Sunlit Woodland Path

Sunlit Woodland Path | A walking path through the forest, lit by sunlight. | http://www.larslentzphotography.com |

Camera: Sigma DP2 Merrill
Lens: 30mm, f/2.8
Filter: none

Settings: 1/30 s at f/2.8, ISO 400, 30 mm, 0 EV, Aperture Mode, Center-Weighted Average Metering.

The woods in summer are magical. This was one of those rare times when everything seemed just right. A humid July day. A little fog in the air and a bright sun piercing the forest canopy.

I was walking down a trail in the park, snapping a few shots of the plants and trees. I moved ahead a bit, and this whole scene came into view. The sun was just right, and the illumination was like something out of a dream. Just before taking the shot, I saw a fine mist just in front of me — water droplets in the air, slowly swirling through a shaft of light. I stood there and took the shot. Amazed, I kept standing there until a cloud passed overhead and extinguished the light.

Not much post-processing went into this photo. The camera caught everything just about perfectly. I reframed it a bit for the composition, but that was all.

Forests are amazing any time of year, but especially in the summer. So green and full of life. And photography is really all about the light. This photo proves it. I think I learned that lesson (again) on that day.