China - Beijing - Dusk at the Tiananmen Square

    Tian'anmen Square (simplified Chinese: 天安门广场; traditional Chinese: 天安門廣場; pinyin: Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng) is a large city square in the center of Beijing, China, named after the Tiananmen Gate (literally, Gate of Heavenly Peace) located to its north, separating it from the Forbidden City. Since it was enlarged four times its original size in the 1950s, Tiananmen Square became the largest city square in the world (440,000 m² - 880m by 500m). It has great cultural significance as it was the site of several important events in Chinese history.

    I know that this place must have been captured 100000000 times but this particular shot was near impossble to get as I got to Beijing during national October holiday when everybody has a week off and many people use this time to travel within China. I have to say that I've never seen so many people on the streets in my entire life. As I like to have places for myself, it was my living nightmare, especially when I got to Tiananmen Square and I didnt know why there were thousands people waiting for something to happen on the square and nobody was moving anywhere. Hardly anybody speaks english in China, therefore it took me long time to find out that I have to wait for the national flag to go down. It is event that happens everyday before sunset and so many people for whatever reason love to watch it even from very far distance. Luckily I still managed to push myself through those thousands of people to get in time in front of this gate just when the light was changing. No time for tripod with this shot.. but I'm still happy to have it as part of my portfolio.

    Camera Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II; Lens’s focal length: 24.00 - 105.00 mm; Photo Focal length: 32.00 mm; Aperture: 4.0; Exposure time: 1/30 s; ISO: 1250

    All rights reserved - Copyright © Lucie Debelkova

    All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer.

    Comments and faves

    1. "V"! (busy week), Sebastian (sibbiblue), ystan, JD's Photography, and 47 other people added this photo to their favorites.

    2. "V"! (busy week) (20 months ago | reply)

      Such a perfection here.
      Gorgeous light & colours.

    3. Ventura Carmona (20 months ago | reply)

      Fabulosa imagen!!

    4. kingsriram (20 months ago | reply)

      Beautiful capture.

    5. Sean Yeo (20 months ago | reply)

      I agree this is an extremely difficult shot, with the huge number of people at the square! Great work! You not only capture it, but capture it almost perfectly!

    6. ☆Sushil☆ (20 months ago | reply)

      Wonderfully composed and lovely exposure

    7. rathlin taise cecil [deleted] (20 months ago | reply)

      the exposure is magnificent

    8. Pepon 2009 (11-10-2011 50k views, thanks) (20 months ago | reply)

      maravillosa composicion y bien trabajado
      Nominated

      I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
      National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

    9. JaiRathore (20 months ago | reply)

      so beautiful.......gr8 colors

    10. Nino H (20 months ago | reply)

      Amazing place no ??
      Superb shot

      Nominated

      I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
      National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

    11. TaiGarual (20 months ago | reply)

      It is an amazing photo!

    12. Shawn Bierman (20 months ago | reply)

      spectacular!

    13. atif peshimam (20 months ago | reply)

      perfect composition and exposure

      the colors are wonderful.

      awesome work as always.

    14. JD's Photography (20 months ago | reply)

      Great for hand held. Light is dead on!

    15. Serg¡o (20 months ago | reply)

      Nominated

      I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
      National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

    16. Velurajah UK (20 months ago | reply)

      This is beautiful shot. Have a great week ahead.

    17. Johannes P. (20 months ago | reply)

      Beautiful lights and sky - perfect!

    18. ms.donnalee / donna cleveland (20 months ago | reply)

      Nominated

      I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
      National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

    19. dorothy mae (20 months ago | reply)

      An Amazing capture of light and mood!!!!

    20. Pepelahuerta (20 months ago | reply)

      Fantastica amiga!!Saludos

    21. isahilo (20 months ago | reply)

      buenos detalles, texturas y colores

    22. paomas1961 [deleted] (20 months ago | reply)

      Stunning shot!!!! Once you could not make it

    23. Lisa-S (20 months ago | reply)

      Very dramatic colours and an interesting story as well.

    24. Qais Alamar (20 months ago | reply)

      wonderful shot @@

    25. Critter Seeker (20 months ago | reply)

      Nominated

      I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
      National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

    26. LusoFox (20 months ago | reply)

      Great colours!

    27. Marvin Bredel (20 months ago | reply)

      Nominated

      I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
      National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

    28. Let Ideas Compete (20 months ago | reply)

      Nice description.

    29. ©Helminadia Ranford (20 months ago | reply)

      love the composition !

    30. shimmertje (20 months ago | reply)

      Love those colours!

    31. rwchicago (20 months ago | reply)

      Nominated

      I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
      National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

    32. KR-Waleed (20 months ago | reply)

      Fantastic Shot, Well capture.

    33. High Blue! (20 months ago | reply)

      super shot!

    34. éricito (20 months ago | reply)

      I must say I'm impressed with the result given it was taken hand held. for 1250 iso I'm not seeing much noise. That's a nice shot.

    35. Alan Yang (20 months ago | reply)

      great shot.

    36. Ruedi of Switzerland (20 months ago | reply)

      Great as usual ! Congratulations !

    37. andrey.salikov (20 months ago | reply)

      Cool shot, beautiful and nice composition

    38. saandipblr (20 months ago | reply)

      Nominated

      I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
      National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

    39. modenadude (20 months ago | reply)

      gorgeous colors :)

    40. Sylvia Andreu (20 months ago | reply)

      Beautiful!!!!!!!!!

    41. Martin-James (20 months ago | reply)

      It's not always easy to get that pic! Is the portrait Chairman Mao?

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