside the frame to the left.  Depending on what is there, perhaps that visual tension is a good thing.
Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on January 31, 2016 at 10:04 PM
Nice sunrise and you got a shower at no extra charge. I would probably deal with the blown highlights, although I see Wayne is fine with them. 
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 1, 2016 at 11:18 AM
Sounds like quite the morning adventure! 

While a pleasant scene, my eyes are drawn to, and stuck on the blown sky part of the image.  I checked the values and a large chunk of the blown sky is fully at 255,255,255. 

I tried to follow the left edge and wanted more room to meander through the scene.  Any more room there in the original frame?
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Lowe on February 2, 2016 at 5:18 PM
I love the story behind your image, Patrick. You showed great perseverance to complete your vision and I really like the drama with the clouds. My only suggestions would be to tone down the highlights just a bit and to reduce the cyan a little. Glad you were able to keep your gear dry.

Ed
Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments