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perkip
April 11, 2013
Thank you! It's an iPhone capture with a small amount of post-processing in Camera+
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Behind The Lens
Location
This is a photo of The Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. It's an amazing building on the top of a hill looking west toward Troy and the Hudson River. The outside is constructed of glass, concrete and wood. For more information about this iconic architectural wonder, visit the EMPAC website at: http://empac.rpi.edu/buildingTime
What attracted me to this image, of course, was the stunning display of a sunset over Troy, NY as reflected in the mirror-like glass walls of the EMPAC building. The time of day is the classic "magic hour" golden hues of sunset in the fall in the Northeast.Lighting
This lighting is all natural and only slightly enhanced to sharpen clarity in the contrast.Equipment
I shot this image while waiting to attend a performance at EMPAC using my iPhone 4S with the Camera+ application.Inspiration
This was one of those fortuitous cases of being in the right place at the right time, and the best camera being the camera you have with you. I was at the EMPAC building to attend an event, not out on the prowl for a striking sunset photo. The sun was sinking fast and once I saw the image of the sunset and the city lights reflected on the building's glass walls, I knew I had to shoot fast to capture a beautiful, but fleeting, moment. I took two or three photos before the light changed and the sun sank below the horizon, and this one was the best of them in terms of composition and color.Editing
I only did a very slight enhancement of clarity for this image. The image itself was striking enough that I didn't want to over-process it, just slightly improve the contrast which had the effect of making the colors pop just a bit more. I took the photo and processed it in camera using the Camera+ app on my iPhone 4S.In my camera bag
The camera I have most often and use most often is my iPhone. Using various apps, particularly Camera+ and Hipstamatic (as well as the iPhone native camera), I find that I can get lots of interesting images—and certainly many spontaneous moments, given the portability and flexibility of shooting with a camera phone. When I'm taking a more purposeful shooting exposition, I also take my Nikon D90 with various telephoto and wide angle lens.Feedback
I'm always on the look out for interesting lighting conditions—stark shadows against brightly-lit buildings, high-contrast situations, geometric images made from natural objects. Always have a camera with you (which includes your phone camera), and be ready to capture spontaneous situations. Also choose a few camera applications and get to know them well, which can help process and improve an photo that otherwise not be as compelling. I particularly like Camera+ for its simplicity and power, and Hipstamatic for its wide range of "films" and "lens" effects. Composition is another thing I pay attention to, and often experiment with unusual placement of the subject in the frame. Finally, I suggest taking multiple shots of the same scene/subject experimenting with lighting, filters, and composition choices. But most of all, remember to have fun. For me photography is a joy, and I try to have fun and enjoy it more than stressing on getting the perfect shot or image.