Here's one from the archives that it's taken me a long time to get around to processing! Seattle, only about two and a half hours drive south from Vancouver (excluding border crossing times), is another incredibly photogenic city.
This shot was taken from Kerry Park, looking south-east towards the Space Needle and downtown Seattle. This is such a popular shot that you need to get there early on a fine day to get the best spot for your tripod, and there were probably at least 8 other photographers there on the night when I shot this.
This is a beautiful view at any time, but occasionally you are lucky enough to be able to see Mount Rainier as well, about 100km away but still very prominent on the skyline. Because of the distance, a clear view of Rainier is relatively uncommon. When I arrived at this location, the mountain was visible, but didn't have the clarity I was hoping for.
As time passed and the sun began to set, it looked like I wouldn't get anything too amazing of the mountain, but I was enjoying shooting the Seattle skyline. Most of the photographers began to pack up, but I waited a little longer just to see. About 15 minutes after the sun had set, a few clouds in the sky to the west began to glow with post-sunset light, and picked out the snow on the side of the mountain in a wonderful pink-orange colour. I snapped as many shots as I could in the five minutes that this lasted!
I'm a British software developer and photographer living in Vancouver, BC. I mainly photograph landscapes, cityscapes, night scenes, and water.
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so surreal. it looks like the mountain just floated out from behind the buildings. amazingly beautiful photograph. so that is the key, patience, patience and more patience. you always outdo yourself, alexis. great work, like always!
@kph129 Good question! It was so long ago I don't exactly remember!
I usually start at around f/8 for shots like this and adjust as necessary, based on aesthetics, depth of field requirements, and shutter speed constraints. I think I reduced the aperture a tad from f/8 i nthis shot because I don't much like the 8-pointed sunstars that the 24-105mm produces around bright lights, and by using a wider aperture, these became less pronounced. (You can still see them around the brighter light sources, but they blend in quite nicely)
The 24-105mm is still very respectably sharp at f/5.6, and everything in this photo is at least 1 kilometre away, so there was little need for a wider depth of field.
I sometimes widen the aperture to increase the shutter speed, particularly if it's windy. My tripod was quite precarious here (I was standing on top of the wall at the edge of the park, to get the most unobstructed view), but I don't think it was particularly windy that night, so I doubt on this occasion I chose a wider aperture for that reason.
Sorry I can't quite say for sure, but hopefully that gives an idea as to my general thought process in situations like this!
Your patience paid off Alexis...this is stunning .....so great to see Seattle & we can see it in all its glory here! As usual you are giving us tips too, thank you. Big fave!
@abirkill
Hood afternoon Alexis. On the 11th I had an image on the PP for a while. When I checked using your link, it doesn't show up. Another user had one on the same day {(at)ksyvarth}. I don't see hers there either, Another of my friends had on on PP on 1/ 12, hers does show up using your search tool. Can you help please? Thanks
I usually start at around f/8 for shots like this and adjust as necessary, based on aesthetics, depth of field requirements, and shutter speed constraints. I think I reduced the aperture a tad from f/8 i nthis shot because I don't much like the 8-pointed sunstars that the 24-105mm produces around bright lights, and by using a wider aperture, these became less pronounced. (You can still see them around the brighter light sources, but they blend in quite nicely)
The 24-105mm is still very respectably sharp at f/5.6, and everything in this photo is at least 1 kilometre away, so there was little need for a wider depth of field.
I sometimes widen the aperture to increase the shutter speed, particularly if it's windy. My tripod was quite precarious here (I was standing on top of the wall at the edge of the park, to get the most unobstructed view), but I don't think it was particularly windy that night, so I doubt on this occasion I chose a wider aperture for that reason.
Sorry I can't quite say for sure, but hopefully that gives an idea as to my general thought process in situations like this!
Hood afternoon Alexis. On the 11th I had an image on the PP for a while. When I checked using your link, it doesn't show up. Another user had one on the same day {(at)ksyvarth}. I don't see hers there either, Another of my friends had on on PP on 1/ 12, hers does show up using your search tool. Can you help please? Thanks