This is another shot of this stairwell and I originally intended this one to be in the same format. However, the leftmost third of the original was distracting so I cropped it square, and then duplicated it. I'm not often a fan of this sort of 'mirror shot' (though have used it once before) but thought it worked well in this instance.
Update: just in case it isn't obvious, the duplication/'reflection', in this instance, was courtesy of Photoshop.
Update: as there's been some confusion about this image I though I'd post the straight square crop as the main entry rather than the Photoshopped 'reflection' version. If you want to have a look at that one, it's here:
comment byJustin at 08:58 PM (GMT) on 28 February, 2005
I think it's the fisheye that makes this mirror image work. And the metalic contrast is so awesome!
I learn so much more from you every day!
Sorry for the weird stalker comment ^^ :d
comment byjim at 09:39 PM (GMT) on 28 February, 2005
That's a nice effect - and strangely Escher-ish too.
comment byMike Golding at 10:21 PM (GMT) on 28 February, 2005
I like it and although I didn't comment on the last stairwell image I think it was amoung your best work. The mirroring works very well here, if a little distracting, it took me a while to work out it was a stair well, but ultimately a well "produced" image and THAT'S what digital photography is all about.
comment by tobias at 10:32 PM (GMT) on 28 February, 2005
Hooray, sorry but yesterday didn't do it for me and I had nothing constructive to say. This is why I keep coming back though. The symetry hits me first, then the colour, then the compostion and the mood.
Then you realise the somewhere there is a mirror (Mike Golding) and then you realise the two people are in fact one.
An image has to be like deep water, inviting but with a depth that keeps your interest beyond the immediate aesthetic.
Dive in everyone.
comment bymotom at 10:48 PM (GMT) on 28 February, 2005
awesome ! I'm in the rookie stage atm, so I can't figure out how to manage this... but it's really great !!!! I love the b/w contrast and those chrome handrails, also the linework you've created. and "the magic mirror thing" ofcourse, or is this just with that fisheye lens? I've never had one in my hands...
comment byjustin at 10:55 PM (GMT) on 28 February, 2005
This looks like a potential album cover to me.
comment byJ. Lewis at 10:56 PM (GMT) on 28 February, 2005
Really love this one with the "black" background.
comment byFellow Eskimo at 11:37 PM (GMT) on 28 February, 2005
Very nice :) Its a really good use of the mirror effect, and I just love the contrast. I like that stairwell!
comment byJR Geoffrion at 12:00 AM (GMT) on 1 March, 2005
Definitely one of my faves!
comment bymiles at 12:12 AM (GMT) on 1 March, 2005
great idea and execution.
comment by Sharla at 04:45 AM (GMT) on 1 March, 2005
Kablam! An image that knocks your senses up side the head.
As to this pic, most of my comments are the same as Tobias. Almost nothing more to add.
I am very impressed how you've managed to keep fishing for great shots with your fisheye, not really duplicating any Nat'l Geographic- bird's eye views-etc.-types of shots.
I've just discovered your site today. I am absolutely amazed by the quality of the photographs and their artistry. I'll be back, as once said someone... :-)
comment byflygirl at 08:06 AM (GMT) on 1 March, 2005
Wonderful b&w-shot, amazing details and lightening... Perfectly done, as always!
comment byeast3rd at 01:41 PM (GMT) on 1 March, 2005
The mirroring and the fisheye are both very effective here. Nicely done.
comment bypicturegrl at 02:39 PM (GMT) on 1 March, 2005
I like this. It's like looking into a kaleidoscope. I must admit though that I am disappointed that it is Photoshopped. I tend to prefer straight images that have been "caught." But it takes a fine eye to see the potential to digitally manipulate an image, to make it more than what it was, so I appreciate that anyway. Nice choice to go black and white too.
comment byphotojunkie at 04:44 PM (GMT) on 1 March, 2005
Beautiful. I like how you flipped the image to give it an even more grandose feel.
comment by eden at 04:49 PM (GMT) on 1 March, 2005
hey ive been enjoying your photoblog for qiute sometime now. i find it really amazing. love all the captures youve posted and keep up the good work.
comment byThinh at 04:56 PM (GMT) on 1 March, 2005
Reminds me of Stanley Kubrick for some reason. Impressive work here, and the fisheye lens is sharp enough for me.
I really like the fisheye + mirror image effect, as well as your previous post of the stairs. What *may* have been more intresesting, if you do this effect again, would be to take a second picture with the moving figure a bit farter down. This way, you'd have an image with amazing symmetry, but a curious asymmetry with the moving figure. Just an idea...
comment byPaulo Ribeiro at 08:43 PM (GMT) on 1 March, 2005
This is so beautiful, I love the "blackness" of the image.
comment bybjorn at 09:08 PM (GMT) on 1 March, 2005
100% better without the duplication ! at first i didn't like it at all now i love it !
comment by m at 11:07 PM (GMT) on 1 March, 2005
Both have their merits, I think the later one wins by a nose!
