Photography Archives - Page 3 of 7

Pont Luis I Bridge over the Rio Duoro, Porto

The magnificent iron bridge over the River Duoro in Porto, Portugal, named after Luis I and constructed in 1886, is an impressive sight. It’s a steel bridge with two levels – a road on the bottom and a railroad track above. The bridge is a beautiful example of 19th-century engineering.

I had the chance to photograph it on a day trip to Porto, but it’s on my list of places to revisit, as it would be better to re-photograph the Luiz I Bridge early in the morning or just before sunset when the light is at its most dramatic. Taking pictures at dusk guarantees a great picture, with traffic in the foreground leaving light trails. You might even have movement on the river, with boats passing or clouds passing in the sky.

Today I decided to take this in colour and then post-process it in CaptureOne, but I’d like to try this in black and white to create a moodier picture. Also, this would be great after a rainstorm, especially if the sky is dark, like in Ernst Haas’s image of Route 66.

No matter what time of day you choose to visit, make sure you take your time to capture this magnificent structure in all its glory.

Finding the Fibonacci Spiral in Capture One

Photography

Using the Fibonacci Spiral to aid composition in CaptureOne

The Fibonacci Spiral, which is an approximation of the Golden Spiral, is often used as a compositional tool in art and photography. This is because it is believed to produce aesthetically pleasing images.

This technique is related to the “Rule of Thirds,” where an image is divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and compositional elements are placed along these lines or at their intersections.

The Fibonacci Spiral is used to guide the arrangement of elements in the composition, usually by positioning the main subject or focal point at the smallest part of the spiral, which is known as the “eye” of the spiral. The rest of the spiral then leads the viewer’s eye through the rest of the image.

Step 2 - Finding the Fibonacci Spiral in CaptureOne

I’ve been using Capture One for a couple of years on version 10 and recently updated this to their latest version, 21, only because I changed my camera from a SONY A7R to an A7iii. The earlier version doesn’t support this camera. No matter, it was an excellent excuse to upgrade.

We start with the image I took of my father, who was walking along a beach in West Wales. It was a cold day, with a strong wind blowing off the sea. As he walked in front of me, I remember thinking that it made for a strong image, and as I took it, I imagined it working best in black and white.

To help me with the composition, I first took advantage of the grid lines on my A7iii, which I’d set up in the camera beforehand. Then, in CaptureOne, I looked for the Fibonacci Spiral, which I’d used on previous versions, but it can be hard to find. This image below is more or less what came out of the camera.

Select ‘View’ from the dropdown menu, then look for ‘Add Tool to Adjustment Menu’ and then finally, ‘Grid’. Select ‘Grid’, and you’ll find a new block in the ‘Adjustment Menu’.

Adding the Fibonacci Spiral in CaptureOne

Expand the Grid block by selecting the arrow to the left-hand side, which opens the block up and reveals the grid type, including Golden Ratio, Fibonacci Spiral and Rectangular. I prefer to work with either Golden Ratio or Fibonacci, and both help me fine-tune the composition.

Clicking the checkbox ‘Show’ puts the grid on the screen, and you can then cycle through the ‘Clockwise’, ‘Mirror’ checkboxes to move the grid around the screen so that by selecting all or none of the checkboxes, you can get the very centre of the spirals to be on the top right, bottom right, bottom left and top left.

The final image with the centre of the spiral is just where I want it to be.

The final image corrected with the Fibonacci Spiral in CaptureOne

An Italian Side Street

Photography

Fuji X-Pro1 | XF18mm f2 Pancake Lens | Exposure f4 @ 1/125 sec. | ISO 200 | © James Gray

Propped up on its stand, a vintage bicycle patiently awaits its owner in a cobblestone alley of Mantova, Italy, a stone’s throw away from Verona, the city that immortalised the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. In Italy, history seems to linger at every turn, whispering timeless tales of the past.

The presence of a modern motorbike in the frame reveals the photograph’s recent origin, though it might have been hard to discern the time period otherwise. Captured just a few years ago with a Fuji X-Pro1, this camera proved just right for street photography. Its near-silent shutter allowed for discreet snapshots, producing only the faintest of sounds.

This memorable scene was captured during a brief afternoon stroll, a chance to unwind before returning to visit a business supplier in a neighbouring town and eventually flying home the next day.

One good reason why you should always pack your camera, even when travelling on business :o).

Capturing Modernist Reflections in Lisbon

Photography

In the bustling city of Lisbon, the El Corte Ingles apartment complex on Av. António Augusto de Aguiar stands out as a testament to modernist design. On entering the sophisticated lobby, residents and visitors are immediately drawn to the striking architectural elements that define the space.

These particular photographs capture the essence of the complex’s contemporary appeal. Huge plate glass windows dominate the scene, offering an enticing view of a charming, decorative lake within the building’s design. The sleek symmetry and clean lines are enhanced by taking the images in black and white. This helps emphasise the contrasting elements and adds a touch of timeless elegance to the composition.

As the viewer’s eye is guided through the photograph, they are not only immersed in the beauty of the modernist design but also offered a glimpse into the vibrant urban landscape of Lisbon. This image is a testament to the dynamic blend of style and function that characterises Portugal’s capital city, showcasing the harmonious coexistence of contemporary architecture and natural beauty.

Ultimately, these black and white photographs are of a moment in time, capturing the heart of Lisbon’s modernist spirit and inviting viewers to appreciate the artistry that lies within the city’s ever-evolving architectural landscape.

Light Trails Through Cardiff Bay

Photography

Luckily for me, a bus drove past during the exposure

A second exposure with more traffic passing. You never know what you’ll get when you shoot long exposures like this.

Taken on a Sony A7R, which was new to me at the time these pictures were taken in Cardiff Bay. I set up my camera onto a sturdy Manfrotto tripod and then just waited for traffic to come through. I set the exposure to be f22 at about 8 seconds to maximise the starlights.

I then post processed in CaptureOne. For the main edit, I decided to get rid of the Sainsbury’s corner shop in the bottom left corner as it didn’t seem to add much to the picture and was more of a distraction. Once I’d cropped that out, I worked through the tabs gradually reducing the colour of the sky and lightning the image to add more interest and let the starlights from the lamppost in the centre and at the back, come to life.

one advantage of working with such a small aperture (f22) is that you can see the individual lens blades. The lens I used here was a Nokton f1.4 from Voigtlander, paired with a Sony A7R was great for landscape work, especially when using a tripod, as you’ve more time to get the focus right. The Voigtlander is a completely manual lens, no autofocus here..! Old school, but works a treat when you take your time.

Editing this in Capture One to get the final images at the top…

Photography

Using the Fibonacci Spiral to aid composition in CaptureOne

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