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Iconic Landmarks


Iconic Landmarks
Photo Information
Copyright: Scott Thomas (Sharpshooter) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 540 W: 71 N: 1702] (6912)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07-01
Categories: Daily Life, Nature, Transportation, Architecture, Decisive Moment, Experimental, HPP [Heavily Post-Processed]
Camera: Canon EOS 450D (Rebel XSi), Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 lll USM, 58mm Marumi UV, 58mm Hoya Polarizing Filter
Exposure: f/22
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-07-02 0:50
Viewed: 187
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I was watching an early morning TV show yesterday morning called ‘Breakfast’, and they were reporting the weather from a place called Birkenhead in Auckland. The view looking across the water towards the Sky Tower and the Harbour Bridge looked very appealing so I decided to jump in my car and check it out for myself.

This was taken from Hinemoa Street, where some of the boats are kept. The one in this photo was sitting on the sand, waiting for the tide to roll in. The rest of them were stacked up on the shore, out of action. It was extremely windy while I was there, which made it quite a challenge to take a steady photo, even when using the tripod. I ended up using the ‘continuous shooting’ feature with AEB for the 3-shot exposure, as I didn’t trust the stability of the tripod alone due to the wind.

In this photo, you can see two of New Zealand’s most iconic landmarks – The Sky Tower and the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The bridge was opened on 30th of May 1959 and it took over 200 workers around 4-years to build. When it was first built it only had four lanes, but after a few years they needed to make the bridge bigger to cope with all the traffic, so they added two lanes to each side. The new lanes were called “clippons” because they were made in Japan, shipped to New Zealand on huge ships and then clipped into place with huge steel pins and rods. It turned 50-years old in May of this year, and has had over 50-billion vehicles cross it during that time.

As for the Sky Tower, weighing in at over 21-million kilograms and standing at 328-metres tall, makes it the 12th tallest tower in the world. You get stunning views from the top, and can also look through the glass floors, straight down to the ground below. It has been designed to remain essentially undamaged during storms with winds gusting to 200 km/hr (125 mph), which can result in sway at the top of the concrete shaft of approximately one metre. We had a lightning storm here in Auckland the other night, and a few bolts hit the top of the tower, but fortunately it has a purposely-designed copper pole on the top to absorb the electricity.

While I was taking this, a lady approached me who was also taking photos. She said she was trying to take a panorama for an assignment at her photo club, although she didn’t have a tripod so I offered to let her use mine. I told her about TL and she said she’s going to check it out, so with a bit of luck we’ll have another NZ Canon user on here :).

EXIF Data:
Image Quality: RAW
Device: Canon EOS 450D
Lens: Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 lll USM
Focal Length: 75mm
Aperture: F/22
Shutter Speeds: 1/100s, 1/400s, 1/25s
Exposure Mode: Manual Control
Metering: Spot Metering
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 800
Date Taken: 1st July 2009, 10:24am

Thanks for viewing.
mikolaj_cava, chendis, jean11-3, GreenBaron, dareco, Jonela, Royaldevon, werdir, mvdisco, tanburi, tedesse has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To BTCozer: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-07 18:56
To Travelcam: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 19:57
To KBE: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 19:23
To jackal: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:59
To tedesse: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:57
To cobra112: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:57
To sela: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:54
To tanburi: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:53
To mvdisco: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:51
To werdir: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:51
To kanton: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:37
To Royaldevon: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:37
To Jonela: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:36
To dareco: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:35
To GreenBaron: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:33
To jean11-3: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:32
To AndroK: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:30
To chendis: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:30
To mikolaj_cava: Iconic LandmarksSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:29
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Scott! Excellent panorama, wonderful cityscape, amazing bridge. Amazing sail. Nice lightness, very nice colours. Good composition. Perfect shot. Good luck!

Hi Scott
i love this view
is amazing fine light
that boat on the shore is absolutely beautiful the colors are natural and the sky looks dramatic
Wonderful composition!

Have a grate day!
Oana

Hi my friend...
Nice cityscape...
Composition is so nice...
Regards...
andro

Hello Scott,you did very well considering the conditions that you describe.
A good composition with the bridge centre stage and the Sky Tower echoing the mast of the yacht.
The water on the sand reflects the light and brings light into that part of the picture.
I enjoyed reading your notes.
Tfs, regards Jean.

Hi Scott,
Windy hé! Can see those flags on top of the Harbor Bridge flying in the storm. An excellent well balanced composition Scott. I'm happy to see you included the AKL Sky tower. Good to see you captured this view perfect sharp, the camerasettings were well chosen, no noise despite the 800ASA. Fine view of Auckland.
Hans

A very interesting view, and I like the environment. Very good colors and detail. A great sky. TFS

Hi Scott,

This is a different type of view from the norm you have captured it well the wind must have been blowing hard as can be seen by the flags on the bridge. Great colours and sharp details good dof and nice pov well done.

Regards
Jon

Hello Scott,

The raised flags and the white heads on the waves give an indication of the wind but the fine quality of the shot doesn't suggest movement.
The lightly worn track and the f/g boat are great introductions to the shot. The brige frames the buildings nicely, apart from the tower, which makes a nice balance with the f/g mast.

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

Hello Scott!
Wonderful panoramic cityscape!
beautiful colours,fine lighting
and details,perfect angle of view!
Regards and tfs
Kostas

Hi Scott,

I like how you've pretty much framed the city under the bridge. I wouldn't be too happy to own the boat that's high and dry, but it's a good indicator of how strong the wind was to blow the water out of the channel.

A moody shot, the clouds and whitecaps are well captured. Great POV and appropriate aperture setting for this shot. TFS.

Best regards,
Werner

Bonjour Scott,
Excellent panorama caught of view, well presented and composed with an excellent interesting note and details, great colors and sharpness, Excellent POV.and DOF .
Excellent done
amicalement
Michel

Hello Scot,
Nice composition, depthness and eye catching sky
TFS
Selahattin E

  • Great 
  • sela Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 479 W: 1 N: 472] (3750)
  • [2009-07-02 8:33]
  • [+]

Hi Scott, this is a very well taken shot of this Birkenhead, wonderful view and much mood.Perfect composition.
Regards Rose

Hi Scott. This compo is well sharpened and in amazing light. Good dephting and beautiful warm colours.

Roberto

Hello!
Wonderful view,beautiful colours and lovely light.
Very well done.
Greetings
Tadeusz

Hi Scott,
Nice view of the city, I could see this little beach from the Harbour Bridge but it took me a while to find it.
Composition is VG and I like the colours in the sky - any particular reason for the ISO800?
cheers
Jack

  • Great 
  • KBE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 437 W: 103 N: 571] (2667)
  • [2009-07-02 22:37]
  • [+]

Hello Scott
I missed few very good posts here, i am quite a busy these days :(

anyways, its a very decent and natural touched HDR. i like the light and shades alot! beautifully controlled!
Nice view and placing the boat at thirds makes it more good :)

Congrats on meeting new photographer and bringing her on TL in ur canon camp ;)

TFS
Cheers
JZM

Hi Scott,

I like this photo of the harbour bridge very much. Awesome POV used across this beach on the north shore. Great colours and sharpness. The single boat certainly adds appeal too.

TFS,
Martyn

Hi Scott,

Very nice composition. I think, that I will have to travel to New Zeland shortness... Nice photo of the city with the beautiful Sky Tower , boats and Bridge with very nice definition ,coloreds, and sharpness. Light is great too.
Regards.
Elisabete

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