Looking up at those looking down
Nov, 2017Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I was standing on the lower level observation deck, and looked up to find those above me all looking out and down, missing the spectacular view towards the top of the tower.Time
It was late morning, so the sun was fairly high in the sky above. I moved to center myself beneath the peak of the tower, and adjusted to capture the sun's flare just at the outside edge and at the end of the diagonal bracing.Lighting
The lighting was a challenge shooting almost directly up at the sun. I adjusted my exposure to minimize blown highlights while hoping to capture enough detail in the shadows that the tower and the people above weren't completely crushed in the shadows. Lightroom, Photoshop, and Nik Silver Efex helped pull the image together despite the dynamic range of sky, sun, tower, and people.Equipment
I was shooting with my Nikon D700, Sigma 12-24 mm wide-angle zoom, and a circular polarizer. This shot was handheld without any flash.Inspiration
When visiting well-known landmarks and vistas, I am always trying to look for unusual perspectives. A photography friend once told me that when everyone is pointing their camera in the same direction, they miss what is behind, to the sides, or above them. I've taken that to heart, and always try to look around to see from all angles. My favorite images of or at famous landmarks are always those that break the mold of what is most commonly depicted. Sometimes, the tourists and other photographers prove more interesting than the landmark itself.Editing
Given the harsh, direct, backlight from the sun and its prominent position in the middle of the frame, this image required significant post-processing to pull details and shading from the deep shadows of the tower. I used Lightroom, Photoshop, Nik Silver Efex (B&W), Dfine (noise reduction), Perspective (distortion correction), and Viveza (selective exposure correction). I used Silver Efex's red filter to help add a dramatic punch to the sky.In my camera bag
I still have my D700, but I now commonly carry a D850 and D750, the Sigma 12-24, a Sigma 24-70, and either my Sigma 85 mm macro or 70-200 mm.Feedback
Whenever visiting a famous spot, look wherever most people *aren't* looking. Move around and find spots that most others are ignoring. Look for details and zoom in where most people are trying to shoot wide panoramas. Don't be afraid to shoot those other tourists. They are often just as interesting as the views we all traveled to see.
