Museum time
I had to wait a while for the crowds to clear at the musée d'orsay; and then this couple stepped forward.
I had to wait a while for the crowds to clear at the musée d'orsay; and then this couple stepped forward.
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Feb, 2017Views
1950
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Awards
Top Shot Award 22
Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 19
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
All Star
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
Emotions
Impressed
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victoriarichardson
April 15, 2017
Thank you so much for entering my Silhouette challenge. There were 3989 entries and over 22,300 votes cast. I wanted to let you know that you were in the top 80 and that I loved this photo.
Forrest_Imagery
June 23, 2018
A superb image !
It is eye-catching and contemplative.
I like that it is not the typical "city out the window" image.
Congratulations on the well-deserved recognition !
It is eye-catching and contemplative.
I like that it is not the typical "city out the window" image.
Congratulations on the well-deserved recognition !
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
The Photo is taken in the Musée D'Orsay, Paris. The museum is in an old railway station which was built at the end of the 19th Century and there is a clock like this at either end of the building. One of the clocks is in the café and always busy with people so I went to the other end of the building where this clock was surrounded by crowds of people trying to look out of the window. I stood back and waited for the crowds to clear and after a while there was a brief moment with nobody in front of the clock. I was just getting ready to take my shot when I spotted this couple walking forward and decided to wait a moment longer, this was the result, one of my favourite pictures.Time
The picture was taken in the early afternoon and the light outside was bright which poses problems. It also meant that the museum was at its busiest so getting the shot I wanted was more of a challenge.Lighting
I had seen shots of this window with the city scene of Paris outside but I wanted to create something a bit different. I decided to allow the window to be over exposed and create an interesting silhouette with more detail in the shadows.Equipment
I used my trusted travel companion, a Canon EOS 500D, hand held as the museum staff can get quite funny about anybody who looks like they may actually take photography seriously. At one point I was told that "No photography was allowed in the museum" even though I was surrounded by thousands of people happily taking snaps with their iPhones. Apparently that is allowed!Inspiration
My wife was quite disgusted that she wanted to look around the museum whereas my first priority was to find and photograph this clock! I came to take a picture of a beautiful window but there was something about the romance of Paris that made the silhouette of a couple in this iconic location seem special. Sometimes, as a photographer, you have to just deal with what life puts in front of you and sometimes the result is better than the picture you intended.Editing
Those of you who follow me will know that I do a lot of processing, but in this case I did very little to this image in Photoshop. I converted to monochrome and lightened some of the shadows to give more detail on the couple, I also darkened shadows in places to intensify the silhouette.In my camera bag
When I am travelling I try to travel light. What is important if versatility to capture a photograph whenever and wherever the opportunity presents itself. I have a Canon camera on a 'Joby' strap which hangs to the side of the body. This keeps the camera out of the way when I am not using it but stil available in an instant. It also prevents the neck strain of having a camera hanging at the front all day. My favourite lens to travel with is my Tamron 18 - 200mm, again it is all about the versatility without having to carry several lenses around on holiday.Feedback
Obviously with this kind of shot the location is everything. When you find a great location it is usually crowded so patience is essential. Wait for a gap in the crowds and have everything ready to grab the opportunity when it comes, you may only get a few seconds to get that perfect shot. Light balance is essential with a silhouette style photograph. Overexposure allows highlights to bleed into the shadows while underexposure makes the shadows solid and uninteresting. I have found that quite often in public buildings iPhones are tolerated but anybody who looks remotely like a professional photographer is told that there is no photography allowed. Avoid carrying tripods and don't take too long setting up your shot, hold your camera at your side ready for when you need it then grab the shot and go before the officious officials tell you otherwise!
