Into the Abliss
Dec, 2016Views
1413
Likes
Awards
Top Shot Award 22
People's Choice in People and leading lines Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in Mysterious Shots Photo Contest
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
All Star
Superior Skill
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on the Peace Bridge in Calgary, AB. As a proud Canadian, I am always looking for new and exciting ways to showcase the modern architecture and jaw-dropping nature my country has to offer.Time
I took this around 2300, hoping the usually bustling bridge would be a ghost town. It was the middle of December (-30 degrees celcius!), my favourite time of year to shoot. The air is so crisp when it gets that cold, making the photos come out with an almost haunting focus. Night shots in Canadian winters always accentuate the lighting as it is easier for light beams to travel much greater distances.Lighting
I wanted to show my own version of peace on this bridge. The best way to convey that sentiment for me was to use only the natural lighting from the bridge to create a tunnel-like pathway to my dreams. I made sure to use a fairly long exposure so you could really get the sheen on the bridge's beams, making it less eerie and more transcendent. By only using the light that was there, the foreground remained dark. It gives the bridge a floating sensation that I really enjoyed. The longer exposure was able to capture the glowing downtown lights quite nicely, as well, adding a nice contrast scattering the background.Equipment
This was shot with my Nikon D3300, tripod, and AF-S DX VR Nikkor 18-55mm, F3.5-5.6G lens. This enabled me to capture a wider angle and get a clean long exposure.Inspiration
My dad inspired this photo. He is the original photographer in the family, so when I am home from university we love to go out with our cameras and see what we can find. The Peace Bridge is always a treat for us, as it provides so many beautiful angles and unique lighting. He took a really goofy one of me dancing on the bridge the week before this shoot. That inspired me to think of how I could make a seemingly simple photo of the bridge tell a very complex, surreal story the way his dancing photo did, this is when we decided to go at night. I asked my dad to stand in the middle with his coat fluffed out and his knees bent to seem almost alien, and then I took the shot.Editing
There was no post-processing done on this one. The lighting from the bridge and city behind came out beautifully. I wanted to leave it raw in order to illustrate just how magic our world can be.In my camera bag
I always carry my Nikon D3300 with my two lenses; my AF-S DX VR Nikkor 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G lens and my AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G lens. I have been using the same lenses and body since I got into photography. Still being in school means the budget is a little tight. My goal is to master the equipment I do have before upgrading to something newer, shinier, and bigger. I slung around my tripod for this shoot, as well, though when I hike I tend to leave it at home.Feedback
The best advice I could give for someone trying to capture a shot in a crowded place is to get creative! Think outside the box and amazing photo ideas will come flooding in. I kept getting frustrated that so many people were passing through my shot so it forced me to find a new approach. Because of this, I came up with the night shot idea, and it turned out even better than any sun-lit attempt could have for me. Allowing your creativity to guide the shot will produce the most exciting photography possible. If that street is too busy, try going up a tall building and shooting from above. If that beach is too crowded in the evening, try for photos at dawn. From my experience, the best photos are the ones you didn't originally anticipate taking.
