Project 52 by Frank Miller

[FrankMi]

Here is a closer look at the Port of Barcelona building from the observation deck on the Christopher Columbus Monument.



From this view you can ger a better sense of where Week 35's images were shot from.

[Donald]

From this view you can get a better sense of where Week 35's images were shot from.

A good locator shot for week 35, but more importantly, a pretty impressive image in its own right. Again, the image conveys (well, fro me anyway) a wonderful clarity of light.

[Dave Humphries]

~ The final image size prior to downsizing for the web was approximately 10,000 x 22,500 pixels.

One thing to note is that once both the original full size image and the merged panorama image are downsized to 1,000 pixels tall, there is no difference in resolution between them so the advantage of this process is not apparent at web image sizes.

That's interesting Frank.

Any chance of seeing it scaled 3375 x 1500, so we can scroll up and down in the Lytebox?

That looks kinda cosy in there, bet there are no stairs if the elevator breaks, the column doesn't look wide enough.
(I worry about stuff like that)

[FrankMi]

A good locator shot for week 35, but more importantly, a pretty impressive image in its own right. Again, the image conveys (well, fro me anyway) a wonderful clarity of light.

After viewing the Dockside Panorama for this week, I felt that the architecture in this edifice deserved a closer look and although I took a number of shots from the observation deck, I felt that this one had a uniqueness about it that made it worth posting. Glad you like it!

[FrankMi]

Any chance of seeing it scaled 3375 x 1500, so we can scroll up and down in the Lytebox?

That looks kinda cosy in there, bet there are no stairs if the elevator breaks, the column doesn't look wide enough.
(I worry about stuff like that)

I doubt it has stairs and likely has only a ladder should the elevator, which only holds about three people, should fail. I doubt there was an elevator of any kind in 1888 when it was completed.

I'll see if we can repost the monument image at 1500 pixels wide! Thanks for the idea. There is certainly enough detail to do a 200% zoom at full size (42 x 94 inches).

[oldgreygary]

I was going to comment on the Christopher Columbus monument but you have answered the question. As when I zoomed in on the image I saw a face peeking through. That must be one heck of a ride in the lift.

You seem to have an 'eye' for architectural images as they are crisp, clear and show the detail. I must admit to not being a fan of architectural images but these are rapidly changing my mind and I can see the possibilities with this type of image.

Cheers for now

Gary

[FrankMi]

I must admit to not being a fan of architectural images but these are rapidly changing my mind and I can see the possibilities with this type of image.

I understand completely Gary. I am usually not interested in taking images of most static objects, particularly boring architecture.

In Barcelona, however, they have a profusion of unique and interesting detail everywhere you look that I haven't seen the likes of anywhere else. Unfortunately, I was only there a few hours and most of my shots were from the top of a double-decker tour bus - great for tickling the memory cells but lousy for capturing decent images to show others.

For example, here is a quick shot of the Casa Milà apartment building from the moving bus.



Nothing about this building is what you might expect. Perhaps, someday I can return to Barcelona just to capture some of the interesting architecture.

[Kdfrank]

Great shot Frank, from a moving bus, and fascinating architecture. Does Bilbo Baggins live there?

[oldgreygary]

Barcelona, certainly is rich with architectural interest. Agree with what Kerry says!

Cheers for now

Gary

[FrankMi]

Does Bilbo Baggins live there?

I don't think so Kerry, but then I don't know where Bilbo goes on vacation!

I was surprised to find that Casa Milà (better known as La Pedrera 'The Quarry') was completed 100 years ago in 1912.

[MilT0s]

Well Gaudi was more than an artist-architect.

Frank didn't visit Sagrada Famillia? It is by far the most beautiful building I have seen (and it is still under construction for over 100 years!)

[FrankMi]

Well Gaudi was more than an artist-architect.

Frank didn't visit Sagrada Famillia? It is by far the most beautiful building I have seen (and it is still under construction for over 100 years!)

Started in 1882, still under construction, and won't be finished until 2026?

Bizarre, but wildly fascinating!

No, unfortunately I missed this one Miltos! Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Yet another reason to return to Barcelona!

<EDIT> I stand corrected. I do have images of Sagrada Famillia taken from the observation deck of the Christopher Columbus Monument but the cathedral is too far away to see any detail.

[FrankMi]

For this week's image my goal was to capture as much detail of the sun as possible.

WARNING: If you try something like this be certain that you do not put your eyes or the camera's sensor at risk!

Fortunately, the sun was very low on the horizon so the density of the atmosphere protected both my eyes and the sensor from the intensity usually associated with shooting directly into the sun. Part of this was possible by shooting over ocean on a very clear morning and being about 150 feet above sea level.

For this exercise I took approximately 300 images and selected 6 of those with the sun and clouds in a pleasing juxtaposition for the final merged image.

The first thing I did was to level the waterline on all 6 images then order them by size from those that had the least amount of zoom (two images at 55mm FFE) to those that had the greatest amount of zoom (840mm FFE).

This is the un-cropped, zoomed-in image of the sun that I used:



I then selected one 55mm image that had the best looking ocean and one that had the best looking sky from two sequential images taken with Auto Exposure Bracketing. These two images would be combined for the widest possible image, but the one with the least detail.

This was the sky image that I used:



The image used for the sea was ISO 100, f4.0, 1/800 sec. The image used for the sky was ISO 100, f5.6, 1/1250 sec and -2EV. In merging these two images, I decreased the sea brightness by 20 points to bring it more in line with the intensity of the sky.

I then merged in increasingly smaller images taken at increasingly larger zoom but each successive image had increasing detail. The zoom sizes were 55, 130, 200, 360, and 840mm FFE.

[Nicola]

good work, as usual Frank!
in the picture, i don't know if the boat must be cloned out or not...
ciao
nicola

[FrankMi]

good work, as usual Frank!
in the picture, i don't know if the boat must be cloned out or not...
ciao
nicola

Hi Nicola, in the dark version with the better sky, you can't see the ship at all but in the next shot with more exposure you could see than it was there.

I guess I'll wait to see if folks like it or hate it before I change anything. Sometimes I look at it and think I should have centered the sun in the image and removed the ship. Other times, I think it helps to bring balance to the force, provides a counter-point to the sun and gives folks something more to explore.

[ronlane]

Good job on those. I think #2 is the best one to me.

[FrankMi]

Good job on those. I think #2 is the best one to me.

Thank you for the feedback Ron. The second image was SOOC and sometimes those are best just left alone! Well, OK. Maybe level the horizon!

[Cantab]

I guess I'll wait to see if folks like it or hate it before I change anything.

I think the boat/ship should stay in the picture. With its wake, the boat provides a very subtle touch of dynamic action.

[Donald]

Sometimes I look at it and think I should have (1) centered the sun in the image and (2) removed the ship.

1 - No
2 - No
.... in my humble opinion.

Centreing the sun would (not quite) kill it. It's perfect as it is. That just off-centre position works great

The boat is part of the image. I'm with Bruce on that one, for the reasons he gives.

Again the skill set in terms of making the image from the basic materials is so much in evidence. I remain in awe.

[Geoff F]

For me, Frank, centering and off centering the main subject both have their risks.

When a subject is 'forced' into the centre point it can appear artificial and unrealistic. But when placed to one side, it can seem off balanced.

The skill is to place the subject slightly off centre but still retain overall balance with surrounding items. As you have achieved with these images.