Stormy Sunset.
Looking West Along High Street, Thatcham.
This was not what I was planning for today’s photograph. Today, we were cruising on the boat to Thatcham. The intention was to post a photograph from the cruise. This stormy sunset was not expected!
However, today is my birthday. At the end of our cruise, we moored up in Thatcham, by the station. This evening, we went into the centre of Thatcham for a meal with friends.
Whilst waiting for our dessert Oakley, my wife’s Guide Dog, needed to go out for a wee. I noticed that the sky immediately overhead was as black as anything. However, looking west, I could see this magnificent stormy sunset.
As this was quite special, I had to pop back into the restaurant to grab my camera. It was a good job I had the Olympus with me.
This kind of lighting is tricky to photograph. The sky in the distance is relatively bright but, of course, the scene close to the camera is quite dark. For two reasons. 1) the buildings are against the light and 2) the sky overhead is dark, therefore giving no light.
I therefore balanced the exposure so the distant sky wasn’t too overexposed, yet leaving the buildings in the foreground not too underexposed.
A bit of work in Photoshop to further darken the highlights and lighten the shadows gives the finished result. One that reflects the menacing darkness of the stormy sunset with good contrast, yet keeping the whole image balanced.
Photograph Details:
- Taken: 19 May 2017
- Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10 MkII
- Lens: Olympus 14-42 1:3.5-5.6
- Focal Length 14mm
- F/4
- 1/160 Sec
- ISO 200