Jay Wong
November 2024 - Guardian Star
About the Image(s)
39mm, ISO 100, 20s, F4
"Guardian Star" offers an enchanting aerial perspective of nature's grandeur, captured in the tranquil moments near sunrise. As dawn breaks, a lone star persists in the sky, standing as a celestial sentinel over the awakening landscape below. Its lingering radiance creates a subtle interplay of light and shadow across the terrain, revealing intricate patterns and rich textures of our planet.
9 comments posted
(Group 32)
This is a great shot of a surprising lighting situation. Looks like all the light is coming from the city below. It might be Hong Kong from one of the mountains above.
The metaphor in your text is a bit elaborate. Posted: 11/10/2024 22:37:22
The metaphor in your text is a bit elaborate. Posted: 11/10/2024 22:37:22
Jay Wong
Thanks Stephen, yes it was captured in the highest peak in Hong Kong. I would elaborate more in the following reply. Posted: 11/11/2024 02:51:33
(Group 32)
Jay, your photos are stunning, this month and last month. The concept of dividing a frame along a horizontal line is impressive and works dramatically well.
This month, I find there are several possible metaphors for your image. Some are positive, like your lovely metaphors. Some might be highlighting conflicting or at least contrasting concepts. In this image, I see a tranquil and everlasting cosmic space, populated by stars, and underneath a turbulent underworld of human construction, unable to penetrate into the infinity above. Since it is recognizably Hong Kong, we all know its turbulent history in the last nearly 40 years. Posted: 11/11/2024 03:45:21
This month, I find there are several possible metaphors for your image. Some are positive, like your lovely metaphors. Some might be highlighting conflicting or at least contrasting concepts. In this image, I see a tranquil and everlasting cosmic space, populated by stars, and underneath a turbulent underworld of human construction, unable to penetrate into the infinity above. Since it is recognizably Hong Kong, we all know its turbulent history in the last nearly 40 years. Posted: 11/11/2024 03:45:21
Jay Wong
Yes, Stephen, you described it very accurately. No matter how the city changes, the starry sky remains the same, always watching over us. Ephemeral and Eternal. Posted: 11/11/2024 08:53:04
Neil Bellenie
This is at once great to look at and hard to understand. I see a number of stars (not just one) and the night sky is surprisingly dark given the light from the buildings. It would be interesting to learn about the story behind this picture.
Posted: 11/11/2024 01:48:00
Posted: 11/11/2024 01:48:00
Jay Wong
Thanks Neil. Glad you are interested in the story behind.
This photograph captures the starry sky before sunrise atop Hong Kong's highest peak. It contrasts the vibrant city lights with the tranquil starlight on either side of the sea of clouds. The Southern Cross (Crux), visible in the upper right corner, is often hard to see in the Northern Hemisphere. Faras referred to this constellation as "Las Guardas" in a letter to the King of Portugal from Brazil on May 1, 1500. The starlight appears to protect the city, symbolizing the harmony between urban life and nature. Despite recent challenges, the guardian stars continue to shine.
This photo holds cultural significance and is part of my series "Harmony in Complementarity" alongside the earlier work in October (Moon & Sea). Posted: 11/11/2024 03:02:32
This photograph captures the starry sky before sunrise atop Hong Kong's highest peak. It contrasts the vibrant city lights with the tranquil starlight on either side of the sea of clouds. The Southern Cross (Crux), visible in the upper right corner, is often hard to see in the Northern Hemisphere. Faras referred to this constellation as "Las Guardas" in a letter to the King of Portugal from Brazil on May 1, 1500. The starlight appears to protect the city, symbolizing the harmony between urban life and nature. Despite recent challenges, the guardian stars continue to shine.
This photo holds cultural significance and is part of my series "Harmony in Complementarity" alongside the earlier work in October (Moon & Sea). Posted: 11/11/2024 03:02:32
This is a VERY interesting photo and it captures my attention both because it is well done photographically AND it is from a perspective that I had never thought of. I especially like photos that make me think, and this does that! I like your composition with the brighter portion of light coming from the center of the frame, along with the bit of the city building shapes in the lower right corner. For me, this really contrasts well with the dark sky above.
I don't live in the San Francisco Bay area any more, but if I did I be going to the top of Mt. Diablo (SF East Bay) some dark night to see what I might be able to do. Neil, what do you think.
Great job Jay. Posted: 11/12/2024 14:18:45
I don't live in the San Francisco Bay area any more, but if I did I be going to the top of Mt. Diablo (SF East Bay) some dark night to see what I might be able to do. Neil, what do you think.
Great job Jay. Posted: 11/12/2024 14:18:45
Dawn Gulino
I keep coming back to look at this image, thinking, wow - how was this done! It's dreamlike! I like how you've processed it with the pinpoint stars, the horizon leading to the clouds and city lights. Really cool shot! Posted: 11/17/2024 20:24:15
Jay,
I have studied this image...walked away...then studied it again and again! This is one of the more interesting compositions I have ever seen, in the PSA Digital Groups or anywhere else. Did you actually plan for this opportunity...or did it magically appear.
Dawn said it best, "how was this done"? Very imaginative, Jay! Well done Posted: 11/18/2024 15:42:44
I have studied this image...walked away...then studied it again and again! This is one of the more interesting compositions I have ever seen, in the PSA Digital Groups or anywhere else. Did you actually plan for this opportunity...or did it magically appear.
Dawn said it best, "how was this done"? Very imaginative, Jay! Well done Posted: 11/18/2024 15:42:44