The legs of a Swan Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is the Erasmusbrug (brug=bridge) in Rotterdam. You can see the two pylons here. The bridge's nickname is The Swan or The Harp and it's a very special design I think. Already before the completion in 1996 the bridge was characteristic of Rotterdam, which is the second city in The Netherlands with her 600.000 inhabitants and huge harbour.

The Erasmusbrug crosses the river Nieuwe Maas and was designed by Ben van Berkel. This cable-stay bridge connects the centre of the city with De Kop van Zuid.
The pylon is 139m high and is bended at 79m. The bridge is 808 meter long and also contains a 89 meter long bascule bridge, which is the biggest and heaviest in Western-Europe.
The bridge was opened in September 1996 by Queen Beatrix.

I took this picture yesterdaymorning. I stood with my head leaning against the pylon to take the picture. I didn't change much, only the contrast. But I was in doubt if I should post this one or a rotated version. I chose this one (which is the original version) and posted the rotated one in a WS. Please let me know which one you think is best. Thanx!
I hope you like it!

(If you have become curious about the whole bridge, please look here.)

sAner, Cool-ice, alvaraalto, papagolf21, Fixfocus, Hauke, Rinie_Hoff, Galmeida, singuanti, bertolucci, paulspain, Jeppe, kLe, ChrisJ, apazevedo, capthaddock, riclopes, jafadabret, paura has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Cool-ice (5289) 2005-01-27 6:53

Excellent perspective, we loose our balance here...an effective graphism !
It's like if we are ready to play with a giant harp ;-)

alvaraalto (5229) 2005-01-27 7:07

Very attractive picture. But I think, as you know, it should be upside down. Then it is a superb picture and worth 10 points.

Steft (5962) 2005-01-27 7:13

Hi Lars,
To be honest, I agree with your father, but you knew that already before you posted this picture.

This composition also works quite well. Nice colours and lines. Good sharpness, and original photo.

papagolf21 (56096) 2005-01-27 7:57

Bonjour Lars,
Le vertige à l'envers existe également ! Cette partie du pont me fait penser à une harpe dans laquelle s'engouffre le vent et égrène une mélodie pour les oiseaux et les nuages !
Très belle prise de vue.
Philippe

sAner (112) 2005-01-27 8:03

Hey Lars,

Een technisch zeer interessante foto, maar denk je niet dat hij eigenlijk thuishoort op TrekLens? Ik ben benieuwd waar je stond toen je deze foto maakt. Op het fietsersgedeelte? Mooie lucht ook trouwens.

Fixfocus (9377) 2005-01-27 13:16

I like the original better than the workshop,Lars!Very unusual perspective and angle,-but it works!

Hanssie (9133) 2005-01-27 13:45

And this is a bridge for an artistic and abstract photo and you did it! The Swan, often photographed here (of course), a beautiful bridge indeed which is certainly not for TL, but belongs here, Lars, nice done !

Hauke (2) 2005-01-27 14:15

A b s o l u t e l y stunning POV, Lars. And for I do like lines, I put it to my favs.

hojper (2830) 2005-01-27 17:36

Nice crazy angle and lots of lovely lines in this photo. This is one of those industrial shots that really combine technology and art. Simple but well seen and carried out.

Rinie_Hoff (9332) 2005-01-27 19:36

Hi Lars, this is a nice graphical way to portray the Swan, (I live 200 meters away from this bridge, I have a nightshot, and a detail of it in one of my pictures, although the nightshot was more about feelings, than about the bridge. I can step on my balcony at the back of my house, and see it).
I like the vast part of the pylon on the top, it gives a feeling of protection somehow.
The cables from a nice pattern this way. You had good weather, and a beautiful sky

Galmeida (12559) 2005-01-27 19:55

Perspective unsual, nice modern art, tecnology and a artist that makes a great shot!. If is a rotated version or not, or a invention, is interesting and your idea and creativity. THanks for sharing and well done. Is different from what you have posted and all need some diversity. Thanks "TUE".

