One of the prettiest lighthouses on my Michigan Lighthouse tour is the one at Holland, Michigan. The red really pops. At sunset in October, the angle of the light is perfect for sidelighting, as you can see. I've attached the before and after pictures that show how previsualization and Photoshop skills can significantly improve a scene. The 4-image composite consists of elements that were all there -- the rocks, the gulls, the green hillside, and the lighthouse. The problem is that they weren't in the right place for the optimal photograph. Recognizing what would make the scene better, I took separate pictures of the rocks, the tree-covered hill, and the birds. Using copy and paste plus blend modes, I composited the elements together to create the image I saw in my mind. The settings for the original lighthouse shot were 1/800, f/8, and 500 ISO, and I used a 100-400mm telephoto set to 158mm.
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