Today I'm starting a new series based around the historic Low Head Lighthouse in northern Tasmania. The photographs over coming days were taken from the period just before dawn to an hour or so after sunrise. I have experimented with different styles and techniques, all to bring into relief the wonder that is a lighthouse.
It was very cold this late Autumn morning. When I left home in Launceston the frost was on the ground and by the time I'd finished the half hour drive to George Town the temperature had risen to 3 degrees Celsius. But I hadn't reckoned on the wind chill factor which I estimate drove the temperature down at least 5 more degrees. I know, because I forgot to take gloves, and within minutes of the short walk up to the lighthouse my hands were frozen.
As with all dawn shoots speed is the essence. In the evening you seem to have endless time for long exposures. At dawn you usually get one or two chances to make the shot and then you have to move on. Planning is vital.
I spotted this shot as soon as I walked up the path and struggled to set up the tripod with my hands now feeling quite numb. It was very dark and the only light around was from the Light itself. Focusing in the dark is a nightmare (AF is out) and manual focusing depends on being able to see enough of your subject to get the focus right (especially this close). Add to that my fingers which had lost all sense of feeling, and I was always going to struggle here.
So my disclaimer is the focus here is crap, but the composition and colours is exactly as I imagined it would be. So I'll call it impressionistic and give you a look at it anyway. But man it was cold!
Loading contexts...
