• looks like a bubble - alvelynalko
  • isn't this a bubble? - paranoidandroid_
  • This is a lamp. the others in the street are also visible - Dragon Heart
  • Why is the bottom cropped so awkwardly? To get rid of all the tourists from the photo? - [vjm]®

Opera in a dream

Somehow, shooting the Sydney Opera House is not very easy. In the sense, that, it is not very easy to get a unique perspective to it. Probably, the fact that it has been photographed by so many just adds to it.

Last week I finally managed to get a shot of it that I am happy with. It happened somewhat by accident. After walking around Circular Quay right up to this point, I decided to sit down and enjoy the crisp cool air and views of the Harbour Bridge. When I turned back around to get up and leave, this composition struck me. The sound of the shutter never felt better.

(edit)
Thanks for the overwhelming response to this shot - it has hit #1 on Explore today!
... and become my most viewed and faved shot! :-)

See more black on blue.

Sydney, Australia
2006

Arjun Purkayastha • travel & fine art photography •

Comments and faves

  1. aumbody images, Janet Leadbeater, suburbanvoodoo, travísimo, and 1010 other people added this photo to their favorites.

  2. Lalalian (82 months ago | reply)

    Gorgeous! Everything about this is lovely {:->

  3. sjbmuse (82 months ago | reply)

    Well worth the wait.

    --
    Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)

  4. utp. (82 months ago | reply)

    Magnificent! I love the bue and the orbs of light framing the bottom, curving up at the right.

  5. jot.de (82 months ago | reply)

    perfect title, the blue is amazing and the framing with the lights is just excellent!!!!!!

  6. aumbody images (82 months ago | reply)

    Stunning shot, love the composition and blue tones!!!! Fabulous!!!

  7. conmike12 (82 months ago | reply)

    I really like the blue tint.Along with the structure itself, it gives a very "other worldly " appearance

  8. Nil! (82 months ago | reply)

    very beautiful.
    I loved the blue.
    =)

  9. northreflections (82 months ago | reply)

    Interesting shot ... Arjun,
    You hit the shutter right on the sensor and yes when I see shots of the Opera House I do find them boring because it has been over shot always at the same angle. This is refreshing and I do like the symetry with lights on the parallel and then moving to the right upper corner. Makes my eye follow the photo easily
    Brien

  10. Rettop (82 months ago | reply)

    Excellent shot Arjun. You never cease to re-discover new views of old places.

  11. baby7 (82 months ago | reply)

    Great and perfect blue!!!

  12. Nicki817 (82 months ago | reply)

    Love that color!

  13. suburbanvoodoo (82 months ago | reply)

    Very nice image - a totally different perspective on the SOH..!

  14. solarider (82 months ago | reply)

    Amazing blue - perfect capture. Well worth the wait :-)

  15. lakewentworth (82 months ago | reply)

    Great composition and color!

  16. *Perikita (82 months ago | reply)

    Lovely treatment and composition...
    That building is just wonderful...

    Have a nice weekend :)

  17. wyk (82 months ago | reply)

    very nice and speical angle!

  18. photofool (82 months ago | reply)

    beautiful. love the blue tones. the curve line formed by the street lights(?) is a nice touch.

  19. victor_nuno (82 months ago | reply)

    I personally like very much this perspectitve. Not only this, but colors and light. Nice one!

  20. Dan65 (82 months ago | reply)

    A very special shot, and as you say yourself, not easy considering the millions of SOH pictures taken every year. I particularly like the run of street-lights from the right of the picture turning the curve towards the Opera House.

  21. pj58 (82 months ago | reply)

    its lovely!

  22. bonsaibutterfly [deleted] (82 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful!! Just saw this in explore.

  23. Lauren98 (82 months ago | reply)

    Very unique and beautiful shot! Love the blue color!

  24. nathan_saksena (82 months ago | reply)

    Great capture! Love the composition and the whole way of looking at Opera House. I have many photos with very different perspective of the Opera House but have ot posted them Did'nt know you are in Sydney. Hope you are having a nice time. Need anything e-mail me.
    Nitin

  25. aroo.... (82 months ago | reply)

    great one, awesome... well thats realllly awesome

  26. Michelle Kerr (82 months ago | reply)

    Nice! Love the perspective and color.

  27. jaxybelle (82 months ago | reply)

    Very nice to see something a little different when it come to the Opera House - lovely light and colour.

  28. Burlingamebarley (82 months ago | reply)

    A different, wonderful view!!!

  29. aguilarphotographer.com (82 months ago | reply)

    so beautiful! The warm blue sky really makes this photo special.

  30. SkooterVA (82 months ago | reply)

    Excellent shot!
    The curvature of the street lamps offer a nice balance to the composition and are well placed in the darkness.
    Is it possible to give the lamp posts a little more "leg room" toward the bottom of the shot?
    Your narative offers some tasty food for thought -- to stop and smell the roses along the way. Too many times I've gone hunting for something to shoot -- through the park, the woods, riverbanks, harbor piers, etc -- and I've left too many times without a shot. Best to find a place to sit down, soak it in and let the photo opportunity meet you half way.
    And you've put into words that feeling we all long for: "The sound of the shutter never felt better."
    Congrats!

  31. Rod Monkey (82 months ago | reply)

    Fantastic shot - as you say, very difficult to do something different with such an iconic building, but you certainly achieved that. Congrats.

  32. Parc Cruz (82 months ago | reply)

    Congrats, you are in page 1 (interestingness)

    Excellent photo! Thanks for sharing this!


  33. La_Princesa_Greek (82 months ago | reply)

    guau! esta esplendida
    :)

  34. dc chen (82 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful shot.....wonderful!

  35. nivlekgant (82 months ago | reply)

    excellent composition and colour.

  36. Gauri V (82 months ago | reply)

    title goes just perfect with the blue image of Opera house, liked both!

  37. praatafrikaans has left the building! [deleted] (82 months ago | reply)

    i agree with lalaian (the 1st comment) everything about this photo is perfect, even the title is a perfect match for the photo.

    great creative work.

    "123faves"

  38. loma_prieta (82 months ago | reply)

    So perfect. I love the lights leading down to the opera house from the trees.

  39. yoel herzberg [deleted] (82 months ago | reply)

    Perfection, without any doubt.
    1-2-3

  40. zoom_eric (82 months ago | reply)

    Fantastic!! The framing and the colour. Wow!!
    1-2-3

  41. Jan2eke (82 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful!!! What a great shot and wonderful mood!!!!

    www.flickr.com/groups/1-2-3/pool/

  42. me*voilà (82 months ago | reply)

    Magical in blue - and what a blue it iis!

  43. dellafels (82 months ago | reply)

    Very cool
    123faves

  44. Kentuckiana (In & Out of Flickr) (82 months ago | reply)

    Congratulations! The blue effect makes it look amazing!

  45. *Marco* [deleted] (82 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful shot. Great blue tones :)
    (1-2-3)

  46. wonderfulhorriblelife (82 months ago | reply)

    actually it deserves to be the number one! congrats!

  47. { Planet Adventure } (82 months ago | reply)

    wow

    seen in Fave Me group

  48. Parc Cruz (82 months ago | reply)

    Excellent photo! Thanks for sharing this!


  49. ★ mewot ★ (82 months ago | reply)

    congratulations !!
    its a stunning piece on the opera !

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