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Paving The Planet
Paving The Planet
Dr.Confuser


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2010-06 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D3
Lens: Nikon AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D
Location: Seattle, Washington (USA)
Date: Jun 26, 2010
Aperture: f/22
ISO: 200
Shutter: Various
Galleries: Cityscape, High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Date Uploaded: Jun 30, 2010

 Photographer’s Notes
Coming to the end of June and I need a free study entry. I’ve shot a lot this month but I want something even better. So I’m off to Seattle EARLY Saturday morning. This is EARLY as in 6:00 in the AM. Bad move – I run smack dab into the Seattle “Rock ‘n Roll” Marathon and all it’s traffic. There are fifty thousand runners re-creating an actual death experience from ancient Greece – Marathon to be precise - get it? Six detours later, I park. Not to put too fine a point on it, parking’s a bitch. I have two hours before I either get a ticket or have to move the car.

Are you all appreciating my narrative? Sort of a Hunter S Thompson stream of consciousness thing. But I digress.

I wanted to reshoot the train station looking back at Seattle. I did. It’s fine. I also wanted to shoot from the top of the Smith Tower but it’s not open yet. So I wander around Seattle shooting this and shooting that. No real joy in this. I’m just killing time.

The Smith Tower was built a hundred years ago and for 50 years was the tallest building west of Chicago; an architectural classic. 42 Stories. At the top there’s a three-story pyramid that’s a private residence of a young couple and their two children. I’m not sure I’d want to grow up where there were no other children to play with, but as an adult, this would be a pretty neat place … except there would be no other adults to “play” with … but that way lies madness … so it might be pretty cool to live there, anyway!

The observation deck is a target rich environment if you like cityscapes, as I do. I’ll return here again. This photo looks south toward Qwest Field – home of the Seahawks. You can see thousands of runners on the diagonal street and just in front of the stadium. On my full size image, I can read their jerseys. I love my new rock-solid tripod! The weather is troubled but it never turned snarky. We have had only one day over 75 degrees in the last 275 days. Damn it, this is supposed to be summer! Today won’t make it two. But I like my take and maybe you will, too.

Maybe it’s ego but I think it’s a shame more DPCers don’t narrate their photos.

Post Processing
• HDR 7 Originals (Photomatix)
• Tone Map (Photomatix)
• Vibrance (PSCS5)
• Curves (PSCS5)
• Dodge & Burn (PSCS5 Overlay Layer)
• Brighten (PSCS5 Curves Layer)
• Contrast (PSCS5 Layer)
• Dodge & Burn More (PSCS5 Overlay Layer)
• Partially Desaturate (PSCS5 Hue/Sat Layer)
• Resize (Genuine Fractals)
• Sharpen (PSCS5 Smart Sharpen)
• Save for Web (PSCS5)


Camera data
• Date: 2010-06-26
• Camera: Nikon D3
• Lens: Nikon AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D
• ISO: 200
• Aperture: f/22
• Shutter: Various

Statistics
Place: 18 out of 341
Avg (all users): 6.5512
Avg (commenters): 8.2222
Avg (participants): 6.4211
Avg (non-participants): 6.9375
Views since voting: 2392
Views during voting: 234
Votes: 127
Comments: 18
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
 11/23/2011 10:24:58 PM
Love the summary you put with your photos. I remember that, 275 days without it going over 75!!! Must check out that Smith tower!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/05/2011 05:22:31 PM
This is awesome! I missed it the first time as I was away all summer. Thank goodness for lens questions that reveal missed photos. I used to work in the Wells Fargo building (oddly enough for Washington Mutual - no wonder they're gone), and my view was similar but not quite as wide open and direct at the stadiums. And I love the Smith Tower. I used to say the words "that's right, used to be the tallest building west of the Mississippi" all the time to anyone around me whenever we were near it.

And I cannot believe you are complaining about it not being summer on June 26th. Everyone knows summer hits Seattle on July 5th, right after the BBQs are rained out ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/09/2010 01:32:56 AM
good choice sir! and lovely score:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/09/2010 12:00:46 AM
this is incredible.... and a fantastic use of Fish-eye with a story to boot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/08/2010 02:10:52 AM
love your narrative. Good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/08/2010 12:50:34 AM
Awesome finish, especially in a free study! I gave this a 7. I kinda had the feeling this wasn't actually Oakland, but the docks automatically mean Oakland to me. I enjoyed the narrative, too. Makes me wish I could see the full-resolution version!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/08/2010 12:31:29 AM
Great job Charles. Love the narrative also.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/08/2010 12:22:20 AM
LOVE the narrative and what a kick-ass use of a fisheye! Congrats on the excellent score to go with it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/05/2010 08:07:11 PM
Fantastic wide angle city shot. Great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/05/2010 10:42:47 AM
Cool shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2010 12:53:56 PM
Nice use of the fish-eye effect, love the details.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2010 09:18:10 PM
indeed we are - the use of wide angle really creates a feeling of the entire planet in view
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2010 01:16:24 AM
WOW - nice fisheye!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2010 10:21:53 PM
Auuuugh! FABULOUS! Love that fish-eye touch! It works so well with this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2010 10:20:45 AM
This is a good use of fish eye, it gives the viewer a good feeling for the expansiveness of the location. Good choice with the stadium at the center, that seems to provide a good anchor to the photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2010 03:58:09 PM
nice work 8/10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2010 11:20:39 AM
Spittin' image of Oakland, if it's not.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2010 01:36:17 AM
Great use of fish eye. Stellar clarity and detail.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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