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reflections of the past
reflections of the past
Rikki


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Architecture III (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Arsat 35mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift
Location: San Francisco, California
Date: May 27, 2006
Aperture: f5.6
ISO: 100
Shutter: 6 seconds
Galleries: Architecture, Travel
Date Uploaded: May 28, 2006

 Challenge entry No. 140

The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco by Bernard Maybeck.

This national landmark is undergoing repair at this time so the entire area is barricaded. I was flustered as I drove all the way up to the City after work only to realize that fences were put up. As I walked around the area, I saw a trash container. I got up and propped my tripod and I had an even better view. I was almost 10' above the street level ;) People stopped and chatted as they saw me perched on top of the trash can. "Now that's going to be a good shot", said one of the ladies passing by. "I hope so", I replied ;)

I think I'll give Larus and DrAchoo a run for their money ;)

The task of creating a Palace of Fine Arts for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition fell to the architect Bernard R. Maybeck, then fifty years old and known for his innovative ideas. Setting to work on this new project, he chose as his theme a Roman ruin, mutilated and overgrown, in the mood of a Piranesi engraving. But this ruin was not to exist solely for itself to show "the mortality of grandeur and the vanity of human wishes .... " Although it was meant to give delight by its exterior beauty, its purpose was also to offer all visitors a stimulating experience within doors.

Show in RAW and converted with RSE. The shot is pretty much what you see here with minor layer adjustments. I didn't create surreal skies for this shot as I didn't want it to compete with this beauty.

Arrrgh! I hate the fact that we only have 150kb for our entries. The sky is artifacting so bad! Grrrrrr!

IMG_5895.CR2

Statistics
Place: 5 out of 281
Avg (all users): 6.9634
Avg (commenters): 7.8929
Avg (participants): 6.8431
Avg (non-participants): 7.1011
Views since voting: 4474
Views during voting: 379
Votes: 191
Comments: 55
Favorites: 9 (view)

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AuthorThread
 06/10/2006 06:04:50 PM
Rikki, great minds must think alike as I had gone to shoot the sameplace for the architecture challenge but ended up only getting a ticket from one of those photo tickets for running a traffic light while trying to get there. then realized it was all blocked off and went home. Way to put in the extra time and get the shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/06/2006 12:40:20 PM
Greetings from the Critique Club!

First impression (before reading anything about it): Very nice! Actually, excellent! Except for... the lost details of what appears to be blown out part of the rotunda where there are some indiscernible creatures. I wish I could see what those were! Oh well, one of the DPC limitations, so I won't take away from the image because of it. There is a plenty of other details to enjoy here in this photo.

Now, after reading your comments and seeing the details - I appreciate your efforts to take a good shot. The compression artefacts are visible, but I'm so used to them that I do not ever score a photo down for them (unless something that could obviously have been fixed).

What I like about it even more is the fact that you did not post-process it to death, but that this is your great find! Congratulations on the 5th place!

Feel free to PM me with any questions - I'm just being honest.

-Serge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/06/2006 12:40:39 AM
Aw crap! You completely destroyed me! Next time there is an Architecture challenge I am coming over buddy, Icelandair flies directly to San Fran so beware! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/05/2006 06:33:21 PM
Rikki: fine job here. The warm colors are so inviting. Congratulations on your top 5 finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/05/2006 05:04:21 PM
Great image. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/05/2006 03:17:12 PM
Nice finish Rikki. You story made me laugh b/c I went to the Palace of Fine Arts as my first choice for this challenge, but saw the fences and thought, "well, I guess its plan B". So I headed over to the Golden Gate and entered a shot from their instead. I guess I should have gotten up on a trash can b/c people like the Palace much better than the bridge according to score :).

Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/05/2006 08:14:50 AM
There was no way I was beating you with this shot. Good stuff...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/05/2006 08:01:43 AM
Fantastic! I love this image! Congtrats on your Top 5!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/05/2006 06:38:28 AM
The water looks so great! Good job Rikster
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/05/2006 04:30:58 AM
Just beautiful, way to go Rikki!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/05/2006 02:53:56 AM
Awesome job Rikki! Congratulations on the 5th place!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/05/2006 02:32:40 AM
Congratulations on the 5th place, great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 11:54:28 PM
Well, now I know what to do next time! Stunning shot, Rikki - well deserved place too!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 11:16:13 PM
Nice smooth shot. Up against some stiff competition this time. Congrats on the 5th place.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 10:51:07 PM
well done on a top 5 finish Rikki...this shot is spectacular
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 09:52:02 PM
Great shot Rikki. Yeah, I was there a couple of weeks ago and had a hard time getting a shot without all the fences. Love the composition and the few stars. Congratulations on fifth!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 09:29:00 PM
This was my pick for first. Love the colors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 09:16:02 PM
5th? brat. glad we in the same team :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 09:05:22 PM
HA! I knew this one was yours! Congrats on another HM (Honorable Mention)!! You definitely have the DPC formula for success!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 08:38:35 PM
Kinda figured this had to be you. Good one, pal.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 08:16:43 PM
Congrats on fifth place Rikki!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 08:14:39 PM
I really like the lighting and reflections in this shot, and the story that goes along with it just proves the lengths will go to get the perfect shot. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 08:13:32 PM
Rikki!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
06/04/2006 01:51:48 PM
Great color and light, nice use of reflection and good compo.

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 01:30:40 PM
Wow, this picture is wonderful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 10:21:13 AM
A very hard image to get just right. The blown out lights and the black brush, are very difficult to adjust without making them overly done. I think I find the reflexion more apeasing to the eye. Nice job overall.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2006 10:10:19 AM
Simply stunning! Nice work. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/03/2006 10:05:22 PM
Nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/02/2006 05:42:14 PM
Stunning...this is a ribbon for suuuuuuuuuure!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/02/2006 01:37:45 PM
Spectacular night shot, such clarity, nice crop at the bottom with the water's edge making a natural border.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/02/2006 01:14:31 PM
Great night shot. The reflection adds to an already wonderful image. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/02/2006 08:13:24 AM
nice reflection
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/01/2006 08:45:21 PM
Top ten easy...compostion and color balance is great.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/01/2006 03:33:08 AM
Amazing. I love the lighting and the composition. I think it will score high.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/31/2006 11:47:56 PM
Beautiful colours and reflection, nice shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/31/2006 09:35:54 PM
Wow amazing night shot, great reflection!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/31/2006 07:55:35 PM
This looks highly saturated. :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/31/2006 07:00:49 PM
That is gorgeous, what an amazing structure. Awesome night shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/31/2006 06:14:06 PM
Great Shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/31/2006 08:05:32 AM
this is utterly stunning! i feel like i've been taken back in time. wonderful photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/31/2006 03:01:02 AM
Great lighting and reflections.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/30/2006 03:39:28 PM
Beautiful use of architecture and color. Love the stars, too. Nicely done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/30/2006 03:38:50 PM
impact good,strong lighting, halo's on horizin distract....7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/30/2006 03:38:42 PM
Nice colours and rendition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/30/2006 10:13:43 AM
Rikki I presume! Great shot! The reflection is an awesome addition! I'm wondering if a second less exposure would have saved the blow out from the dome lights?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/30/2006 10:03:38 AM
great shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/30/2006 04:28:37 AM
oh, excellent ... but white balance sould be fixed here so this would be much higher score, 5
 05/30/2006 02:09:55 AM
Taking a closer look and I find that I like this shot. The reflection looks really nice on the smooth water. Nice job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/29/2006 11:04:27 AM
Beautiful! Love the reflection.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/29/2006 08:54:00 AM
Lovely shot. If only there were more stars out that night. Great spot to shoot from though, you framed it perfectly.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/29/2006 05:40:08 AM
A very nice and beautiful capture.. Great colors and reflection.. Absolutely stunning picture :o)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/29/2006 05:17:51 AM
Ok I give up, a blue is now out of the question. Simply stunning. Great Great image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/29/2006 04:01:45 AM
Beautiful shot, great colours & clarity - well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/29/2006 03:42:24 AM
Great night capture of the Palace of Fine Arts. I never really understood why it was built but makes a great photo opportunity and backdrop for zillions of movies.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/29/2006 01:25:23 AM
stunning...should finish at the top somewhere...9 well done, hope you do very well with this
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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