Whenever I run a photography workshop, or post-production workshop with a shooting component, there are a whole range of things I run through before we head out into the field: using the histogram to monitor exposure, depth-of-field, choice of lens/focal length, composition – all the usual topics you'd expect. There is one more thing I always say though: at the point at which you think you've nailed the shot, start over and shoot it again. The reason I say this is that it's all too easy to think you've got the shot, or at least got something that you're happy with, and move onto the next interesting thing to shoot. Often though, there's either an equally good shot or, more likely, a better one of the same scene: you just have to pause long enough to find it.
Take this shot as an example. It's another view of this scene: the shot of the Dubai skyline shot from the pool bar at the Park Regis hotel. When I took the previous shot I thought I'd probably got what I wanted – a different take on some of the iconic landmarks of Dubai – but by spending another 20 minutes or so thinking about how to recompose the scene I also got this one. Admittedly, it was taken from the same place using the same lens, so it's hardly a radical alternative, but a) it's a shot I would have missed unless I forced myself to think through the alternatives, and b) I much prefer this one as it gives a better sense of scale.
That said, you may well prefer the first one: let me know what you think.
captured camera lens focal length aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter image editor plugins (etc) cropped?
comment by Steven Beckett at 12:39 PM (GMT) on 2 April, 2011
Cracking shot, lovely balance in the composition and the lining up of the horizontal joint int he glass the buildings really works........but I bet you wish the pool boys had used windowlene to get a steak free shine ;0)
comment byDan Kaufman at 12:47 PM (GMT) on 2 April, 2011
Yes, I like this one much more. mo' betta. It suits my minimalist nature. To paraphrase Albert Einstein: make it as simple as you can, but no simpler.
comment byJason at 02:27 PM (GMT) on 2 April, 2011
This is really awesome. I really liked the first one but this blows it away in my opinion. A much simpler and a more minimalistic approach but it works so much better and gives a truly unique perspective of the Dubai skyline :)
comment by Jim Miller at 05:07 PM (GMT) on 2 April, 2011
I like both of them but agree this is the better one to show a sense of scale. I also love the darker sky and how the clouds in the upper right seem to mimic the water. The city appears to be caught between heaven and earth.
comment byMathhew at 07:00 PM (GMT) on 2 April, 2011
Yes, this is amazing. I love it just as much as you. The sky should be light, what do you thinl ayee?
comment byIan Mylam at 10:17 PM (GMT) on 2 April, 2011
I prefer this second one as I feel it is a stronger image; however, the first has a greater sense of place.
comment byCarlos Garcia at 01:00 AM (GMT) on 3 April, 2011
I prefer the first because the skyline has more detail and seems "miniature" in scale. The sharpness and contrast seems richer too. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Beautiful BW and a wonderful post-processing - Superb!
comment byJessica Sweeney at 06:20 PM (GMT) on 3 April, 2011
That is excellent advice. It's something I've been trying to incorporate into my photography for a while. Still a work in progress, but I'll keep practicing!
comment bycrash at 02:29 AM (GMT) on 4 April, 2011
comment byAdrian at 02:31 PM (GMT) on 5 April, 2011
I'm a bit late to the party on this one but, I agree with the others who prefer this image and for many of the same reasons.
The main reason I returned to comment though is that this is one of the very rare occasions where I prefer the unedited version! My abiding memory of Dubai was the ubiquitous haze and the lovely muted, dusty colours it produces. The original really captures this and the crispness and contrast of the edited version loses it. That's not to say it's a bad image, just that I prefer the original.
All of which made me think that it would represent a monumental act of rebellion for Chromasia to post an image straight out of camera! Go on, I dare you ;)
Whenever I run a photography workshop, or post-production workshop with a shooting component, there are a whole range of things I run through before we head out into the field: using the histogram to monitor exposure, depth-of-field, choice of lens/focal length, composition – all the usual topics you'd expect. There is one more thing I always say though: at the point at which you think you've nailed the shot, start over and shoot it again. The reason I say this is that it's all too easy to think you've got the shot, or at least got something that you're happy with, and move onto the next interesting thing to shoot. Often though, there's either an equally good shot or, more likely, a better one of the same scene: you just have to pause long enough to find it.
Take this shot as an example. It's another view of this scene: the shot of the Dubai skyline shot from the pool bar at the Park Regis hotel. When I took the previous shot I thought I'd probably got what I wanted – a different take on some of the iconic landmarks of Dubai – but by spending another 20 minutes or so thinking about how to recompose the scene I also got this one. Admittedly, it was taken from the same place using the same lens, so it's hardly a radical alternative, but a) it's a shot I would have missed unless I forced myself to think through the alternatives, and b) I much prefer this one as it gives a better sense of scale.
That said, you may well prefer the first one: let me know what you think.
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
image editor
plugins (etc)
cropped?
Canon 5D Mark II
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
24mm
f/11.0
1/125
aperture priority
+1/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
Camera Raw
Photoshop CS5
Topaz Detail
2x1
Cracking shot, lovely balance in the composition and the lining up of the horizontal joint int he glass the buildings really works........but I bet you wish the pool boys had used windowlene to get a steak free shine ;0)
Yes, I like this one much more. mo' betta. It suits my minimalist nature. To paraphrase Albert Einstein: make it as simple as you can, but no simpler.
This is really awesome. I really liked the first one but this blows it away in my opinion. A much simpler and a more minimalistic approach but it works so much better and gives a truly unique perspective of the Dubai skyline :)
I like both of them but agree this is the better one to show a sense of scale. I also love the darker sky and how the clouds in the upper right seem to mimic the water. The city appears to be caught between heaven and earth.
Yes, this is amazing. I love it just as much as you. The sky should be light, what do you thinl ayee?
I prefer this second one as I feel it is a stronger image; however, the first has a greater sense of place.
I prefer the first because the skyline has more detail and seems "miniature" in scale. The sharpness and contrast seems richer too. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Beautiful BW and a wonderful post-processing - Superb!
That is excellent advice. It's something I've been trying to incorporate into my photography for a while. Still a work in progress, but I'll keep practicing!
wow! nicely composed! very sci-fi !
Thanks everyone.
I'm a bit late to the party on this one but, I agree with the others who prefer this image and for many of the same reasons.
The main reason I returned to comment though is that this is one of the very rare occasions where I prefer the unedited version! My abiding memory of Dubai was the ubiquitous haze and the lovely muted, dusty colours it produces. The original really captures this and the crispness and contrast of the edited version loses it. That's not to say it's a bad image, just that I prefer the original.
All of which made me think that it would represent a monumental act of rebellion for Chromasia to post an image straight out of camera! Go on, I dare you ;)