Curved Skyline, a photo from British Columbia, Western

Photographer's Note

This is one of those "Oh My God" type of photos where you just happened to be driving along the road and you spotted something unexpectingly. This was taken in Surrey, a city just outstide of Vancouver.

It was early in the moning, just after sunrise, and the sun was shining down on the SkyTrain casting a large black silhouette into the blue sky.

The SkyTrain is Canada's version of the underground subway train, but its obviously above ground. The black curve is the large concrete rail for the trains.

I'm still not sure if this is a good or bad photo. I like the silhouette look, but is it ok to have that white overexposed area? does it look alright? I tend to like it this way, as it was seriously way to bright to expose it correctly. Numerous attempts at bracketing didn't produce better results, so i kept it as seen here.

Please give me your honest opinions. Looking forward to read what you have to say.
have a great day everyone
Cheers
Craig

phwall, macondo, Clementi, carlosmarin, Longroute, jlbrthnn, emilbo, s_lush, JCG has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

rbassin (27472) 2010-01-17 10:35

Bonsoir Craig,
Voici une belle et int駻essante composition, j'aime bien l'emprise du pont sur ce paysage avec les rayons de lumi鑽e qui cr馥nt un contre-jour et du rythme.
Bonne soir馥
Roland

bema (26591) 2010-01-17 11:41

Hello Craig,

a difficult take and sure a picture which provokes several meanings, but i think the main intention is clearly to be recognized, in my opinion itｴs a good take (soory for my bad english, but i hope you understand my thoughts.,)

have a nice week, greetings Bernd

gilou530 (34) 2010-01-17 11:43

salut craig
magnifique cette courbe mais aussi cette lumi駻e bien maitris馥, un excellent travail
amiti駸
gilbert

saxo042 (38078) 2010-01-17 12:08

Hi Craig,
The strong parabolic curve here from the bridge and its shadow are excellently framing the tree and the buildings. A well balanced picture! A like the strong contrast between the dark shadow and the slightly overexposed sunshine coming in here!
Kind regards
Gunnar

romanaa (8430) 2010-01-17 12:22

Hello Craig,

WOW, this is A picture...
I love the strong contrast of the sharp bridge line and the the softness and haziness of the mist in the air....
Beautiful

Best regards
Romana

francio64 (39888) 2010-01-17 12:25

Ciao Craig,
bel gioco di luci ed ombre parzialmente avvolte nella foschia, creando atmosfera.

Well done!
Francesco

phwall (6787) 2010-01-17 16:35

Hi Craig,
You don't need to question yourself on the merits of this image, it's fantastic.
The light is spectacular, I love the blown out section with the sun cutting through the mist/fog, that sharp edge in the middle left of frame caused by the overhead rail line is sensational.
Your POV and composition is first rate, great stuff.
This is the type of image that one would expect to see in National Geographic, it really is.
Fantastic shot.
Cheers
Peter

Dyerco (10185) 2010-01-17 17:51

Hi Craig
Personally I really like what you have done here. You could try an HDR process if you have PS CS4 but I don't think it is worth the effort. The dark shadows are what draw the eye at least for me. They act as a leading line to the lighter part of the image and the BG which appears well exposed. Nothing is blown out so good on you for stopping when you did.
Phil

westcoastgirl1 (666) 2010-01-17 21:55

Hi Craig
i love the lighting effect, no i don't think its overexposed.
instead it adds a misty quality to the photo.
i also like the shadows created from the track above.
as usual you nailed the blue sky.
love tosca

macondo (20449) 2010-01-17 22:09

Hi Craig.
As far as I am concerned, for a backlit shot, the degree of over-exposure is absolutely acceptable, if not mandatory in this case, particularly as this part of the shot has a nice hazy appearance and is occupied by various structures and trees. It looks great. I like the dark curve of the overhead rail track and the way the sun's rays spill over it and through it. It's a terrific, striking photo; beautiful!
Regards,
Andrew

jjcordier (79299) 2010-01-17 22:26

Craig
Ton contrejour est un peu "os�" mais, personnellement, j'aime le r駸ultat final avec ce fort contraste entre les zones 馗lair馥s et les zones dans l'ombre et la belle utilisation de la courbe de la route qui fait "rentrer" dans l'image. Tr鑚 int駻essant.
Amicalement
JJ

Clementi (52514) 2010-01-18 1:12

Ciao Craig,
simply exceptional this shot, has managed to the perfection lights shades and colors, also the perspective and the depth you have succeeded in creating indeed an unique atmosphere.
compliments
Giorgio

carlosmarin (11954) 2010-01-18 2:24

Hello Craig,
I love this composition, the lights and shadows.
By the framing of the road, and buildings in the background.
Best regards,
Carlos

delpeoples (60342) 2010-01-18 3:27

Hi Craig, congrats on the new profile pic, I had to laugh, can imagine how enjoyable lying on a beach in your country would be at the moment :) Anyways, to the photo, the perspective of the overpass was well-seen and positioned within the frame. I like the effect of the mist, and the depth (even with the mist) is excellent. Great job, TFS and enjoy your day, Lisa

PJE (20758) 2010-01-18 4:36

Good or Bad? No it is a Good photo Craig. I like the dark curved lines in the shadows created from the concrete curve and I really love the mist and the bare tree. Excellent shot indeed.

