Cityscapes

Really nothing more than the urban landscape, the cityscape affords an endless sequence of vistas. They offer far greater variety, colour and contrast than natural landscapes, although they lack that wonderful peaceful quality of nature. If you can't find a decent shot in a city you should go back to accountancy.

THUMBNAIL (click to view 1200px image)	PARAMETERS	COMMENTS
	Canon A610 15mm (72mm) f/4 1/1250 sec ISO Auto P Mode	"50 k" (Portland, 2006) A major challenge in photography is to make the mundane seem fresh and interesting. I saw that this roundabout was an attractive shot and the 50 k speed limit sign gives it a nice foreground focus.
	Canon A610 15mm (72mm) f/4 1/1250" ISO Auto P Mode	"The Esplanade" (Portland, 2006) I wanted to capture the feel of Portland's esplanade of cafes, pubs and shops and took this shot trying to squeeze the entire block into one photo. Of course you can't really achieve that and the cars block most of the view of the pavement, but when you zoom in you can at least see all the buildings.
	Canon A610 10mm (46mm) f/4 1/1000" ISO Auto P Mode	"Cement Works" (Portland, 2006) I was walking through one of Portland's industrial zones when I saw this shot. With the yellow, olive and white against such a beautiful blue sky, and the industrial theme I knew it had to be a winner.
	Canon A610 11mm (52mm) f/4 1/800" ISO Auto P Mode	"Bus Stop" (Portland, 2006) This shot was cropped down from a larger scene that detracted from the main focus. Although this picture is less than 1/4 of the original it is still large enough to be useful. Anyone who thinks you don't need 5 MP should bear this in mind.
	Canon A610 10mm (46mm) f/4 1/1000" ISO Auto P Mode	"Fill 'er Up" (Portland, 2006) The strong contrasting colours of the sign and its background attracted me to this shot. I tried it a number of times on an overcast day and didn't get the colour that I wanted. I came back a few days later when the sun was out and voila! This is an illustration of the value of persistence in photography, and the value of trying the same shot under different lighting. If you know what you want, keep trying until you get it.
	Canon A610 7mm (34mm) f/4 1/320" ISO Auto P Mode	"Footbridge Over The Koonung" (Portland, 2006) The juxtaposition of steel and concrete against indigenous woodland vegetation makes an attractive picture (IMO). The problem was that the underneath of the footbridge was too dark, but fortunately "lighten shadows" has worked a minor miracle.
	Canon A610 22mm (106mm) f/4 1/800" ISO Auto P Mode	"Freeway" (Portland, 2006) We have all seen plenty of freeways, and no folio of cityscapes would be complete without at least one shot of them. There is no great artistic component in this shot, but it does capture the view. Naturally I had the sun behind me for this shot. Taking pictures of tarmac in front of the sun without a polarizer is asking for trouble. Although I did try it and it was remarkable how well they came up after applying "reduce highlights".
	Canon A610 15mm (72mm) f/4 1/1000" ISO Auto P Mode	"Canton Palace" (Portland, 2006) I took a number of pictures of the shops along Portland's Julia St and this one stood out. Perhaps it is the contrast in height, materials and colour, between the central subject and its surroundings, but whatever the reason, the Canton Palace attracts the eye.
	Canon A610 29mm (140mm) f/4.5 1/1250" ISO Auto P Mode	"View From KMart" (Portland, 2006) Again I was attracted to the bright colours and strong contrast of a sign against the sky, but I was also interested to link that to the distant vista of Melbourne's skyscrapers seen from the suburbs. The diminishing procession of tramlines, street lights and power poles gives the whole picture a feel of the industrialisation of the suburbs and the price of city living.
	Canon A610 7mm (34mm) f/4.5 1/1250" ISO Auto P Mode	"The London Inn" (Portland, 2006) One of Portland's most attractive and distinctive historical buildings, the London Inn makes a natural subject. The light was just perfect on this occasion and it was just a matter of getting all the poles and signs where they would do the least harm. A touch of "lighten shadows" makes the picture resemble what the eye sees rather than what the camera sees.
	Canon A610 15mm (72mm) f/4 1/640" ISO Auto P Mode	"Mt Dolman" (Portland, 2006) In 2006 one of Portland's newest buildings, this 3 storey apartment and retail block is a study in painted concrete and glass. As always with 3 storey buildings you need to get back a long way to reduce the perspective foreshortening as you look up. It is also good to get as high up as you can.
	Canon A610 11mm (52mm) f/4 1/800" ISO Auto P Mode	"Suburban Hill" (Portland, 2006) Melbourne is famous for its leafy suburbs, and Mt Waverley is one of the leafiest. Tree-lined streets, nature reserves and 1/4 acre house blocks make it a pleasant place to be. The natural undulating topology make for excellent suburban views, (if such things are your bag).
	Canon A610 13mm (60mm) f/4 1/1250" ISO Auto P Mode	"The Royal" (Portland, 2006) Some shots just seem to work, and "The Royal" was one of these. Various locals have remarked to me how surprisingly attractive this well know pub looks in this picture. Perhaps it is the lovely blue sky...
	Canon A610 29mm (140mm) f/4.1 1/500" ISO Auto P Mode	"Stevenson's Road" (Portland, 2006) A classic case of photographing the mundane. I saw this shot and set about framing it. I liked the gentle curve of the road and the young grey-barked gum trees. I had greys and greens, all I needed was blue and yellow. I said to my friend who was also taking photos, "all I need is a blue car and a yellow car", and immediately I saw them approach. I waited until they were in the right place in the frame and SNAP!
	Canon A610 10mm (46mm) f/5 1/1250" ISO Auto P Mode	"Telstra Tower" (Portland, 2006) Like many photographers I am fascinated with capturing industrial things. This communications tower in town was an obvious target. I tried various shots from various locations and under differing light. Many of them were good but this provides the best detail. Just zoom in on the top to see!