Jim Hagan, MPSA 2  

The shot tower by Jim Hagan, MPSA 2

November 2023 - The shot tower

November 2023 - Jim Hagan, MPSA 2

Original

November 2023 - Jim Hagan, MPSA 2

Original 2

About the Image(s)

We were Dubuque Iowa about a month ago. In Dubuque there is a 120 foot tall structure, built in 1856, called the Shot Tower in which molten lead was hoisted, inside the tower, to the top and poured through screens of different gauges. The molten lead droplets then fell in the open area and by the time the lead reached the water tank at the base, smooth solid round balls had been formed. Some of the musket balls used in the Civil War were produced in this tower.



I photographed the tower straight up with a very wide angle lens, about 18 mm. The result was a very fat pyramid shaped image. I then took that wide image and stretched its length to emphasize its height. I then added ⬓Topaz Egyptian Sand⬠filter to the tower and a separate filter to the background layer ⬓ version one.

I also photographed the tower from the road using a wide angle lens at about 27mm. Not particularly interesting until I added Topaz ⬓Urban Grit⬠filter ⬓ version 2.

This round’s discussion is now closed!
4 comments posted

Gunter Haibach   Gunter Haibach
Beautiful use of the Urban Grit filter- nice touch - enhances the story quite dramatically. Is the structure to the right of the tower related to the tower? If not, would suggest to tone it down or remove it completely. Love the tower and surrounding area.   Posted: 11/07/2023 15:08:09
Ian Ledgard   Ian Ledgard
I do like the grungy feel that your use of the Topaz filter has produced. Unlike Gunter I think that the strutures on the RHS are a great foil to chimney itself and add a sense of scale.
Your second version is a fine example of how very different images can be taken of the same subject.   Posted: 11/10/2023 19:43:36
Chan Garrett   Chan Garrett
(Group 87)
I much prefer the final image over Original 2. The green background of Original 2 is confusing.
Your work of stretching the height of the tower and the addition of the filter is well done. I would remove the splotches of bright green at the right edge of the bottom third of the image and the smaller one just outside of the right side of the tower near the second from the bottom window.   Posted: 11/11/2023 19:14:06
Andrew Hersom   Andrew Hersom
(Group 40)
Nice effect. I do think it's good to include the surroundings to give context. Interesting historic building, very few of them left.   Posted: 11/20/2023 07:56:53