Zhangren Peak, Chanfang Temple Pagoda, was first built in the Liao Dynasty. On the afternoon of September 7th, the day of the Blood Moon shooting, the sun set at the top of the tower, and that stunning scene was finally captured by me on camera. In order to achieve the perfect composition of the 'Sun Hanging Liao Tower', I have taken seven or eight shots before and after. Each time was a precise questioning of light, shadow, and timing, which also allowed me to take a solid step on the path of scientific photography.
At first, I had this idea, but it was a casual glance while driving. The weather was sunny that day, and the air was particularly clear. I accidentally saw a tower standing on a distant mountain peak, which was only a dozen kilometers away from my home, but it had never appeared in my memory. If I hadn't started taking photos, I don't think I would have paid attention to it for the rest of my life
Then, a picture popped up in my mind. When the sun sets in the west, the afterglow spreads over the eaves of the tower, as if gently supporting the sun on the tip of the tower. The vicissitudes of the ancient tower and the splendor of the setting sun intertwine, shaking my heart.
Since then, I have been thinking about this scene. In the following two months, I carried my camera, star map software, and rangefinder, repeatedly searching for suitable positions around the peak of Zhangren. Sometimes the weather is bad and encountering thick clouds; Sometimes when the time arrives precisely, the sun deviates from its angle, either leaning to the left or setting to the right of the tower, making it difficult to form an ideal composition.
On September 7th, the sky was clear and the wind gradually eased, making it a good time for filming. I arrived at the pre planned camera position in advance, adjusted the position repeatedly based on the sun's trajectory calculated by the software, and firmly mounted the camera on the tripod. Waiting for the passage of time, the sun gradually sets westward.
The sun slowly descended, and seeing it precisely set on the spire of the Zen temple tower, I immediately became excited. The golden red sunset and the primitive Liao pagoda are integrated, and the arch of wooden architecture on the eaves of the pagoda is gilded with gold edge by the rays of the sun. I quickly adjusted the parameters, pressed the shutter button, and froze this fleeting scenery. I looked at the image in the camera, my heart filled with relief and joy.
After seven or eight rounds of running and debugging, I have gained a deep understanding of the laws of light and shadow changes, as well as the importance of scientific calculation in photography. This frame of 'Sun Hanging Tower Mountain' is not only a beautiful scenery intertwined with nature and history, but also a medal accumulated by my scientific photography experience, which makes me understand that good works are never accidental, but the inevitable encounter of persistence and professionalism.