Sunday 1 April 2012

Sun Burst

I took advantage of the recent sunny weather to indulge in some photography just for the sake of it. I headed over to the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire as I heard that the bluebells were coming out early this year. Alas the pretty flowers had not yet bloomed but while I was there I was very much taken by the sun streaming through the trees. So I turned my camera into the sun and started shooting.

Sun Burst - You really have to click on this to see it in all it's glory.

Regular readers of this blog will know that I love to turn the camera into the sun and let it flare in the lens. I wanted to capture the dreamy, other-world feel of the woods that day, as if something from a fairy tale might be among the trees. Doing this helped capture the feel I was after. I like the effect of the golden glow and rainbow refraction of the light from the many layers in the camera lens. When the sun streams through something like branches it is also possible to get a great star-burst effect from the sun light. When I took this particular photo I knew I had captured a goodie. I have already had one enquiry for a print for a wall picture and so I am thinking of also adding this to my forthcoming fine art collection. I hope you like it too.

21 comments:

  1. Of course, pointing the camera toward the sun instead of having it behind you is thought to be an error of composition. Yet, some of the best landscape photos contain the sun as an element, especially when tempered with other things, i.e. trees.

    Well done.

    Cheers.

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    1. Thank you Randall. When I shoot group photos I often shoot into the sun as well. It means that people aren't squinting as the sun is behind them and it creates a nice halo effect.

      It's nice to see you still in blogland.

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  2. Happy Easter, dear.

    Cheers.

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    1. Thanks Randall. Wishing you a Happy Easter also.

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  3. Indeed! I like it a lot! It is amazing the wonderous things that can happen when you turn your camera into the sun....! This is stunning!
    A Very Happy Easter to you, my dear.....Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

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  4. Thanks Naomi! I'm always flattered when an artist like you gives one of my photos such an enthusiastic thumbs up. Wishing you a Happy Easter also.

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  5. very pretty
    I can only do that by accident LOL

    Hugs to you and all the furry ones

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  6. So beautiful! :)

    I've ordered myself some new kit... :)

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    1. Thanks Nikki-Ann. What have you ordered?

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    2. Canon 60D SLR (to replace my old 350D) and a few bits & bobs.

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    3. That's fab! I still have my 50D as my second camera and it's a great piece of kit. I am sure you'll have so much fun using it! Do you still post some pics on your blog?

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    4. I haven't for a while (lack of picture taking for a few reasons), but hoping to post some once I've handled the new camera. I usually upload to my Flickr account in any case.

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    5. Well, have fun with it when you do get out and play. Let me know your Flickr name as I would love to take a peek :)

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    6. Here's my link for Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikki-ann/

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  7. A lovely shot and well done on getting a customer already, it is always a great boost to the morale when that happens.

    We were up that way on Good Friday, as my sister-in-law originates from Gloucester and she wanted to take a trip to some of the places she remembered from her childhood. We made it as far as Painswick, Stratford Park and Rodborough Common and managed to get a few good walks in.

    I definitely think that this picture is going to make the grade for an exhibition.

    Hope that you are having a good Easter, despite the relapse in the weather!

    Yvonne.

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    1. Compliments and customers are always a good boost :) I hope you all had a great trip.

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  8. Hi there - nice picture. I like the idea of the flare being just a chance and seeing if the image 'works' or not. I think it adds some of the art back into taking pictures.

    Have a happy Easter!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

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  9. Thanks Stuart. I was very pleased to see the sun streaming through the trees as it did and just knew it would flare nicely in the lens. It was just a case of dancing around a bit to get the angle and the composition just right. I had to work quickly though as the light was always moving. I hope you had a good Easter too!

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