DRAKOLIMNH (1224) 2010-01-18 4:38

Hello Craig,
well nice idea and very good picture with a nice sky the shadowsand the beautiful background,
congratulations,
Petros

jplebrun (21208) 2010-01-18 5:32

Bonjour Craig
j'aime beaucoup ce clich� avec la brume qui essais de cacher les buildings et donne un cachet surr饌liste � la photo, bravo.
Amiti駸
Jean-Pierre

Ola_Kwiatek (0) 2010-01-18 5:57

Amazing skyline. Wonderful bridge and shadow. Superb contrast. Good POV and capture. Very good DOF.
Cheers

bracasha75 (24591) 2010-01-19 3:55

Hello Craig
One excellent urban picture with a bit of for and a bit of futuristic look on thing
Extra nice
TFS
Cheers,Braca

Longroute (19600) 2010-01-19 6:33

Hi Craig,

your technique and composition is improving a lot lately... I really could not decide which one to vote.
Here I do like that fine curve of the skytrain rail and the tall trees which seems like an apparition in the glare of the early morning sun. and I do like the strong contrast. A very elegant and expressive composition, maybe one of your best.
Compliments,
Donato

jlbrthnn (76043) 2010-01-19 7:01

Hello Craig,
The back-light is superb, as is the light. I like your idea and the very esthetic composition of this image. It is a spectacular photograph of an ultramodern environment. The colors and clearness are perfect. Congratulations.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Jo�l

photoray (13981) 2010-01-19 7:03

Hi Craig,

As with everyone else, an appealing and dramatic vision; the combining of the dark elevated train track structure, distant shadowy high rises and a tree in the middle.

good job,
Ray

Silvio1953 (223103) 2010-01-19 10:48

Ciao Craig, fascinating misty composition with fantastic light, I like a lot your cirved skyline, very well done, ciao Silvio

emilbo (22616) 2010-01-20 11:12

Salut Craig,
Magnifique photo entre ombre et lumi鑽e. Bel 馗lairage avec les 馘ifices dans la brume matinal et la courbe de la route est int駻essante. Beau contraste avec le superbe ciel.
Tous mes compliments,
Emilius

wolf38 (30) 2010-01-21 0:39

Hello Craig. A fascinating photo. The composition is excellent. You have managed the difficult light very well. Overall, excellent. Regards, Wolfgang.

s_lush (16602) 2010-01-21 5:33

Hello Craig,
This scene looks OK indeed, and very beautiful. The overexposed area looks more like a morning mist and makes a special atmosphere to the image. Very artistic shot!
Best regards,
Sergiy

luighi (5303) 2010-01-23 4:28

Otro disparo espectacular Craig.
Me gusta mucho la perspectiva conseguida con esos rayos de sol imprimiendo espelndidas sombras .La nube de humo le da un efecto genial a la foto.
Un cordial saludo.Luis

hardyuno (4652) 2010-01-25 0:24

Hi Craig,
yes this picture is great, a very good composition with the black curve and the foggy background. Very well done, TFS
Have a fine day
Hartmut

JCG (35153) 2010-01-27 0:42

Hello Craig,

Whaouuu !!! It was necessary to be there at the good moment to collect this superb light morning and to obtain this surrealist atmosphere with this light fog. A very beautiful photograph where this bridge offers an excellent break point, I like much. Urban site superbly put in photograph, Craig cheer.

With all my friendships and a very good day,

Jean-Charles

hains (9491) 2010-01-30 20:18

Amazing capture! Craig

The situation under the shadow of viaduct let the light across the fog and dicovered the city shape by entering on the curved road. The posture of the tree at the center add a mystical interest. Very good idea a t the right time. I like the foggy glowing and the small holes at the center of viaduct.

Mario

J_Burke (1285) 2010-02-01 11:34

Hi Craig,

This is a very striking image. The contrast of the bridge next the the white and blue sky is excellent. I the overexposed area, I think it adds atmospshere to the shot. Great capture,thanks for sharing

Regards

Ricx (13495) 2010-02-08 3:07

Hi Craig, Excellent lines and curves in this image.. good lighting and well exposed.. The shadows have a great effect.. Well done Rich

Henryk_Bilor (20803) 2010-02-10 13:46

Hi Craig
Oh my god ;). Excellent composition with the bridge, the buildings in the background. Great light.
Honestly, I like it very much except of the tree at the center of the image :).
Regards

Disabled_A (0) 2010-02-10 14:35

Hello Craig,
indeed, an "Oh My God" type of photo! ;-)
BTW, how do we actually define which photo is really a "good photo" and which one is really a "bad photo"? It's all so subjective!
I judge by the overall impression it makes... if it has a mood or not...
This view looks kinda more than fantastic; two worlds merging? a new world emerging? :)
But the curve of the dark bridge - this is the essence of the photo, imho!
Kind regards,
Elena

Juzo (2151) 2010-02-20 18:37

Hi Craig,
This a masterful composition. The way the shadow leads us into the light and colour. The mist creates atmosphere and the movement the shadow creates is all class. Great shot.
Regards
Justin

adidas5nb (5743) 2013-04-01 19:33

i think this is a beautifully thought out and executed picture. the white overexposed area in fact, for me,enhances the silhouette curve and overall frame.the presence and position of the trees really adds to the pic.fantastic early morning feel with a bit of haze and blue sky. great mood!
regards
dwaipayan