Interesting Photo of the Day: Sun Rays in Slot Canyon

Slot canyons are interesting land forms. From a photographer’s perspective, it’s the way the sun rays enter them that adds drama to the scene. It appears as if the sun is creeping into the canyons, thereby creating interesting patterns of light and shadows. Photographer Tristan Todd was in the southwest coast of Vancouver island when the setting sun lined up with a slot canyon and created this dreamy effect:

“Sun Rays Breaking Into a Slot Canyon” by Tristan Todd (Via Reddit. Click image to see full size.)

The image is a 0.8-second single exposure that Todd took at 14mm, f/5, and ISO 100. When Todd visited the place it was quite cloudy and rainy, yet the break of the sun on that particular day allowed him to take this beautiful image.

“Longer exposures really help with spray because the water particles are much larger and less dense compared to something like a fog.”

As Todd took this image from inside the canyon slot, the sun rays breaking into the darkness adds a sense of hope and warmth in the image. As if he was lost in the cave for some time and found an escape. And the way he has edited this image, it almost looks like a scene straight out of a video game.

“I processed the image in Photoshop, with heavy use of luminosity masks for precise adjustments.”

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