Shutter Magic: The Cinque Terre Unveiled using the Manfrotto Befree Advanced

When it comes to professional photography, Liguria offers a real treasure trove of opportunities for photographers. Breathtaking landscapes, such as those of the Cinque Terre, offer an ideal setting for capturing extraordinary images. Here, the photographer often finds himself having to balance technique with creativity as he attempts to express the beauty of these locations through the lens of his camera.

One of the essential tools for a professional photographer is the tripod. In this specific case, the Manfrotto Befree Advanced proves to be a reliable companion that allows for stable and well-composed shots. This tripod is a key component of the setup, allowing the photographer to keep his hands and mind free while he pursues the perfect composition. Its stability on the ground and wind resistance are crucial for ensuring the success of every shot.

Photography, in this context, becomes a slow and reflective process. The photographer composes the images mentally before even taking his camera out of his backpack. Picturesque villages, winding paths and cliffs overlooking the sea become the stars of the photographs. Balancing light, landscape and colour is essential to convey the magnificence of these places. Each element contributes to the construction of the final image, and the photographer carefully adjusts every parameter: from the angle to the depth of view, and even the exposure time.

To achieve an exceptional dynamic range, often greater than that perceived by the human eye, the photographer uses the multi-exposure technique. This allows him to capture details in the lightest and darkest areas of the scene, creating images rich in contrast and detail.

"The Manfrotto Befree tripod is the photographer's silent companion, ready to support him as he strives to capture the beauty of these enchanting places. Its stability and versatility allow him to flawlessly express his artistic vision."

This panoramic image is the result of a wide 10mm framing with a 130 degree angle of view, capturing the entire village of Manarola in a single shot. 

When taking landscape shots, arriving at the right time and with good light is crucial, because a good part of the work is already done in the field. 

Framing and Angle of View: The image was obtained with a wide framing at 10 mm, capturing a 130-degree angle of view. This means that the lens has encapsulated the entire village of Manarola in a single shot. The use of a wide angle lens helped to create a wide and engaging perspective, highlighting the beauty of the coastal landscape.

After taking the photo, the 'Tonemapping' technique was applied using the Photomatix Pro software. This process is essential to optimise the lights and shadows in the image. Tonemapping allows the photographer to balance details in the lightest and darkest areas, creating a final image that is steady and rich in contrast and equalising the lights and shadows effectively, ensuring an accurate representation of details in the scene.

One of the most beautiful and interesting moments to see and photograph is always the beginning of the blue hour, after dusk, when the village lights come on. The long exposure of 30 seconds used in this scene resulted in an extremely smooth and level sea, which also reveals the seabed in transparency. In order to capture all the details of the street lights, 4 shots were required, subsequently combined into an HDR image to avoid overexposure.

_{*All images were processed by Matteo Bertetto with his MB Panel V7 system.}