When I was younger I used to enjoy climbing – not in a north face of the Eiger sort of way, but I did enjoy it. The older I've got though, the more I really don't like heights, so struggled a bit with this one. It was taken from the helipad of the building I shot the Burj Dubai from, and what made it especially unnerving was that there were absolutely no safety measures: no guard rails, no netting, just a long drop down.
Anyway, I was perfectly safe, and didn't get within five feet of the edge, but my knees were feeling decidedly rubbery by the time I'd composed the shot and taken the three images I used for the HDR. And if you're interested, the building on the right of this image is the one that was on the left of my shot of the Burj Dubai; i.e. this one was taken about 90° to the left.
The shot I'm going to put up tomorrow, while nowhere near as dramatic, is probably one of my favourite HDRs in recent months. It was also taken from much nearer the ground :-)
comment byJeff T at 06:57 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
Very courageous! And well worth it! Fantastic photo.
comment byLing at 07:05 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
this is beautiful! I love it!
comment bymikeb at 07:08 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
nice shot david. this is a favorite for me for sure. the high dynamic range feels just right...tasteful and appropriate. the composition is well done. and the use of black and white is great.
I'm curious as to how many (I know, not all) of your HDR's have been B&W or toned. Do you find this gives a more natural feel to the HDR's? Whereas a coloured one might be a bit grainy, and the colours unrealistic?
Or am I going to have to get this tutorial too to find out ;)
Wow, excellent shot! The sense of scale is very nice to see here. And I don't think a lot of people wouldn't be a bit scared on that ledge!
comment byJennifer at 08:12 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
Fab shot - but you're a nutter going up there - shudder....
comment byj.martinez at 08:25 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
this is amazing - nice shot!
comment bymarcus at 08:54 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
night shots and hdr - i find it tricky how do you do it. spread the word man - spread the word.
comment byKevin H. Stecyk at 09:00 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
Fabulous photograph David!
I really like this photograph. You've got a great vantage point, even if it is a scary place.
comment byLJR69 at 09:14 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
Wonderful shot! Great use of HDR too!!
comment bypaflechien at 09:32 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
This is an incredible shot ! full of details,
great processing
comment by Sharla at 10:07 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
What a great shot! All recently have been outstanding but this one has an unusual quality: the balance between the symetrical and the asymetrical. The asymetrical background would be an interesting subject but not so much for the composition (although the sweeping highway does tie it together well). The symetrical helipad edge is strongly presented but again wouldn't necessarily be overly interesting by itself. Yet together they compose an incredibly strong shot. Your eye for composition is always amazing.
comment by mp at 10:28 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
I can imagine. I never had a problem with heights as a kid but really can't handle them now - to the point that even standing at the top of stepladders makes me feel a little dizzy. Hence this shot also makes my heart flutter a bit!
comment bypadraig at 10:50 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
I'm feeling dizzy looking at it....think I'll lower my chair!
comment byhixster at 10:53 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
Loving the Dubai series, fantastic lights and wonderful details in the building being constructed.
Are you using any filters in these shots, the lights all seem to have a really cool starburst quality to them??
M
comment by Ian Paterson at 11:48 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2008
Cool! But why are there no cars going the other way? It looks like the 5 lanes running 'down' the image are packed, but not a soul going 'up'? What time of day was it?
comment byAlice at 12:09 AM (GMT) on 29 April, 2008
No way would you get me up there, but it does make for a great photo!
comment by DedicatedRR at 12:15 AM (GMT) on 29 April, 2008
Wow...you need to get out to Dubai more often! ;) I love these high building, bright lights shot, very admirable of what you go through to get them.
comment bylaanba at 01:45 AM (GMT) on 29 April, 2008
My breathing quickened just thinking about walking to this position. It is a little freaky just looking at it. I could never do it. Cheers for you though!
comment by lawrence at 03:39 AM (GMT) on 29 April, 2008
WoW! Very dramatic, interesting subjects, and nicely composed too.
comment bymehdi torabi at 07:13 PM (GMT) on 29 April, 2008
this shot is so great, with some beer in head me and my friend believe its like a special design ! you said eiger, i wounder how great the mount could look in your pics and edits.
comment byErik at 09:11 AM (GMT) on 30 April, 2008
Quite nice! HDR in b/w is not seen so often.
comment byOlivier at 12:45 PM (GMT) on 30 April, 2008
Vertigineux !
comment by Saito at 03:29 PM (GMT) on 1 May, 2008
WOW! THIS IS INCREDIBLE! the brightness, the softness, the composition. I love everything about this one
When I was younger I used to enjoy climbing – not in a north face of the Eiger sort of way, but I did enjoy it. The older I've got though, the more I really don't like heights, so struggled a bit with this one. It was taken from the helipad of the building I shot the Burj Dubai from, and what made it especially unnerving was that there were absolutely no safety measures: no guard rails, no netting, just a long drop down.
