Water Falls Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Don't let it ever be said that taking photographs is without its perils. I spoke about the City of Emeryville and the presence there of a world renowned biotech company named Chiron. They have a large complex of new and converted older buildings covering perhaps three city blocks. The newer buildings are quite dramatic in form and in the use of bold colors. I drove around the complex, stopping to take photos from different angles. Shortly after I took this photo of an open courtyard at the entrance of one building I wandered toward a very interesting metal sculpture next to a green lawn and nicely formed bench. I took a couple of images when I noticed three uniformed men approaching me rapidly on foot. Granted, there is some anxiety in this country about terrorism. I guess they were concerned about this casually dressed person wandering around their campus on a Sunday afternoon. I was told in no uncertain terms that this was private property and I was escorted, not unkindly, out of the area. No arrests were made, no tickets issued. What a relief.

This type of waterfall has become quite popular and can be found in different forms. Occasionally it will be a large wall, or as in this instance, a long shorter wall. Since there is little sound associated with the running water, it is possible to overlook the fact it is water rather than a piece of black marble.

The image required slight rotation in addition to sharpening and adjusting levels before cropping for upload.

bertolucci, joseelias, Jeppe, sunny, Burnham, Tomernayer has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

olli (2091) 2004-06-01 6:43

Good architecture shot. And very original shot of reflections on the water. Very well composed and framed. Beautiful tones and nice mix of geometric shapes. I like the note – and the frame, too.
Still, I think something is missing – perhaps some "rough" and interesting element to break the harmony...

[2] +

bertolucci (11976) 2004-06-01 8:10

A fine graphic composition from you again Curtis, wit a nice depth. Squares and diagonals with the playful reflection of the window in the water to prevent it from becoming too formal. Nice colour contrasts too.
And thanx for your excellent note. I always find this kind of 'contextual'information very intersting. The photographer at work.
Great job!

joseelias (367) 2004-06-01 8:11

Yes, even in Portugal the terrorism fever appeared... It became harder to take photographs in certain areas which is a shame...

About your shot I like very much the colors and POV. It's nice how the large plain black area gives space to a more complex and colorful structure.

Also agree with olli that a certain "unbalance" is needed. Perhaps cropping half of the window columns in the right may do the trick. It's just a detail but I believe it works.

Burnham (2426) 2004-06-01 13:06

Those reflections are really something, it looks like the wall is made of water. The yellow window frames are a nice contrast to the cold wall. Good choice of framing.

Jeppe (18623) 2004-06-01 17:17

Great shot indeed Curtis - I agree with the other :-)

May be all TE members should have a "press card" - lol - but I don't think it would help you in that place - great to watch the reflections and amazing have "clean" the dark areas are in you photo - remind of a shot I never posted - may be I should soon.

sunny (3068) 2004-06-02 0:04

Wow! Colourful, graphical, sharp and clear image with certain style, Curtis! :-) Wonderful lines of the waterfall bringing lovlely perspective and the light is perfectly managed. Glad taking pictures of it ended smoothly though...Be careful and watch out in future though..;-P Excellent capture!

avigur_11 (21271) 2004-06-02 6:24

A very good composition, Curtis. I like the contarsting colors and the reflections, the depthe and the wonderful shapes in the blue water on the left. Very nice one.

Tomernayer (512) 2004-06-04 3:37

Your composition here is abosouloutley perfect,very sharp image, well done!

adam (858) 2004-06-23 1:55

Very interesting shot. I like how the straight geometric reflection of the bright yellow window turned into a semi-chaotic twist on the sloped bench.

Having lived in Emeryville last year, it's nice to see some shots from there. As for being stopped, I believe there were a couple of bombs that went off at Chiron in Emeryville last year, having been set off by a radical eco-terrorist group, which would explain the jumpiness by the security guards.

danbachmann (1682) 2004-07-16 12:22

Good level/angle. I think this would have been quite a boring scene if you didn't get close and low to capture the reflective feel of the water and bright grid of behind it. It looks as though you could step up there and 'walk on water.' There feels like there is some element missing, perhaps that it does not capture the small drama documented to take this one!