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Christ the Redeemer
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
This is a photo of the Christ the Redeemer statue that sits atop Corcovado mountain and looks out over the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
The idea for a grand monument on Corcovado had been about since the 1880's but it wasn't until forty years later in the 1920's that the idea was finally realised. In 1921 a group of determined Catholics decided that the hill should be adorned by a statue of Christ and so launched a competition to design one. There were sketches of Christ carrying the cross or holding a globe in his hands or standing on a pedestal symbolizing the world as considered designs. In the end though the winner was a 30m tall Christ standing on an 8m high octagonal pedestal (which doubles as a small chapel) with his arms outstretched as if to embrace the city designed by Heitor da Silva Costa.
The man responsible for realising this chosen design was French sculptor Paul Landowski who also designed the detail of the figure. The statue was carved out of soapstone, cut into blocks and shipped to Rio and then carried up to the summit of Corcovado on the cog railway, built in 1884.
The statue was finally opened to the public in 1931, and illuminated from a switch in Rome using a signal sent by Marconi, the inventor of the radio.
I arrived at the statue shortly before dusk, hoping for some breath-taking views of Rio as the sun set behind the mountains. Unfortunately my plans were scuppered by a very miserable, grey sky followed by a terrific rainstorm.
The photos I took were very disappointing and so as a result, I decided to do a bit of PP work in Photoshop and try and create something worth showing to you all! The list of filters, effects and alterations I've done is far too long to either remember or list but broadly speaking I've changed the sky for something more colourful and rotated it 90 degrees for a bit more interest. Enhanced colours, added cracks and decay to the statue, enhanced contrast, added lens flare, shadows, highlights, blends, blurs etc. The result is something a little more apocalyptic! I hope you like it :)
Incidentally, you can have a look at the original photo by clicking on the workshop image.
Have a good weekend!
Rich |
geterdone, moli has marked this note useful
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Hi Richard,
Your new sky has made for a very dramatic and powerful image! I love it! Also liking the diagonal composition. I think the lens flare works well here and nicely placed. I also like how you've highlighted the top of the outstretched arms and shoulders. The added cracks and decay I think I could do without but...it doesn't hurt the image either. This sky is very fitting Richard. Great Pp work and very interesting notes. Thanks for sharing this beautiful Creation!
Lyndon
- pemi71
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 538 W: 13 N: 59]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(2617) - [2007-05-04 9:02]
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Hello Richard ,
Very nicely done and good story.Great PP work and idea.
tfs
Petar
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- moli
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1388 W: 275 N: 1876]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(11642) - [2007-05-04 17:11]
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Hi Richard.
Wonderful! Great point of view and perspective. Very good effect.
Thanks for sharing.
Janek J-23
Excellent use of PP to bring new life to a dull photo - great POV and good lead-in from the lower right.
Nice work!
Rew
I've been there. I think the sky looked just like your original when I was there too! Well done on the sky replacement. Bem feito! :-)
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![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 566 W: 29 N: 158]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-n-n.gif)
(755)![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 56 W: 0 N: 204]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
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