Rick Hulbert
January 2025 - Chicago River 6 stop ND 8 sec
About the Image(s)
The attached photograph was recorded while I was scoping out shooting locations just prior to a photo workshop I was leading in Chicago, Illinois.
The scene is from a vehicular bridge overlooking the Chicago River.
The long exposure was recorded over a 6 second period of time using a sturdy tripod.
My 17mm Canon T/S lens was set to an aperture of f/8. I was using a Nikon D850 camera.
My challenge was to find an opportunity when there was no traffic on the bridge due to the bouncing action of the bridge deck with almost constant traffic.
I was lucky to combine the exposure with the movement of the tourist vessel during the early evening at dusk.
5 comments posted
Hi Rick. Happy New Year! This is a wonderful, colorful image to ring in the new year. I love the leading lines created by the side buildings and by the blurred lights of the river boat. I also love the fact you presumably used shift on the T/S lens to keep the buildings vertical on the sides. So very nice, and hard to find any faults.
My suggestions then are more my preference and style than anything more than that. I played with a few things to arrive at the version below. First, I darkened the hue and lightness of the sky so it was a little less prominent and to me gave more emphasis to the colorful lighting. I then shaped the light a little to further emphasize the near-far relationships. I darkened the buildings on the sides with a gradient, while lightening the distant buildings a bit. I also darkened the image a little overall. Finally, I've been playing with a digital black pro-mist filter like effect which gives a glow to the highlights. I thought that would look nice here so gave it a try.
Again, this is more stylistic than anything. But offered as some thoughts to consider or play with if you like.
Posted: 01/11/2025 13:10:35
My suggestions then are more my preference and style than anything more than that. I played with a few things to arrive at the version below. First, I darkened the hue and lightness of the sky so it was a little less prominent and to me gave more emphasis to the colorful lighting. I then shaped the light a little to further emphasize the near-far relationships. I darkened the buildings on the sides with a gradient, while lightening the distant buildings a bit. I also darkened the image a little overall. Finally, I've been playing with a digital black pro-mist filter like effect which gives a glow to the highlights. I thought that would look nice here so gave it a try.
Again, this is more stylistic than anything. But offered as some thoughts to consider or play with if you like.
Posted: 01/11/2025 13:10:35
Happy New Year Robert,
Thanks so much for your kind comments.
Your suggestions are very thought provoking . . . ideas I had not considered.
I always appreciate your suggestions,
Rick Posted: 01/11/2025 20:12:57
Thanks so much for your kind comments.
Your suggestions are very thought provoking . . . ideas I had not considered.
I always appreciate your suggestions,
Rick Posted: 01/11/2025 20:12:57
Kenneth Taylor
Happy Holliday Robert, beautiful image! Posted: 01/14/2025 03:59:11
Hi Rick,
Happy New Year!
Thank you for sharing beautiful image.
Nice long exposure shot! The line of light is well captured. I guess you tried a lot of experiments and arrived this shot. I like the length of the line of light. And it is captured at the best of the day so the sky is not too dark, still keep the nice blue colors. One suggestion may be the space of the sky. For me it is a bit too wide upper right. I might crop 16x9 as attached. By doing that, my eyes will go to the line of light easier. Posted: 01/16/2025 09:26:28
Happy New Year!
Thank you for sharing beautiful image.
Nice long exposure shot! The line of light is well captured. I guess you tried a lot of experiments and arrived this shot. I like the length of the line of light. And it is captured at the best of the day so the sky is not too dark, still keep the nice blue colors. One suggestion may be the space of the sky. For me it is a bit too wide upper right. I might crop 16x9 as attached. By doing that, my eyes will go to the line of light easier. Posted: 01/16/2025 09:26:28
Hello Haru,
I appreciate your thoughtful comments.
It is interesting how different aspect ratios can affect one's viewing experience.
Posted: 01/16/2025 15:20:59
I appreciate your thoughtful comments.
It is interesting how different aspect ratios can affect one's viewing experience.
Posted: 01/16/2025 15:20:59