Backstage Kokoro
A "behind-the-scenes" look at selected images in my Kokoro project —
Content, photographic notes, EXIF data, creative process, miscellaneous commentary, and original digital captures. And now with additional audio comments about selected images!
From Kokoro #054 - Waiting Under a Winter Moon
Generally speaking, I don't like to work an image too hard in post-processing. There are exceptions and this is certainly one.
First, this was shot during the day; the original exposure needed to be straightened; the hillside had to be digitally removed from the right side of the image — a lot of manipulation that is far more than I usually do.
But the even more important story behind this image was the process of simply seeing it — not in a creative sense, but in a physical one. I had stopped on the dirt road at the top of the mountain pass to photograph the valley below. In retrospect, that view ended up being of little interest. Fortunately, a habit I learned decades ago is to always turn around 180-degrees from my intended composition just to see what is behind me. It's amazing how many times this simple habit saves the day.
I turned around and saw the moon hanging in the sky and this fabulous diagonal cloud. If I hadn't turned around, I would have missed it entirely.
Original digital capture (downsized for the web)
1/200 sec at f / 5.0, ISO 100, Panasonic DMC-G1, LUMIX G VARIO 45-200/F4.0-5.6, 91 mm
New! Additional audio comment about this image
Generally speaking, I don't like to work an image too hard in post-processing. There are exceptions and this is certainly one.
First, this was shot during the day; the original exposure needed to be straightened; the hillside had to be digitally removed from the right side of the image — a lot of manipulation that is far more than I usually do.
But the even more important story behind this image was the process of simply seeing it — not in a creative sense, but in a physical one. I had stopped on the dirt road at the top of the mountain pass to photograph the valley below. In retrospect, that view ended up being of little interest. Fortunately, a habit I learned decades ago is to always turn around 180-degrees from my intended composition just to see what is behind me. It's amazing how many times this simple habit saves the day.
I turned around and saw the moon hanging in the sky and this fabulous diagonal cloud. If I hadn't turned around, I would have missed it entirely.
Original digital capture (downsized for the web)
1/200 sec at f / 5.0, ISO 100, Panasonic DMC-G1, LUMIX G VARIO 45-200/F4.0-5.6, 91 mm
New! Additional audio comment about this image