QE2 Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

QE2

The Queen Elizabeth 2, the only remaining classic ‘transatlantic style’ cruise ship, moored in the container port of the Waalhaven in Rotterdam. She arrived in port to accompany the Queen Victoria on her maiden voyage. Both ships are operated by Cunard.
The captain of the QE2 deviated from the plan to moor both ships at the Rotterdam cruise terminal because he found it too dangerous. The passengers were a bit miffed about it but it provided me with a rather unique opportunity to shoot the Grand Old Lady in this uncommon surrounding. In a WS is a pic of the Queen Victoria on the Maas on the way to the Cruise Terminal.
The QE2 will be decommissioned in 2009 and converted to a hotel and permanently moored in Dubai.

The tech: PCS3 work flow: I altered the saturation, contrast, curves and levels for the whole pic and some elements separately, using different layers, enhanced the edges, USM-ed (a 5 step method), added a frame and resized and did a gentle USM (1,8px, 18%) again.

exif data
Camera Manufacturer : Canon
Camera Model : Canon EOS 30D
Exposure time [s] : 1/200
F-Number : 11.0
ISO speed ratings : 250
Date taken : 2006:04:23 12:34:51
Exposure bias value : -1/1
Metering mode : Evaluative, Multi-segment (5)
Exposure mode : Av-priority
Focal length [mm] : 335 mm (135 mm equiv)
Colour space : sRGB
image width : 3504
image length : 2336

devimeuxbe, Floydian, Tue, UlfE, jhm, danos, syd1946, carper, InasiaJones, abulafia, feather, lucasgalodoido, bibiweb, Dpbours, Rinie_Hoff, Angelillo, zmey, Didi, cherryripe, Yffic has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Estelle (2319) 2007-12-15 3:57

Hello Bert,
I absolutly love the PoV of this image, with the sunset sky at the back.
Some may think I'm crazy but I feel this shot makes the QE2 "human"; difficult to explain why, though.
TFS and have a good week-end
Estelle

paura (39202) 2007-12-15 3:59

Bert,
A beautiful and well composed shot from this little boat. Interesting the background.

Abraço

Paulo

devimeuxbe (56334) 2007-12-15 5:46

Hi Bert
This is a very impressive vision/ The POV is unusaula. Also the colors in the sky are great.
Well done
BErtrand

KevRyan (22418) 2007-12-15 5:50

A beautiful shot beautifully presented Bert - I remember this ship so well from it's birth and saw it both in dock in southhampton and once in a storm at sea from a cross channel ferry I was on - somewhere I guess I may still have the First Day Cover released with the stamps celebrating her.

The light, colour and your framing are all excellent.

have a good w/e

bw Kev

brandstaetter (14400) 2007-12-15 6:13

Hi Bert, a "royal" portrait, excellent in sharpness and light..
Cheers Christian

Floydian (30970) 2007-12-15 6:37

Hallo Bert,
Ik zag hem al in de krant staan, maar die foto gaf absoluut geen indruk hoe zo'n gevaarte het was...nou hier wel dus. Man wat een bak, wie wil daar nu op meevaren vraag ik me af. Ja misschien als ik 65+ (duurt nog even hoor ;-)) ben.
Prachtige plaat, mede door het licht in de achtergrond wat je een mooi contrast gaf ten opzichte van het wit. Die pijp rechts doet het trouwens ook goed, net als het rode vlaggetje voorop.
Groet, Henk

Framboisilla (5402) 2007-12-15 6:42

Hello Bert,

Beautiful shot, beautiful background ! Congratulations...

Regards,
Stéphanie.

Tue (25608) 2007-12-15 6:43

Hej Bert,
Ja, hier had ik over gehoord. Prachtige foto van (de voorkant) dit schip, uitstekend in de compositie geplaatst ook. De lucht in de achtergrond is ook zeer mooi en die schoorsteen is een leuk detail. Erg mooi werk! Fijn weekend verder!
Groeten,
Lars

UlfE (9158) 2007-12-15 7:19

Hi Bert,

I love your POV and cropping. It really gives a majestic feel to this old cruise ship. Also excellent light management an composition. In particular I enjoy that the ship is sort of shining. Have a nice week end!

Cheers,

Ulf

jhm (83298) 2007-12-15 7:45

Hello Bert,

Het zou mij nooit opkomen om degelijke foto te nemen van dit grote cruise schip, maar ik moet onmiddellijk toegeven Bert, dat u dit fantastisch gedaan heeft, en dat u crack bent in mooi experimentele foto's.
Ik heb iets bij geleerd wat voordien nooit zou durven doen.
Mooi genomen vlak op zijn neus, en de verhouding tussen de fabriek schoorsteen, die normaal zeer groot is, is hier precies een luciferstok.
Ik heb op kleiener boten meegevaren, waaronder de kleine mijnenvegers uit de jaren 50, dit was nog eens varen en hobbelen over de baren, meer overboord hangen dan stuur en bakboord horen roepen!
Bedankt voor uw bezoek.

