<<< o >>>the gate #7 9 comments + add yours
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This is my last shot of the DIFC, until next year at least, so I thought it was fitting that this one was a bit different. Like a lot of the recent shots I've posted it was taken with my 15mm fisheye, but the distortion is much more pronounced in this one. I know that won't be to everyone's taste - the fishy look can become a bit repetitive - but I do think that it suits this subject.

As with a lot of my recent shots, this one is also an HDR (produced with Photomatix Pro), though I only used three shots spaced by around one and two-thirds of a stop. In this case I didn't want to produce a typical HDR-like image, but did want to bring out the detail in different areas of the image without using a whole load of masks and adjustment layers. As such the final image required nothing more than an increase in contrast (using a single Curve) and a minor boost to the saturation.

 
3x2 + HDR + travel [Dubai, UAE]
comment by Jennifer at 08:28 PM (GMT) on 9 May, 2008

Great colours and symmetry, like the 'less' approach to HDR !!

comment by Deb at 10:20 PM (GMT) on 9 May, 2008

Whoa, that's a stunning shot. The Brandenburg Gate / Arc de Triomphe in an utopia designed by Asimov (if that's possible). :/

comment by Sean McCormack at 01:09 AM (GMT) on 10 May, 2008

Class. I'm feeling architecturally inspired!

comment by jkm at 01:34 AM (GMT) on 10 May, 2008

Whoa indeed! Love the little detail of the Dubai Trade Centre being in the middle of the arch. Hard to believe that only 15 years ago, The Trade Centre was one of a few buildings in that area.

comment by Kevin H. Stecyk at 01:36 AM (GMT) on 10 May, 2008

Beautiful photograph David! : )

comment by Adam Swords at 07:24 AM (GMT) on 10 May, 2008

I had to really study this one to work out exactly where it was taken from. I was thinking "where the hell were those green cylinders?" then I realised it's up the stairs at the back of the Gate, not at the bottom of them.

Love the forced perspective and the colours in this one.

comment by djn1 at 08:36 PM (GMT) on 10 May, 2008

Thanks all.

comment by Brett at 03:19 PM (GMT) on 12 May, 2008

I think what strikes me the most about these recent fish-eyed images is there ability to change the way I am looking at my own architectural photography. I spend quite a bit of time straightening verticals...these images show how straight verticals are not the only way to show architectural landscapes!

Awesome stuff as always Dave.

comment by mehdi at 12:45 PM (GMT) on 13 May, 2008

it's a great fish eye nice shot.