I don’t usually put together a composite image, but when I do, it’s because I’ve spotted a very interesting barn and the sun is just about to set over it.
Last week, I drove out to Rio Medina to attend an open house at a lovely and very unique venue (check tomorrow’s blog). I was a bit early, so I decided to go into Castroville to eat dinner before the event. On the way, I noticed a barn… very different from what I am accustomed to seeing. I decided I would photograph the barn on the way back to the venue just as the sun would be setting. It was an incredible sight. I love sunsets. They are beautiful!
How I got the image:
When a scene is lit unevenly, especially as much as this one was, you can’t expose for the entire image. Bracketing, or creating a composite image, solves this problem. Using this method allowed the sky, the barn, and the foreground to all have detail. Otherwise, it would be impossible to capture this much detail in a single image.
I captured a 3-image exposure bracket with -/+2 stops. This means that I set up my camera to take three successive images. The first image was underexposed by two stops so I could capture the detail in the sky. The second image was exposed for the sun. The last was was overexposed by two stops so I could get detail in the foreground of the image. In post, I pulled all three images into one Photoshop file in layers. I placed the darkest image on the bottom layer, and the lightest image on the top. Then I created a layer mask for each. I masked the parts of each layer that I did not need to allow for the details on the layers beneath to come through. I then merged the three layers to clone out the real estate sign and the electric lines and poles. The sun flare is all natural! Stunning!
If you know anything about this type of barn, I’d be interested to learn more. My friend, Kim, suggested that it may be of Alsatian origin (a person from the Alsace region of France or a speaker of the Alsatian language) right before she introduced me to Parisa. This was the first time I’d heard either of these words. Don’t forget to be photographed! And don’t forget to check out tomorrow’s blog when I write about this very unique wedding venue.
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I am a San Antonio-based wedding and senior photographer who started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. As one of the up-and-coming San Antonio wedding photographers, I am also available to shoot in Austin, Houston and Dallas and the surrounding areas. I am also available for destination weddings worldwide. Ata-Girl Photography Co. offers an amazing wedding photography service that you won’t soon forget. As a professional photographer, my sole purpose is to provide you the absolute best photography experience.
I am a professional photographer who enjoys documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I enjoy watching my daughter play softball, hiking, cycling, reading, and listening to Elvis!
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