singuanti (15240) 2005-01-27 23:12

very unique POV makes this shot really stand out. the multiple diagonal lines make for a artisic shot. good control over the exposure. however do I see noise or compression artifacts in the background? nevertheless, great shot!

billabongx (1561) 2005-01-28 5:28

at the beginning is difficult to undestand the picture. great composition and perfect colours.

bertolucci (11976) 2005-01-28 6:37

Wow, what a very well defined and dashing archi-graphism this is, Lars. De Zwaan is a very often used object on TE but the way you did your take on it is due to the PoV and the white-blue-grey colour contrast very, very fresh. Love it!

paulspain (625) 2005-01-29 13:46

Hello, Lars. This is an impressive composition. It is a very original and graphical perspective. I like the two photos , in this one the weight is above whereas in the WS the superior part is lighter. A very artistic photo with very beautiful lines, congratulations for this excelent work.
Saludos.
Pablo

Jeppe (18623) 2005-01-31 9:50

Oh - I missed this and a lot other photos - Great angle and perspective you got here Lars - It took me a few seconds to "get the image" - a fine swan indeed - thanks Lars, for this and the informative note.

kLe (2035) 2005-01-31 16:41

I had no idea what this was before I saw the photo of the link. It is a great photo with an original PoV. Your note is good and informative. Only to say something that can be improved, I think that the sky has some noise.
And...ha,ha,ha regarding the note of your father I misunderstood it in the first moment and though he wanted to say you should have taken the photo from the top of the bridge.

jane-d (154) 2005-01-31 17:32

This one really is spectaculair. Great! And the rotated version is strangely different... Makes my stomach turn!

marcb (589) 2005-02-03 11:45

That's a very nice picture Lars! It makes you feel dizzy... :-)
Strange sensation. I like the composition (colours and light are great). Well done!
Best regards, Marc

danielswalsh (13303) 2005-02-07 19:55

Nice shot Lars;

You've got a nice composition here, playing with lines and shadows. Nice shot.
Very sharp and clear, and complimented by blue skies! haha

Cheers!
- Dan

ChrisJ (69840) 2005-02-08 3:34

Hi Lars

A superb vantage point with excellent color, saturation & sharpness. I like the repetition of the cable stays & the reflection.

apazevedo (5469) 2005-03-19 18:57

Great perspective and depth, Lars; the result is a very good composition, very simple but also very good. Well done!

capthaddock (28640) 2005-03-24 12:28

Hi Lars - very nice angle and geometry, beautiful bridge.

Stepan (27171) 2005-12-05 13:45

An extreme pov but an good one for such a modern object and purpose...
A kind of inversed vertigo. Hilsner.
Stéphane

jbweasle (9294) 2006-01-08 13:26

Hello Lars, this picture is a winner for its unusual perspective. I like the light and shadow on the structure and the backdrop of blue sky.

riclopes (32905) 2006-02-03 4:26

Hej Lars,
This is another one that is kept in my mind for some time now, but I allways get distracted with any other else of your extended gallery...

I love yor shots of bridges and this one is marvellous. The angle from down-up is great and the nickname for it fits just right in this shot. Beautiful reflection effect on the metalic surface and very nice graphic composition, enhanced by the strong blue sky. Its design remind me the "new" bridge we have over the river Tajo, from the Spnaish, both architect and engeneer, Santiago Calatrava. Congratulations for another excellent work!
Hilsner,
Ricardo

jafadabret (39183) 2006-02-06 5:37

Beau graphisme sur fond de ciel. J'aurais peut-être recadré en enlevant 2 à 3 cm à droite mais c'est de toute façon une trés belle photo.

peco85 (919) 2006-06-30 2:26

Fantastic sight from a great POV. Really nice lines and the contrast between white and blue is good. I read through the critiques and I then realized as they say that it would maybe be better upside down?

All the best
PeCO

paura (38066) 2008-11-25 3:46

Lars,
Very beautiful image in this well composed shot. The pov is great as the technical settings. Well done!

Abraço

Paulo