#52weeksofnature Photo Contest Week 25 Winner
The winner of Week 25 of our #52weeksofnature photo contest is Ketan Gajria (@ketangajria). In the fading light of the day, Ketan captured this stunning shot off Great Sprucehead Island in Maine. Ketan has won a $100 gift code to hippytree.com and we are donating to the Access Fund in his name. Learn more about Ketan below.
Where was the image shot?
I took this image on Great Sprucehead Island in Maine. Great Sprucehead is a private island made famous by Eliot Porter, an influential photographer responsible for pioneering work in the area of color film nature photography. For those wanting to see the most beautiful images taken there, I recommend seeking out his, including those in his 1966 book Summer Island.
What camera did you use and what were the settings?
Camera: Olympus OMD EM-5
Lens: 40-150mm f/2.8 with 1.4x teleconverter
Shutter Speed: 0.5 seconds
Aperture: f/6.3
ISO: 200
Was there any special preparation required to capture the photo?
I actually had very little time to prepare for this specific shot. I went out to the edge of the island around sunset, but it was almost dark when I saw the red and blue hues lingering on the horizon. I decided to use a long lens to simplify the composition and present the water, land, and sky as three layers. I was able to attach a teleconverter to my zoom lens and set up the camera on a tripod in time to capture the moment. After several shots the colors had already faded.
How long have you been shooting?
I have been shooting since 2005.
What's your camera of choice?
I currently work mostly with a Sony A7R III, but I also use equipment from Olympus and Canon.
WhatΓÇÖs your favorite subject matter to shoot?
I get the most enjoyment out of the process of landscape and nature photography, though I am usually more satisfied with my travel street photography and portraits from abroad. You will see this mix on my Instagram account.
Do you shoot with a crew or shoot solo?
For landscapes I always shoot solo.