For no better reason than "cos"
comment byhelgi at 12:18 AM (GMT) on 2 March, 2005
I like! Very dynamic and interesting -- something you can look at for awhile without getting bored with it.
The duplicate person spoiled the mirrored one a little bit, and the square crop is definitely better. A minor nitpick would be that the small triangular thing in the bottom left of the frame is distracting.
comment bySid Carter at 11:35 AM (GMT) on 2 March, 2005
I like this much better than the mirror image. The presence of light on one side and absence on the other side makes it more appealing.
comment byBrandon at 04:12 PM (GMT) on 2 March, 2005
I disagree...I think the original (mirror) version is much better. However both are good.
comment byTanner at 02:48 AM (GMT) on 3 March, 2005
I agree with Brandon, the mirrored image was much more interesting. Not that this is a bad shot, I guess I'm most likely just spoiled after seeing the first.
comment byAndrew at 07:42 PM (GMT) on 20 October, 2005
This is another shot of this stairwell and I originally intended this one to be in the same format. However, the leftmost third of the original was distracting so I cropped it square, and then duplicated it. I'm not often a fan of this sort of 'mirror shot' (though have used it once before) but thought it worked well in this instance.
Update: just in case it isn't obvious, the duplication/'reflection', in this instance, was courtesy of Photoshop.Update: as there's been some confusion about this image I though I'd post the straight square crop as the main entry rather than the Photoshopped 'reflection' version. If you want to have a look at that one, it's here:
.../archives/downward_spiral_2.php
camera
lens
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 20D
Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye
f/8.0
1/40
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
200
no
RAW
C1 Pro
LensFix conversion
etc
I think it's the fisheye that makes this mirror image work. And the metalic contrast is so awesome!
I learn so much more from you every day!
Sorry for the weird stalker comment ^^ :d
That's a nice effect - and strangely Escher-ish too.
I like it and although I didn't comment on the last stairwell image I think it was amoung your best work. The mirroring works very well here, if a little distracting, it took me a while to work out it was a stair well, but ultimately a well "produced" image and THAT'S what digital photography is all about.
Hooray, sorry but yesterday didn't do it for me and I had nothing constructive to say. This is why I keep coming back though. The symetry hits me first, then the colour, then the compostion and the mood.
Then you realise the somewhere there is a mirror (Mike Golding) and then you realise the two people are in fact one.
An image has to be like deep water, inviting but with a depth that keeps your interest beyond the immediate aesthetic.
Dive in everyone.
awesome ! I'm in the rookie stage atm, so I can't figure out how to manage this... but it's really great !!!! I love the b/w contrast and those chrome handrails, also the linework you've created. and "the magic mirror thing" ofcourse, or is this just with that fisheye lens? I've never had one in my hands...
This looks like a potential album cover to me.
Really love this one with the "black" background.
Very nice :) Its a really good use of the mirror effect, and I just love the contrast. I like that stairwell!
Definitely one of my faves!
great idea and execution.
Kablam! An image that knocks your senses up side the head.
As to this pic, most of my comments are the same as Tobias. Almost nothing more to add.
I am very impressed how you've managed to keep fishing for great shots with your fisheye, not really duplicating any Nat'l Geographic- bird's eye views-etc.-types of shots.
I've just discovered your site today. I am absolutely amazed by the quality of the photographs and their artistry. I'll be back, as once said someone... :-)
Wonderful b&w-shot, amazing details and lightening... Perfectly done, as always!
The mirroring and the fisheye are both very effective here. Nicely done.
I like this. It's like looking into a kaleidoscope. I must admit though that I am disappointed that it is Photoshopped. I tend to prefer straight images that have been "caught." But it takes a fine eye to see the potential to digitally manipulate an image, to make it more than what it was, so I appreciate that anyway. Nice choice to go black and white too.
Beautiful. I like how you flipped the image to give it an even more grandose feel.
hey ive been enjoying your photoblog for qiute sometime now. i find it really amazing. love all the captures youve posted and keep up the good work.
Reminds me of Stanley Kubrick for some reason. Impressive work here, and the fisheye lens is sharp enough for me.
I really like the fisheye + mirror image effect, as well as your previous post of the stairs. What *may* have been more intresesting, if you do this effect again, would be to take a second picture with the moving figure a bit farter down. This way, you'd have an image with amazing symmetry, but a curious asymmetry with the moving figure. Just an idea...
This is so beautiful, I love the "blackness" of the image.
100% better without the duplication ! at first i didn't like it at all now i love it !
Both have their merits, I think the later one wins by a nose!
For no better reason than "cos"
I like! Very dynamic and interesting -- something you can look at for awhile without getting bored with it.
The duplicate person spoiled the mirrored one a little bit, and the square crop is definitely better. A minor nitpick would be that the small triangular thing in the bottom left of the frame is distracting.
I like this much better than the mirror image. The presence of light on one side and absence on the other side makes it more appealing.
I disagree...I think the original (mirror) version is much better. However both are good.
I agree with Brandon, the mirrored image was much more interesting. Not that this is a bad shot, I guess I'm most likely just spoiled after seeing the first.
Very Inspirational