Anyway, I was perfectly safe, and didn't get within five feet of the edge, but my knees were feeling decidedly rubbery by the time I'd composed the shot and taken the three images I used for the HDR. And if you're interested, the building on the right of this image is the one that was on the left of my shot of the Burj Dubai; i.e. this one was taken about 90° to the left.
The shot I'm going to put up tomorrow, while nowhere near as dramatic, is probably one of my favourite HDRs in recent months. It was also taken from much nearer the ground :-)
Very courageous! And well worth it! Fantastic photo.
this is beautiful! I love it!
nice shot david. this is a favorite for me for sure. the high dynamic range feels just right...tasteful and appropriate. the composition is well done. and the use of black and white is great.
glad you made it back down safe. :)
I'm curious as to how many (I know, not all) of your HDR's have been B&W or toned. Do you find this gives a more natural feel to the HDR's? Whereas a coloured one might be a bit grainy, and the colours unrealistic?
Or am I going to have to get this tutorial too to find out ;)
Still, great stuff.
Wow, excellent shot! The sense of scale is very nice to see here. And I don't think a lot of people wouldn't be a bit scared on that ledge!
Fab shot - but you're a nutter going up there - shudder....
this is amazing - nice shot!
night shots and hdr - i find it tricky how do you do it. spread the word man - spread the word.
Fabulous photograph David!
I really like this photograph. You've got a great vantage point, even if it is a scary place.
Wonderful shot! Great use of HDR too!!
This is an incredible shot ! full of details,
great processing
What a great shot! All recently have been outstanding but this one has an unusual quality: the balance between the symetrical and the asymetrical. The asymetrical background would be an interesting subject but not so much for the composition (although the sweeping highway does tie it together well). The symetrical helipad edge is strongly presented but again wouldn't necessarily be overly interesting by itself. Yet together they compose an incredibly strong shot. Your eye for composition is always amazing.
I can imagine. I never had a problem with heights as a kid but really can't handle them now - to the point that even standing at the top of stepladders makes me feel a little dizzy. Hence this shot also makes my heart flutter a bit!
I'm feeling dizzy looking at it....think I'll lower my chair!
Loving the Dubai series, fantastic lights and wonderful details in the building being constructed.
Are you using any filters in these shots, the lights all seem to have a really cool starburst quality to them??
M
Cool! But why are there no cars going the other way? It looks like the 5 lanes running 'down' the image are packed, but not a soul going 'up'? What time of day was it?
No way would you get me up there, but it does make for a great photo!
Wow...you need to get out to Dubai more often! ;) I love these high building, bright lights shot, very admirable of what you go through to get them.
My breathing quickened just thinking about walking to this position. It is a little freaky just looking at it. I could never do it. Cheers for you though!
WoW! Very dramatic, interesting subjects, and nicely composed too.
It's a great shot. Looks like a fun assignment.
Black and white HDRs have a totally unique charm to them ... brilliant shot ... !!! ... :) ...
Great to see you are practicing your climbing skills ;-). Great sense of scale and detail. Love it!
Thanks all.
Jeff: I wasn't all that courageous the camera and tripod got a lot closer to the edge than I did :-)
JVL: quite a few of my HDRs are in black and white, and you're right, it does give them a more natural feel.
hixter: the starburst effect is a consequence of shooting with a small aperture. f/16 works well.
Ian P: it was taken at about 10pm.
Awesome night photo... the tonal range is great.
this shot is so great, with some beer in head me and my friend believe its like a special design ! you said eiger, i wounder how great the mount could look in your pics and edits.
Quite nice! HDR in b/w is not seen so often.
Vertigineux !
WOW! THIS IS INCREDIBLE! the brightness, the softness, the composition. I love everything about this one
Another fantastic photo. Wow !
I like the architectural feel of the photo if there is such a thing :)
Now this looks just amazing! fantastic black and whites to!
Another incredible shot !,
as soon as my house search ends, i take your lifetime pack, and dive into photoshop circonvolution....
Congrats'