<< Previous Next >>

The Gathering


The Gathering
Photo Information
Copyright: John Plumb (JPlumb) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 852 W: 204 N: 1035] (3111)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-24
Categories: Festivals, Transportation, Architecture, Event, Decisive Moment
Camera: Nikon D200, Nikkor 18-200mm 3.5-5.6 G ED AF-S VR, Sigma EX Wide Circular PL 72mm
Exposure: f/8, 1/90 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-03-10 19:05
Viewed: 628
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
It was a double billing, with two Queens in the harbour at the same time, and Sydney Siders love their boats, especially these ones.

The night of the 24th of February was a historic night here. The Queen Victoria (Cunard’s newest member ship) and the Queen Elizabeth 2 (the oldest member, and about to retire) were meeting for the first and last time in Sydney Harbour, and they were going to pass, close to the Sydney Opera House. The Queen Victoria was leaving to go on to Brisbane, the Queen Elizabeth 2 was docking at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

It was a busy time, with people packing the shores to see the two ships. This shot of people on the Opera House decks is just one small part of this gathering, around the foreshore. What I found interesting, was that the people on the boat were just as interested in seeing those waving from shore. It made for another great celebration on the harbour.

Part of the reason I went to Circular Quay this evening was to see the people (of course I wanted to see the ships too) but I set up intentionally on the Cahill Expressway (on the opposite corner of the Quay) for this shot. It was also a good spot to see the ships passing the Opera House.

Workflow for the first shot was as follows:
Shot was taken in Raw, with a jpeg for reference (ISO 400 170 mm @f8, 1/90)
NEF file adjusted for exposure, shadow and vignetting
Levels – adjusted by eye
Curves – adjusted for contrast
Added an overlay layer and dodged and burned with 5-10% opacity black and white Saturation layer +15 to master
Saved as a tiff
Cropped, resized, reduced noise on water selection, added a layer, inversed selection, selectively sharpened with USM in small increments, modified sharpening with a layer mask (30-75% opacity black brush), framed and saved as a jpeg.
skippy007, mvdisco, jusninasirun, pboehringer, jhm, pierrefonds, abulafia, Wanda1, markogts has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekEarth members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekEarth members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To markogts: LensJPlumb 2 04-17 00:39
To pboehringer: Opera HouseJPlumb 1 03-13 01:28
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi john,
I love the detail and clarity you achieve in your photos this is a good example of that, it's so sharp & clear that I think I could give you a head count. The detail on the sail like roof is excellent. Will you be in Melbourne again soon? I would love to carry your bag and tripod around on one of your shoot. Maybe a drink or two while you add the final touches.
Regards
Thanks
Santo

Hi John,
This is a beautiful place , Excellent POV. and beautiful colors, nice architecture of this great building and many people are there to see the attraction.. Well done..
Michel

Hey John - very nice framing of the Opera house - I like how youve cut out part of it's sails, giving it a very grand feel indeed. The mass of people in this is the other element that makes it a good photo - so many! I always noticed the opera house doesnt cater for heaps of people at a time all that well... but thats more refering to concerts inside not an arrival of a ship.
Cheers,

David.

Hello John. Looking at the thumbnail, one might think of another signature shot of Sydney. A closer look reveals otherwise. I have never seen the image of this Opera house so packed with people looking away from her. Very well captured moments under nice warm color with stunning details of the people there. Nicely closed to reveal minimum area for water generating an awesome effect on the whole scene. Well done and best regards. Jusni

John,
an excellent note to complement the post. This post as well as all the links to the others are all about scale. I have seen so many shots of this Opera House, but it never occured to me to have the impression of size. Well, all the gathering gives a pretty good idea and I'm amazed of how big it is.
Impressive! Also quite impressive to see how big the boats are compared to the Opera House. Finally I like the tight crop of this shot. It focuses well on the building and the people around.
Peter

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 12333 W: 246 N: 16211] (64808)
  • [2008-03-12 3:55]

Hello John,

I looked to the two links and found the first link very well.
Also this picture is very nice certainly through the a lot people for look it to the wonderful Queen Elizabeth 2.
But the specially roofs in background care for the excellent eye catcher.
Very well done, thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
John.

Hi John,

It is amazing to see so many people who came have a lokk at the two massive ships. The different shape of the Opera House are an asset to the composition. The subject is well framed. Well done, have a nice day.

Pierre

Very nice John!
Interesting to see this famous landmark being used as a platform for the ship spotters, normally the focus would be on the building itself:)
The picture is quite good, very detailed and show the size of the crowd very well.
As always I'm impressed by your very detailed notes, and in this one there are even 2 extra WS's to complete the story.
Thanks
Harry

  • Great 
  • Wanda1 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1206 W: 21 N: 1410] (7568)
  • [2008-03-14 23:27]

Hi John,
I like this different view of this famous landmark. Wonderful sharpness so that we can see every detail on the building, and the crowds of people are a great element also to show scale of the opera house. Nice work!
Regards
Wanda

  • Great 
  • robsz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 58 W: 1 N: 115] (707)
  • [2008-03-16 7:38]

Hi John,
nice how you took a photojournalistic approach here capturing the crowd, while everyone else is looking at the ships. Looks like you got the opera house in good light too. I like the tight crop and composition.
Cheers,
Rob.

Hello John,
Interesting crowd you capture here!
Must be thousands coming to watch this happening of significance...
You found a good point of view and I forgive you cut into the famous architecture since that is not your subject, hehehe!
Greetings,
Pablo -

:-) OK-

  • Great 
  • crckt Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1338 W: 68 N: 1268] (6415)
  • [2008-04-01 12:26]

Hi John,
WOW! I thought so many people existed only in India :) just kidding. I think this is a great shot, love your composition. Once again thanks for the workflow.
Well done,
Shaeri

Hi John,

Many have taken a shot of the opera house. What makes this outstanding is the crowd which is your main subject. I suppose that explains why the shells are cropped out. The details and colours are fantastic. TFS

Regards
Alfred

Nice flattening effect, the crowd comes out really, well... crowdy :-) Good sharpness and interesting note.

PS I see you use the same lens as mine. I'm quite satisfied with it. And you?

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF