Date Taken: 10/16/2019
Location: Cowee Overlook, Milepost 430.7 on the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Camera: Pentax 645Z
Lens: Pentax 80-160
Focal Length: 90mm
ISO: 400
Shutter: 0.3 sec.
Aperture: F/16
Filters: Circular Polarizer
Exposure: Aperture Priority
How I Got This Shot: Being one of the best locations on the Blue ridge Parkway to shoot a sunset, the Cowee Overlook always offers splendid possibilities. There weren’t many clouds in the sky which made it very difficult to “hide” the sun behind and therefore the exposure to capture the entire scene must be manipulated . I chose to shoot five exposures of this scene, with the camera mounted on a very stable tripod so there was no movement whatsoever . The exposures ranged from two stops below to two stops above (-2 to +2) on the camera meter. To capture the detail in the sky and sun plus get detail in the ground scape this method works very well. I then post process the images and blend them into a single image, via photo editing software. Following up with regular editing produces a nice final image.
I chose a focal length that would cover most of the mountain layers in the area but keep the view tight enough to keep the sun and clouds close. I use the two second self-timer so I don’t have to touch the camera during the actual shutter operation.
For More Information
- Additional photographs by Terry Barnes Photography
- Categories where this photo is found: Editor's Picks, Mountain Horizons, Overlook Views