Prettig weekend gewenst uit een zeer heler Vlaanderen maar met +1,8° C.
John.

syd1946 (17965) 2007-12-15 8:45

Hello Bert,
I read recently about this famous cruise ship...your photo show as all the glory of it.I like very much how you composed this image from ahead and works again with the form.The light conditions painting nicely the parts without the body of the ship.It is a great bonus for the image.Splendid and unique work again file mou,
I wish you a very fine weekend,
Thomas

carper (65622) 2007-12-15 9:24

ja ik heb wat gemist Bert.
prachtige foto, zeer fraaie orginele pov, machtige lucht erachter zeer good fotowerk,
prettige avond.
groet Jaap

InasiaJones (20695) 2007-12-15 10:25

Hi Bert,

Impressive point of view and innovative composition with this legendary cruise ship.

The tight framing and frontal view allow a fresh way to look at these juggernauts. Of course, the background is exquisite and provides a "romantic" mood to the scene.

Have a nice weekend!

André

abulafia (4802) 2007-12-15 20:43

Great close up of this classy lady!
I actually worked aboard QE2 in the mid nineties, when it was having a huge renovation in a dry dock at Blohm + Voss in Hamburg. I was only there for a couple of weeks, but pretty impressive ship to see close up I can tell you.
Good shot that bring back a story:)
Harry

danos (33240) 2007-12-16 1:07

Hello Bert,
impressive this shot of the QE 2 with the grey-dark background that bring out the details of the cruise ship..The razor sharp focus is excellent and i love your composition and choice of POV,wonderful light and brilliant colours, a very well crafted shot.Informative your note too.

Have a nice weekend,Danos

hatti52 (12654) 2007-12-16 2:34

Hi Bert
beautiful and impressive scene
it looks like on land
Have a nice sunday

feather (50144) 2007-12-16 8:01

This is a very impressive image. The unusual choice to photograph her "front-on" works very well. The background of dusky pink sky is perfect. Well done
Kath

lucasgalodoido (16789) 2007-12-16 9:20

Hi Bert,
impressive this view of ship, and good soft colors too. Interesting this history of it to transform in hotel in Dubai.
Parabéns e Abraço!

bibiweb (8) 2007-12-16 13:19

Hi Bert,
An unusual POV indeed and a very good composition with the industrial background symbolized by that chimney in the background. I really appreciate to see this picture as I had the opportunity to do a trans-atlantic crossing from New York to Cherbourg back in 1974, with my parents.
Regards, Brigitte

vascao (192) 2007-12-16 17:23

Hi, Bert
This is one of a kind. Incredible details on the ship, with stunning symmetry provided by the perfect POV. A marvelous yellow sky contrasting with the red details. And the chimney (is it a chimney?) at right fills neatly the space.
[]'s, my friend.
Sergio

Dpbours (220) 2007-12-17 1:55

Hi Bert,

That is massive!! The building in the back and the pipe are just looking so small. Interesting note on the QE2 becoming a hotel in Dubai!
What do you mean with the 5-step USM? Wondering about that one.

Greetings!
Dennis

Rinie_Hoff (9334) 2007-12-17 10:55

Fantastic Bert! I love the feeling that it's just sailing from my screen into my living, no escape possible! The ship is overwhelming, certainly taken like this. Typically Rotterdam.
I didn't even know these ships both were here, but you've been having fun with Kleiobird, I understand.

Beetje erg druk geweest met de kerstconcerten. Globaal, (met uitzondering van een paar uur op zaterdag en zondag), de laatste 5 dagen van 7.30 tot 23.30 uur van huis geweest. Goeie concerten, maar ZWAAR!
Spreekl je snel, voor ik de 24ste naar Canada vertrek!

Stepan (27175) 2007-12-18 11:15

Wow !! That's 3D shooting !
Unreal and amazing. You composed and realized that really perfectly. Incredible light, incredible background and unreal scale.
Excellent.
Stéphane

Angelillo (9065) 2007-12-18 16:02

Hi Bert,

These ships are really great, but your extraordinary composition makes of it a geant, impressive by its powerful presence. I like a lot this image, where the ship fill almost completely the frame, and giving us the impression he is coming directly to us... It's really touching this shot! Thanks!

Greetings,
Angel.

zmey (7282) 2007-12-19 8:29

hello, bert

a very successful portrait of a ship in my opinion. the tight crop enhances makes the ship more imposing and suits its scale well. great color combination too with the grayish and white areas contrasted by the bright reds. well done.

my compliments and TFS
kristaps

Didi (36434) 2007-12-19 9:58

Bonsoir Bert
Cet image au cadrage serré mérite plus de succès.
J'apprécie beaucoup les couleurs ainsi que l'aspect du ciel.
Ah si j'étais présent je n'aurai pas pu resiter de faire un stitch de plusieurs images :)
Cordialement.

cherryripe (19187) 2008-01-01 2:54

Hi Bert
This is such an impressive ship and it looks so strange, like in a movie, surrounded by apartments, factories and trees. The red funnel stands out really well against the grey clouds and the band of yellow sky showing off the main part of the ship.
Regards
Nikki

Yffic (6106) 2008-02-03 11:41

Hi Bert,

Nice picture of (from my point of view) the nicest transatlantic cruise ship.
The sharpness is very impressive.

Regards.

Yves

corniste (4236) 2008-04-01 15:12

hello Bert,

This looks like the poster of the film "Titanic"! I hope a better ending for the boat though!.
I like the color and this idea with the tele lens. It gives more impact to the huge thing!

have a great day!