A Ship and a Bicycle for Craig, a photo from Glasgow, Scotland

Photographer's Note

I dedicate this picture to Craig (macjake) whose photographs of architecture in his native Canada and other places are second to none. I am sure he will have much to say about how photography of this building could lend itself to the subtle use of HDR too!

Yesterday I took a trip to Glasgow's new Riverside Museum of Transport to see Bloodhound SSC, the next planned British contender for the World Land Speed Record.

But this was my first ever visit to this new building and I actually found the building more interesting than much of its contents. It is one of Glasgow’s most recent modern cultural buildings, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and officially opened on June 21, 2011. Great panes of reflective glass feature in the side of the building facing onto the River Clyde and moored at the quayside across from it is the steel-hulled tall ship "Glenlee" which you can also visit. You can read more about the building here.

As I was standing trying to find a good viewpoint to capture a reflection of the ship in the glass frontage of the museum, a young fellow whizzed past on a bicycle and I managed to catch him - just. Unfortunately, I'd been working with a small aperture (and so a slow shutter speed) so he's not quite so sharp as he could have been. But I liked the overall effect.

I shall try to upload some other pictures from this interesting place later.

williewhistler, macjake, holmertz, emad, agjika, agjika, timecapturer, bayno, ourania, annjackman, delpeoples has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

MJR (3163) 2012-04-27 5:25

John

Way out of the norm ! And what a success !
As you point out grab shots can let you down with poor settings, but this works very well for all that. The reflection is superb, Iain will like it, ( but that it is the right way up, ) and I am sure Craig will be impressed too.

I recall your words in the excavator museum nr Keswick, that you felt you always took the same old pictures of the same old thing; well your trip to Glasgow has put the lie to that ! As a popular Saturday night talent show would put it, 'You nailed it !'

rgds
Martin

williewhistler (7299) 2012-04-27 5:31

Hello John,
with so much going on in the frame it`s difficult to put your finger on what it is that makes it so very appealing.
The zig zag patterns of the building make a most interesting frame for the reflection of the ships masts that are bathed in a lovely light and of course the cyclist who just happened to be riding a bright red bike is the icing on a most enjoyable cake.
A cracking shot,I`m looking forward to the next installment.
Best wishes Les.

macjake (39235) 2012-04-27 8:52

Hi John
thanks for the mentioning of my name! haha

In my travels, i too find it interesting that the more buildings i see, especially with Museums, the building is actually more visually interesting that the subjects inside!!

the zig zag lines up above capture my attention too, and it makes me wonder what it looks like in the wide angle version.

For sure its a great reflection shot, not very often do we get reflections of tall ships in buildings!
thanks again
see you around
craig
I don't blame you at all for capturing the sails in the darkened smokey glass...or maybe its that way only because of the sky/clouds.
the biker adds life, and yes, he may not be in total focus, but he sort of caught you off guard too.

holmertz (26980) 2012-04-27 11:04

Hello John,
You captured a fine and unusual reflection and the boy on the bike is a nice detail, contrasting very well with the size and shiny panes of the museum. The building looks rather interesting with that zigzaging roof and it makes me curious to see more of it.
Kind regards,
Gert

emka (58194) 2012-04-27 22:46

Hi John, What an interesting note, as always, and fantastic shot that accompany it. Without the ling you gave it would be difficult to imagine what this zigzag is, it is the most unusual part of this building. And of course, the big glass panels give so many possibilities of reflecdtions. The biker gives life and dynamism to it.
The outside building of museum can be more interesting but I like insides too. I visited lately so many museums, wonderful in and out.
Haha, when I see modern building, I think - Craig would like it :)
Warm regrads

MAlgo

agjika (4015) 2012-04-28 1:35

Hi John,
Wonderful photograph of this rather large reflection, the quality and the sharpness of which is totally superb. Fantastic composition and light. I just wish the cyclist as on the bottom left of the photo.

Very grandiose.

Regards

Aleks

timecapturer (30342) 2012-04-28 3:18

Hi John
creative and compelling shot. Fascinating lines and light here with the reflected glory all the more tantalising when you add the human element and the resultant sense of scale. Imaginatively composed and an effective execution. I love the light and the dramatic clouds make it so effective. Well done!

Enjoy your weekend - Brian.

willperrett (2959) 2012-04-28 3:34

Hello John
A very arresting image. I actually prefer the cyclist to be slightly blurred: it credits all the effort he's putting in by suggesting movement and speed. You were right to include him, as he adds a vital counterpoint element to the subtle dark tones of the glass. I'm not sure what HDR would do for this image: it's not suffering from problems of too wide a contrast, as your highlights aren't blown. Nicely composed, with that irregular "frame" across the top. Good work.
Regards
Will

SnapRJW (18784) 2012-04-28 4:34

Hello John - Seeing this shot reminded me of a very wet day at this very location last year! What a disaster, the museum was closed and we got saturated. I revisited my shots this morning but have to say nothing as attractive as this one. The tall ships rigging is so nicely captured in the reflection and the roof detail is strongly graphic which marries well with the lines of yellow lights seen through the glass. Does the 'bicycle man' add anything to the shot? Yes, with this composition I think he does. Have a good weekend Rosemary

mesutilgim (68014) 2012-04-28 14:58

Hello John,
Another perfect "reflectional" captuere with perfect layout and good eyecatching effect.
Interesting notes
TFS and have a nice weekend
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

chrisvek (5505) 2012-04-28 16:37

Hello John,

Very nice shoot with so clever composition.I like the reflections on this glass surface.Wonderful POV.

Tfs
Chris

bayno (16213) 2012-04-28 21:03

Ciao John,
beautiful photos, fascinating reflection in a beautiful structure that offers us a wonderful graphics, very nice play of shadows on high, I really like the masts of ships in the gray sky, the rider and its reflection in giving motion to the scene, a truly wonderful shot...
have a good day...
Valter

ourania (12427) 2012-04-29 2:12

Hello John,
I like very much the way this picture is framed, the upper part gives a very effective graphic impression. There's good perspective and the broad reflection of the quay has great clarity and superb depth. The reflection of the cyclist is quite clear too, from this angle it's as if time was slower in the reflection. A lovely and interesting picture. Well done and thank you!
All the best,
Ourania

Silvio1953 (98217) 2012-04-29 3:44

Ciao John, lovely composition with fantastic reflection, excellent clarity, splendid light and colors, very well done, my friend, have a good Sunday, ciao Silvio

annjackman (13227) 2012-04-29 22:09

Hello John,
I like this very much with the modern shapes of the architecture and the reflection of the tall ship. Looks quite a grey day but the dark clouds add atmosphere. Although the man is cycling out of the picture it is fun to have him in the frame.
Look forward to more of this genre!
Best wishes, Ann

delpeoples (45006) 2012-04-30 4:46

Ciao Giovanni

Do you know, before I even panned down to see the title I thought, "oöh Craig will love this". I hope you don't take offence at this when I say this type of composition is really out of your comfort zone. But you did exceedingly well. Even without the bicycle rider it would be a great shot, but I like the effect of the slow shutter on the blurred motion of the cyclist. The reflections of the tall ship are a masterstroke and my favourite thing about the photo. Congrats, a great image and one that I'm sure our Canuck friend will enjoy.

Un abbraccio
Lisa

Glint (5573) 2012-05-07 10:14

hello John,
this is good! Amazing architecture and there's a strong grapgical element to you shot.Love the old ship reflected in the building ( and I love those tall ships anyway).
You just managed to catch the cyclist before he disappeared out of your frame.
best regards,
Bev