Amazing Sunrise and Night Shots in Como
Show Notes
As I mentioned last week, I really wanted to photograph the Volta Temple Museum in the Park in Como illuminated at night but then also during the day as well. So, with not much planning, this week I went straight down to the Temple and started doing some landscape photography.
Quickly it became evident that the bright lights shining on the white marble of the Temple were throwing my exposure, by exposing for the highlights I ended up having nothing in the frame to compliment the subject and provide context to the structure. It was immediately obvious what I would have to do for these images to work, I had to implement a new Photoshop technique that I have been studying lately: Exposure Blending.
Essentially I had to make several exposures of the Temple, one exposing for the surrounding elements and the other exposing for the highlights on the temple, and one in between just in case. I then had to import them as layers into Photoshop and after some very careful masking and brushing, I ended up with some images that look pretty good! In the video there is an introduction on how to do exposure blending, as I mentioned the method several times!
The sun started to rise, which prevented me from any more night compositions. While I waited I stepped over to the Lake and watched the colours appear behind the city of Como, I tried a quick silhouette of the cathedral but the image didn’t work out in the edit. I was convinced there were not going to be any colours behind the Temple, but I was emphatically wrong, as when I turned around some wispy clouds above the Temple and the mountains beyond were bathed in a soft pink hue.
I rushed back to get some compositions before the colour completely faded and I got some amazing images of my first colourful sunrise here in Italy.
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Onto the Images
I really liked these undulating green tones as a foreground for the Temple and the wonderful golden hue of the dome but there is a shadow on the lefthand side of the dome’s turret that really annoys me and I wish it wasn’t there.
To create this image I had to use exposure blending in photoshop and with 3 images, I was able to create the right balance between the light and dark areas. Some extra dodging and burning brought it to perfection.
Arguably the best image of the morning! I love the blue sapphire tones in the sky. The various lights around the temple are a little distracting but overall I think it works really well, compositionally speaking.
As you might have guessed this was also an exposure blend of 3 images to get the right tones and to best replicate what my eye was seeing, but what the camera could not.
Another exposure blend but I think I only used 2 images for this one in the end because the lightest image was a bit too distracting and it looked too out of balance.
I have no idea only 1 of the hanging lamps is illuminated but it was the same on the other side, both of those very attractive lamps either side of the temple only had one of their lights on. The spotlights in front of the Temple were creating very awkward shadows of the bush that has added a bit of texture to the white marble.
After being mildly distracted by the sunrise colours over the city and expecting no colours to appear over the Temple, I was pleasantly surprised when I turned around to this, I rushed back to where I got the image above but obviously I couldn’t get the exact same angle as before.
Still I like the fact that the lamp is still illuminated but the lights that were flooding the Temple and making it very bright had now turned off, which meant I could get the image in one rather than using exposure blending. It looks just as good in the daylight, but the turret of the dome now looks like the rest of the Temple instead of as a golden band!
This cloud blew in above the Temple as I was moving into a new position to photograph the Temple face on, it was beyond lucky that just as I got in position the cloud was in position too sitting directly above the dome.
I prefer this shot to the one below, I think the temple just sits a little better…
The last image of the morning and the one that best demonstrates the effect of a wide angle lens. Even with the lend corrections applied there is still some perspective distortion on the Temple making it look almost like a pyramid: stretching the base of the structure but narrowing it towards the top.
Still a shot that I quite like, I would be interested to know which one you prefer?
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About the Film
Just a little information about the film and how I made it, as well as some links to equipment.
I edited the film using the Free Version of DaVinci Resolve. It’s an incredibly powerful piece of software that I am still trying to understand and will possibly write an article about in the future.
The tracks featured in today’s film were licensed via a subscription with Epidemic Sound. (By following that link, if you purchase a subscription then I will be gifted with a month free for referring you to their services)
Astral Roar by Lama House
Doors Unlocked by Deanz
A short Kit List
These are affiliate links, which means if you follow them and make a purchase I will earn a small commission for referring you to Amazon UK. You can find out more about affiliate links here.
Main Vlog Camera is a simple Panasonic G80 with the kit lens, its a great little mirrorless camera that I got for the sole purpose of creating YouTube videos. It’s capable of filming in 4k and seems to do everything that I want it to.
Rode Mic, I got this little microphone to boost the audio quality from the inbuilt microphone.
Action Camera, I use this to film myself when walking. It’s a simple DJI Pocket Osmo camera that has a motorised 3 axis gimbal head, which means that I stay in focus and static while the landscape around me moves. It’s also capable of filming in 4k and the audio quality is quite good.
Voice Recorder, to boost the audio quality when it’s windy or I’m using the action camera I use this handy little voice recorder with a lapellier microphone to record audio.
For a complete Landscape Photography Kit List you can read through what equipment I take with me when I go out here.
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Written by Daniel Long
Daniel Long created DRL Photography as a place to showcase his work as a photographer. Daniel has learnt a lot about photography and wishes to impart this knowledge with you, although the world is an ever changing place and he always says “you can never learn everything.” So as he makes his way, he continues to learn knew techniques, skills and information about photography. He focuses on Landscape and Wildlife photography and Daniel has a special focus on Scotland, his home away from home. As well as writing about photography and taking pictures out in the field, Daniel offers guided photography days so he can share his knowledge and locations in an effort to give his clients the best opportunities possible. Have a browse around this website to see his images, guided experiences and articles about photography. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in contact.
