Seattle view

[squirl033]

yeah, i do do an occasional cityscape. by and large, i dislike cities, but occasionally they offer some nice photo ops... like these from Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle... taken with a Canon 30D and Tamron SP24-135 lens, various focal lengths and exposures...

sunset

evening

 

[BobH]

Are those both from Kerry park? They're slightly different angles, so I'm not sure. I know you can get different angles at Kerry.

Love the sunset shot! I've tried a couple times to get that one, but the mountain hasn't co-operated with me yet.

 

[squirl033]

thanks, Bob. yes, both from Kerry park, same day, just slightly different positions.

 

[bsharts]

Rocky...both shots are phenomenal!!!

Orhun...love that second one!!!

 

[BobH]

Turk, that second night shot is really nice. Looks great, I think I need to try that one.

Only problem is that I'm not sure if I'm comfortable in that park at night with a bunch of camera gear...

 

[Steve Carter]

Turk:

Both excellent photos.

I've shot near where you got the second one. I like your version better. Can you shed a little light on the post processing you did to the image?

Here's mine!

 

[BobH]

Steve,

I like his shot better too (Sorry) and I also like the angle on his better, though I'm not really sure what's different.

Turk's photo seems more panoramic, and things seem more stretched out. What lens did you use? Did you do anything special to get that look, or is it all about location?

 

[BobH]

OK, I pulled out one of my shots from that location (note the trees, I'm in pretty much the same spot, which is up the hill a bit from where Steve was...) and it's nowhere near as wide. I was shooting at 34 mm, so I could have gone wider, but I don't think it would be nearly wide enough for Turk's view.

View attachment 144

Granted, that's only part of the shot, the lighting is what really makes his version, but I'm also curious about the field of view... Ultra wide angle lens? Panorama stitching in post processing? Other technique I've not thought of?

 

[Steve Carter]

Bob:

I'm not on the hill, but on the street bridge a little to the north. Ross took me out there and neither of us cared to venture into the park and night loaded with camera gear.

The price for this location (bridge) is having the ramp swoop into the lower portion of the scene. Rather distracting as compared to Turks shot, where it takes up much less of the scene and only appears as a small tightly curved ramp.

Location aside, I'd still like to know a little about the processing involved in Turk's shot.

 

[BobH]

Bob:

I'm not on the hill, but on the street bridge a little to the north. Ross took me out there and neither of us cared to venture into the park and night loaded with camera gear.

Yes, I know where you were, I've got shots from there too. It's not a bad shot, but not quite as good.

The "up the hill" part I mentioned is where I was shooting from. It's up the hill a short ways from the bridge you were at. Nice view, and excellent panorama of the city.

However, as you suggest, I'm not real thrilled with that park during the day, let alone at night. Maybe we can do a group shoot there, with more people you're a lot less likely to be hassled. The spot I shot from is right next to parking area, so it's pretty visible and public. Still, I'd suggest being careful.

By the way, here's the view we're all really looking for:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/don/365677055/in/set-72157594456304572/

That's the one you see on TV and in postcards etc. They "cheat" and use the Pac Med / Amazon HQ building as a tripod to get that shot. Anyone got an inside connection that could get access for a group of photographers?

Also, I recently saw a shot on TV from about the same location, but I think it was from a helicopter. They had roughly the same view, and you could see the Space Needle in the background between some of the buildings! I'm not sure if it was real or added in post-processing, but it really looked cool.

As you mention, I'm also interested in the post-processing of the shot, how he got so much light in the image, the whole city seems to glow, and also how he got such a nice panorama of the city. All in all, quite an accomplishment.

 

[TheTurk]

thanks for the comments guys.
I was shooting with 10-22mm wide angle lens. I shoot it wide and croped some of the sky later cuz there was too much of black sky.
as far as post processing it's a 3-exposure hdr on photomatix and some color correction on photoshop.
this is a shot i took from the bridge but i like the view from the park better.

 

[BobH]

That's a nice shot too, but I agree that the one from the park is better. Is the bridge shot also an HDR image?

I like your use of HDR, it's subtle and well done, instead of the typical over-use of the technique that ends up shooting "Fake Photo!"

 

[TheTurk]

By the way, here's the view we're all really looking for:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/don/365677055/in/set-72157594456304572/

.

damn. It would be great if we can get in that building or one of the apartments roof next to that location...

 

[TheTurk]

That's a nice shot too, but I agree that the one from the park is better. Is the bridge shot also an HDR image?

I like your use of HDR, it's subtle and well done, instead of the typical over-use of the technique that ends up shooting "Fake Photo!"

No that one is not an hdr.
Yes i don't like over-used hdr images either(with some exception).

 

[Leia]

Okay, those are ALL inspiring!!!

How big is that park? Would it be easy to find if we came up that way? Maybe someone can post the street intersections or GPS coordinates? I would LOVE to try for some of those angles. Beautiful shots guys.

 

[TheTurk]

^
http://maps.google.com/maps?source=...reG5Bw&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image

 

[BobH]

Very easy to find on a map. It's at the Southeast corner of where Interstate 90 meets Interstate 5. It's called Dr Rizal Park.

It's a bit more difficult to drive to from the freeway, bring a GPS or at least a good city map. Not bad really, just lots of city streets and you need to find the right one.

Steve's shot is from the bridge where 12th Ave S crosses I-90. It will be quite obvious when you get there.

Turk and my shots are from near the parking area at the park. Directly opposite the Pac Med building, on the west side of 12th Ave. Just follow 12th up the hill a bit, and look for the parking on the right side if you're heading south.

A quick look at a Google map will make it all pretty clear. As mentioned, I suggest using reasonable care in that part of town, especially after dark. Then again, I've never been bothered, or even approached, but I have seen some scruffy looking folks around.


Here's a very nice view of the location:

http://jazno.net/recentwork/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/35-amazon-headquarters.jpg

You've probably seen this building heading South on I-5 just after passing through downtown.

The green bridge on the left is a nice location, decent views and it has a pretty safe feel to it. I typically shoot from near the South end of the bridge, I like the view from there best. It's curved on that end, and I walk just far enough to the North that the bridge isn't in the shot. Steve's shot gives you a good idea of the view from that location. Turk's shot from the bridge looks like he shoots from about the same place I do.

The other location would be near the right edge of the photo, in the park. It's adjacent to a parking area, and has a very nice view. Turk's photo is a great example of what you can get from there. Both locations are a short walk from one another, so park in the lot and try out both of them.