Indianapolis Canal Walk by Night
Uploaded: April 30, 2001
Mamiya M645; 80mm f/2.8 Sekkor C; f/2.8 @ 1/2 second; Kodak Portra 160VC
Glenn Theal August 29, 2001
This is a great photo.Where should I start?
The leading line created by the canal is excellent. It draws your eye through the entire image.
The lighting is very well balanced. I am impressed that you managed to keep the lights so white and showing no casts, consdiering the different types of lighting available in this scene. Did you use filters, or was this corrected for in the lab or in PhotoShop?
The buildings in the BG are nicely stagard, decreasing in size from left to right. I think this is important as if they were all the same size, the photo would not work as well.
The reflection of the cityscape in the canal adds the perfect finishing touch to this photo.
Lovely work!
Cheers,
Glenn
#568
John A. Lind August 29, 2001
Glenn,Thanks!
I froze my hind end making this from a narrow street bridge over the canal about 9:00 PM on December 30th. Got the idea from a day shot made a few months earlier. Was walking across the bridge, saw this view and the instantly visualized the daytime image; visualized the night one when I saw prints of it.
No filters were used as color balancing could be performed in making prints of the negative. You're right that night cityscapes are ripe for all manner of color balance issues with the range of light sources. Performed color balancing when making the digital image also.
LOL about the canal reflection. There is a fountain just on the other side of the street bridge which normally causes too many ripples in the water if it's turned on. It's turned off during the Winter, at least at night . If you wait long enough for the typical daytime surface breeze to die down, it becomes mirror smooth. One of the reasons it was done late at night in the middle of Winter. Another was the very clear air that's possible on a very cold night.
The canal was originally constructed in the mid-1800's for barges. The wide paved walkways on each side were once unpaved "tow paths" for the draught horses and mules that pulled them.
Thanks,
-- John #841
John A. Lind August 29, 2001
Glenn,Thanks,
-- John #844
Glenn Theal August 31, 2001
What an amazing difference, John!Well, you were well rewarded for your effort. The photo is excellent and one of my favourite cityscapes.
Thanks for all the information. I appreciate it.
I look forward to seeing more great work like this, John.
Cheers,
Glenn
P.S. Good luck in the competition. #866
Tony Peckman October 23, 2001
A non-techie response: SWEEEEET picture! Love it. It has inspired me to go out and shoot Denver at night.Peace,
Tony #2080
Terry L. Long December 02, 2001
Hello,First of all...all of your photos are very good. But, I like this one the best.
My eye is drawn to the cityscape by the two curved/angled row of lights in the foreground. The curve of the row of lights add because they don't have the sharp angles of the cityscape.
Exposure is perfect, in my humble opinion, and the color(s) are good.
The cropping of this photo is pretty good.
All-in-all...I wouldn't do a thing to change this photo...except maybe put it in a frame.
Very good photo. #3264
Thomas McConville May 26, 2019
perfect exposure!! great comp as well , beautiful night shot #59072Susan L. Vasquez June 11, 2005
This is one of the best cityscapes I've ever seen. Beautiful work John!lyn winans July 17, 2005
This is fabulous John, I love it !!! #1604521Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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