A Mirrored World
Reflecting Pool at the Christian Science Center in Boston, MA
Reflecting Pool at the Christian Science Center in Boston, MA
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Oct, 2014Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
Christian Science Plaza, Boston, MATime
I used to have a job surveying and mapping the quality of sidewalks in Boston, and was fortunate enough to survey the walkways around this church. It was around 11am and most people were at work, so there were very few people walking about. The wind was calm making the reflective pool look like a perfect mirror.Lighting
The different materials and angles of the church resulted in a lot of depth to this photo. Although the sun is shining from the left, the curvature of the building resulted in a shadow to tone to match that of the right side. The brightly lit up stone section in the front, contrasted by the darker left and right sides of the church, created a natural depth of field to the image.Equipment
It's funny how you can have all this fancy equipment, but sometimes a simple point and shoot captures an amazing photo. While working that surveying job, I would carry a Canon G9 to capture interesting things along the way. This was back in 2008, when camera phones were just on the rise but not quality enough to rely on.Inspiration
While reviewing the area on google maps I noticed this plaza and was very excited for the potential of a quality photo op. When I walked up, I found the water was so calm and flat; I couldn't have asked for better conditions. Generally, I like a nice balance between blue sky and clouds to add texture, so the white sky sort of bummed me out. But then the vision of a black and white photo hit me. The white sky was absolutely perfect to highlight the church. It almost appeared as if it was cut up from another image. Additionally, I really liked this angle for how it captured the reflection of the people walking around. I remember there not being many people out, and at this moment a small wave walked in front of the church.Editing
The original image was in color, which I converted to black and white. I used a combination of lightroom and photoshop to adjust the levels and enhance the textures of the photo. I tend to do a lot of photo manipulation in my work, but in this case it wasn't needed. I fully envisioned the post results of this photo as I was taking it, and it really didn't require much beyond making it bnw.In my camera bag
These days I've switched from Canon to Nikon and carry around a Nikon D7200. I often carry around a Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 and a Nikkor 55-300mm; the Sigma is an amazing all around lens, and the Nikkor is surprisingly sharp for its price. I use to try to capture more area to have the freedom to crop in post, but with the sharpness of the Nikkor I find myself properly cropping images when taking them. I recently got more into night and astrophotography so I added a Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 to compliment the range of my Sigma. The Sigma and Tokina are amazing for capturing the stars, and for a fraction of the price of similar Nikon glass. The Tokina is also great as a wide angle lens for capturing mountains during my many adventures. For those times I can't carry a DSLR and lenses, I use a Sony Cyber?shot DSC?RX100 III. Its an amazing compact camera with most of the capabilities of a DSLR. I use a Lowepro Photo Sport 200 AW bag, which is one of my favorite accessories. The camera loads from the side, allowing you to keep one strap over your shoulder while quickly accessing the camera, and giving you the ability to change lens on the fly without ever putting your bag down. The bag also has all the features of a normal hiking bag, keeping your camera separated in a padded pocket. When hiking, I can literally change lenses in seconds without losing pace with those I'm with. To complete my package, I use a SpiderPro Hand Strap to quickly and securely grab my camera. I'm not a fan of neck straps and this allows me to hold the camera confidently without all the extra fabric.Feedback
The more you carry your camera, the more likely you can capture those moments. Even if it's just a smaller point and shoot, there's nothing worse than thinking to yourself, "Damn! I wish I had my camera!" With that said, you should always recognize the balance between viewing the world through your lens and through your own eyes. With today's obsession with sharing your activities on social media, it's so easy to become separated from the moment as your try to capture it. I enjoy carving out specific time for my photography, where I can spend as much time trying to get that shot without isolating myself from those I'm with. Even during these trips, I always make sure I pause and absorb the beauty of whats in front of me. When I with people, I try to appreciate their presence, with the occasional candid shot to as a reminder of the moment.
