The "Story" Behind The Making of This Photo

This concept for this image, by the way, actually began the afternoon before, when I scouted out potential silhouette scenes for an early-morning shoot. Then I put to use one of outdoor photography's two most valuable accessories: the alarm clock!

The next morning, I dashed to my pre-determined spot and set up my gear. I expected silhouette subjects, but the mist was a pleasant bonus! Next, I experimented with camera position and with lenses - by zooming in, zooming out, and switching lenses - before settling on a "normal" 50mm focal length. I then carefully composed this scene. But the tricky thing here was the exposure; here's what I did:

I filled my viewfinder with a middle-toned spot of the ground - an area that was actually outside the frame here but was in the sunlight (crucial, since I wanted good color and details in all the sunlit areas in the scene).

I took a meter reading on the sunlit mid-tone, and locked in those settings.

I then used that substitute reading for the scene shown here. The sunlit mid-tone settings ensured that the shadowed tree would turn out as a black silhouette and that the backlit leaves and other sunlit elements would show up well-exposed.

Oh yes, the second most valuable accessory I used here? A tripod!!

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All the best in your photography, Tammy, and thanks again for taking the time to write...
Kerry #4520762