Conversations in Sunset

One of the key elements I've learning about photography is to be opportunistic. Planning is always involved in some, at its basic its a camera body, lens, memory card, camera strap, bag etc.

However if you don't have a camera with you then you wont capture images at all. By camera I mean even phone with the ability to take and store images.

Light is another, understanding how this changes and how you can use it to your advantage. Its a thing of beauty and when used creatively it can create interesting images,

The image below is taken on a rooftop restaurant in Zia, Kos. Whilst sunsets were the prime purpose of the location opportunity often presents self and creative use of a camera in low light can help in the creation of interesting images.

With scenes of high contrast, unless indenting to create a HDR image the photographer is left with a decision of what to meter for. Spot metering for the sun ensures the lovely tones of the sun setting in the sky are exposed correctly and this will creatively create images of the diners in almost silhouette.

Creating an image for a stock library submission then this may work well and avoids potential requirements for model releases as the diners are not recognisable as individuals. However there is enough detail retained in the foreground to appreciate what they are doing. The reverse in exposing for the diners may result in a blown out sky and the appreciation of the setting sun lost.

So again, whilst opportunistic planning on the spot is still required in how to expose and frame the image. I've attempted to put the sun on a top third "zing" point and the image framing chosen to avoid some of the wooden structures. 

I think the art is making these decisions almost sub consciously and of course the clever photographer would have taken multiple images covering both exposure choices. I didn't do this and so even in the simplest of event activities I can in hindsight find a learning opportunity.