- Does anyone know what these trees are called? Would love to know.
- An amazing building, but the light levels across its face weren't kind to it.
- I took about 50 frames of this scene and then compounded this left hand corner with the rest of a frame with the left lane empty. Left lane traffic put too much light into the lens and caused nasty flare.
- Thanks you Phil Dokas: www.flickr.com/photos/dokas/!
Now I know what they are!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_microcarpa
Unnatural High (Transamerica Pyramid Light Trails), San Francisco
So if you were driving up Columbus Avenue on the 24th of August, and swore you'd come back to kill the %$&!ing lunatic kneeling in the middle of the road with a DSLR and cable release, well.. . now you know who you're looking for.
Saw this shot during the day (some sunnier non-LX versions to follow), and returned in the early evening to get it. San Francisco's citizens are a good bunch; lots of interest and conversations with strangers as they stopped off at my tiny traffic island to see what I was up to.
The end result I was hoping for was a sort of "if they filmed 'Back to the Future' in SF" effect, and I think it gets there!
Some more ramblings below about how to/not to take a photo; if you have the patience to read on, thanks! Otherwise, have a fantastic weekend!
Comments and faves
Immacolata Giordano, Levels Nature, michaeliao27, t1nytr0n, and 139 other people added this photo to their favorites.
flatworldsedge (9 months ago | reply)
Meanwhile, over some 2,000 miles of driving, I've been thinking about how I might teach photography to JSH. I sketched out how I think about taking a picture, and thought I'd share it. It'd be really interesting to hear if it matches up with other people's methods, what you think is broken, needs changing/tweaking, etc.
So the above is meant to show:
1) Compose the 2D frame in the viewfinder.
2) Set aperture for the DOF you want (3D composition), then the shutter for the amount of motion blur you want (4D composition).
3) Those composition choices have already plugged in two components of the exposure triangle.
4) Set ISO to get a correct exposure for the aperture and shutter your 4D composition demands *or* realise the ISO you'll need is going to be unfeasibly high for a quality outcome and recompose.
Carl Mick (9 months ago | reply)
Great light trails and I love how the building continues the triangular lead
Pilar Azaña (9 months ago | reply)
Fantastic work!!
michaeliao27 (9 months ago | reply)
Wonderful image
M♥rj ! (9 months ago | reply)
Superb work !!!
Tom Eversley (9 months ago | reply)
Stunning long exposure
t1nytr0n (9 months ago | reply)
Fantastic point of view. The converging light trails are very cool and these trees are indeed special !
Irene2005 (9 months ago | reply)
LOL...love your description! At least this road has a center lane...still it is pretty risky exercise! I am tempted to say that the final result is to die for, but it seems a bit inappropriate when one can actually die taking a shot like that! :-)
But really, this is one fantastic shot! The perspective and the light trails leading to the Pyramid are stunning! I have seen many pictures of this iconic building, but this one is truly unique.
FlipMode79 (9 months ago | reply)
Full Speed Ahead!
Tim Poulton (9 months ago | reply)
Very cool, hyperdrive!
rquitos (9 months ago | reply)
a wonderful shot from such a low angle and in the middle of a high traffic passing by on both sides..this is rewarding pay off for the risk taken mathew.. and your SIA triangulation is perfect and very understandable , a great presentation..
Far & Away (On Assigment in Angola, mostly Off) (9 months ago | reply)
Beautiful Job,
Have a great weekend !!
j man ツ (9 months ago | reply)
Amazing picture! Just a stunning shot!
Anuj Nair (9 months ago | reply)
:-)
mtdvetter (9 months ago | reply)
Well planned and executed....great camera work! Have a great weekend!
Tipu Kibria~~BUSY~~ (9 months ago | reply)
Awesome !
Elliot young (9 months ago | reply)
Nice shot
Haider Λli (9 months ago | reply)
That is just outstanding!!! I am awestruck!
tonyzp (9 months ago | reply)
Beautiful!!!!!
Đєşђ ãмãя мαłĩ ãмãЯ™ (i'm back) (9 months ago | reply)
Precious capture¸.•'´)
::::::::Warm wishes to you::::::::
Need your feedback,please!tks......♥♪♥
pixellesley (9 months ago | reply)
awesome!
~suchitra~ (9 months ago | reply)
Stunning work., amazed by the perfect perspective, light trails and exposure control. Thanks for all the inputs too. Lots to learn from people like you! Have a great weekend!!
Warm Soft Light (9 months ago | reply)
Such dedication to the art of photography, and the effort paid off handsomely.
neimon2 (too busy, sorry for my temporary silence) (9 months ago | reply)
very nice photo, great leading lights
Silanov (9 months ago | reply)
Excellent picture, great long exposure and central perspective! The colours are also very vibrant and beautiful!
I wonder how long you kneeled there right in the middle of the road! ;-)
By all means this photo must have been a tricky and difficult job! But the result is definitely worth all the efforts! Very well done!
IceNineJon (9 months ago | reply)
Fantastic POV and light trails!
runner.pl (9 months ago | reply)
Fantastic composition , super colors and light !!! Wonderful !!!
Pantchoa (9 months ago | reply)
Nice shot
peonia2012 (9 months ago | reply)
amazing night shot with a wonderful colors and light!!
marcellociappi - Thank you all for 800,000 visits (9 months ago | reply)
Grande cattura, veramente una bellissima immagine, complimenti my friend !!!!!!!!!!
Ciao, buon weekend.
jill lamb 53 OF LINE (9 months ago | reply)
Wow awesome lights great work :0))))
Dominique Rolland (9 months ago | reply)
Lovely beauty my Friend
Domi
*Lie ... CU later ! ... (9 months ago | reply)
Impressive lines , Matthew !
--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
pamelalong (9 months ago | reply)
Remarkably creative the way you crafted this photo. The result is outstanding!
Amg80 (9 months ago | reply)
Stunning work love it
vintage vix - Woman who always carries camera! (9 months ago | reply)
Wow - fabulous shot.
GlobeTrotter 2000 (9 months ago | reply)
Stunning capture !
Ricardo Gomez Angel (9 months ago | reply)
Gorgeous composition and exposure!!!! It's so beautiful!!!
WoodWalker#1 (9 months ago | reply)
Hey .....great to see you back ; and in such a spectacular fashion !!!
Delta9 Mikki (9 months ago | reply)
fantastic pov, gret effect, wonderful lightning and beautiful colors !! great work !!
sedge59 (9 months ago | reply)
Spectacular pov, excellent exposure for great light trails effect!
J. Javier Nerín. (9 months ago | reply)
fantastic tutorial.
ewka2205 (9 months ago | reply)
Fabulous night shot and I agree with
:)
jaurtorq... (9 months ago | reply)
Wow...fantastic night shot...
Well done.
alfonso-tm (9 months ago | reply)
Magnifica
frozencycler (9 months ago | reply)
wonderful night photography!!
flatworldsedge (9 months ago | reply)
Thanks everyone for the kind comments - hope Saturday has treated you well!
Liamfm . (9 months ago | reply)
fabulous light trails
Jeronim01 (9 months ago | reply)
Excellent shot, the lines make it very dynamic!
Yener ÖZTÜRK (9 months ago | reply)
Beautiful ;)