Hotel Europe Blue Hour Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is my second posting of this marvelous hotel.
Its the Hotel Europe, built in 1908, located in Gastown Vancouver.
The hotel was the site for the recent Hollywood movie The Changeling starring Angelina Jolie.

I've chosen to post again as i was unhappy with my first b/c of composition, camera distortions, and a large red building that was on the left. Red buildings are very distracting if they are not the main subject, as the view is naturally drawn to them.

I was contemplating posting a photo with the Hotel composed in the Middle, creating a V like pattern with the two empty streets alone each side. I chose however, to keep that photo for myself for the timebeing.

This paticular setup, has the rainsoaked streets and early morning blue hour before sunrise.
One more note....
Many people may not like the wires dangling across the scene, but i wanted to leave them in rather than photoshop them out. I believe it adds to the old-time-charm, and feel of the surroundings.

I'm happier with this version, I hope you enjoy it aswell.

Thanks for looking
Craig

herowono, Sistercosmo, ChrisJ, gervaso, Ola_Kwiatek, paololg, Royaldevon, belido, Cretense, jhm, delpeoples, snunney has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

cagla (2192) 2009-11-11 11:36

Hi Craig, the reflections on the wet floor and the colors are really fantastic. I like the blue hour and your pov to the building also. Congrats.

bebbetto (3033) 2009-11-11 12:13

Hi Craig.
Very attractive shot with perfect composition and fascinating colours

muunal (284) 2009-11-11 12:20

The light, colours are excellent. POV is interesting. Congrats!

grigand (12644) 2009-11-11 12:21

Hi,craig,

This is a perfect shot! colors, details, composition, and the quality of details is excellent.
ciao
andrea

anesugur (16920) 2009-11-11 13:51

Hi Craig,
Superb POV, nice light and exposure.
Very good work.
Best regards. Uğur

PJE (19453) 2009-11-11 14:39

Excellent work Craig and I am glad it turned out just as you hoped it would. The wet streets really adds a wonderful mood here. Nicely done.

JT50 (797) 2009-11-11 14:44

Hi Craig,
Lovely POV. At first glance it
looks like the bow of a ship.
The sky is marvelous. So is the
reflection on the wet cobbled
ground. There fine bluish tone
on the hotel looks nice.
Have a nice week.
Janak

Dyerco (9102) 2009-11-11 15:44

Hi Craig
I too like thgis one better. The wires don't bother me either. The reflection of the lights and the colour really help make this image. Well done for getting up early enough to get this shot.
Phil

jjcordier (24698) 2009-11-11 23:14

Craig
Très belle heure bleue avec, en particulier, un bas de l'image absolument magnifique avec ces reflets colorés sur les pavés luisants.
Amicalement
JJ

herowono (464) 2009-11-11 23:18

Hi Craig,
Wonderful picture and perfect moment! Good composition, light and interesting building. Too bad with the wires/cables on the air.
My best regards,
Ismojo

westcoastgirl1 (1267) 2009-11-12 0:59

Craig,

Your blue hour shots are the best!
I love all the birds sitting on top of the Hotel and the wet cobblestone street.
Great composition to focus just mainly on the Hotel. It is also well placed in the scene.
No distortion effects noted.
Worthy of a lot of TE recognition.

Hope you have sweet dreams,
Tosca

jplebrun (17024) 2009-11-12 4:48

Bonjour Craig
elle est superbe cette photo et j'aime beaucoup toutes ces couleurs qui se reflètent sur la rue mouillée, tu as bien fait de laisser les fils car tu aurais pu faire de la distorsion et de plus ça fait partie du décor.
Amitiés
Jean-Pierre

Sistercosmo (2573) 2009-11-12 9:36

Hi Craig,

excellent blue hour with a wonderful reflection on the cobblestones. Nice choice of aperture too, giving us starry lights. Well done!

Thanks and take good care,
Linda

P.S. I agree with your choice of leaving those power lines in.

sacimar (7399) 2009-11-13 7:36

Hi Craig,

good composition, the hotel is marvelous and the composition in the blue hour is fantastic, I like it very much, the light management is very good, nice job,

Have a good weekend!

Sergio

ChrisJ (70283) 2009-11-13 8:40

Hi craig

Superb reflections in the wet pavement, with vibrant colour, & good sharpness & perspective. Well framed & composed. Tfs!

gervaso (5260) 2009-11-13 16:24

Hello, Craig!

Wonderful picture taken in the blue hour, with wonderful colors and light reflections on the ground! I also like the effect of stars of some lights. Beautiful job! Very well done!

giorgimer (21226) 2009-11-14 1:15

Hi Craig,

I love this moment of the day, good pov, I also like the effect of wet ground.

Well done!

G

rodgerg (24183) 2009-11-14 1:17

Hello Craig,

Very good blue hour with a good managment of light. I like especially the beautiful blue rfelections to the way and the good use of the barrier in the Fg which give a depht to the image. Good balalnce inn the composition with the building well located a little on the left of the image.
Have a nice WE,
Roger

Nicou (44929) 2009-11-14 21:23

Hello,

Quel bâtiment, une meveille, il a vraiment cette forme spècialet entre deu rue, l'effet des lumières qui scintillent, le brillant au sole, grandiose compo.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

AiresSantos (42194) 2009-11-15 0:35

Hi Craig
Very beautiful night picture in the blue hour
I like your POV and reflections in the wet ground
Well handled the light
Have a nice Sunday
Aires

mesutilgim (36858) 2009-11-15 0:44

Hi Craig,
There are not much samples of such nice "cornering" buildings worldwide.
But in this case you've gotten also an amazing light and mastered it perfectly. Pentax did a perfect job.
I still have it's elderly brother in use : A Pentax 6x7 analogue from the year 1974. A camera, to heavy and noisy but a camera to fall in love with.
TFS and have a nice weekend
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Ola_Kwiatek (2620) 2009-11-15 2:55

Very interesting architecture. Amazing light and bright, good capture. Perfect frame.
Cheers!

paololg (13761) 2009-11-15 3:46

Ciao dear Craig,
interesting experiment of perspective and depth of field, perfectly realized. It's a lot of difficulty to get such a pleasant photo under these conditions of little light, but you have shown to be really good, managing above all the colors and the sharp in correct way. Compliments!
Ciao, have a nice week!
Paolo

crckt (7076) 2009-11-15 5:25

Hi Craig,
Really awesome shot of the blue hour. Like the star effect from the the street lights, good sharp shot with great contrast.
Loved it, thanks for sharing.
Shaeri

polpo56 (7952) 2009-11-15 13:13

Hi Craig,
a beautiful picture, I especially like the beauty of the composition and beautiful reflections on the wet floor.

Ciao

Ludo

Royaldevon (5934) 2009-11-15 15:28

Hello Craig,

The most striking feature of this delightful shot is the sparkling lights and their elongated reflections on the wet pavements; they make the textured road look all the more interesting!
It's well composed, sharp and has no sign of noise.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)
Sorry, Craig, I didn't realise that I had run out of smilies!! Hope you'll be happy with just the critique!

david_P (222) 2009-11-16 1:18

Hi Craig,

Very beautifull scene, colors reflexion on the ground are great, the POV is good.
It's a very good composition !
TFS !
David

belido (16555) 2009-11-16 2:34

Hi Craig,

fantastic blue hour shot. The light is really impressive and I'm sure the recent rain worked on that. Love the the details on the wet floor and how you framed the building. Very well done!
Regards,
Carlos

holmertz (9681) 2009-11-16 7:22

Helo Craig,
This is a very fine composition of the marvellous building, the lights along the streets, the branches of the tree agaisnt the night sky, all the way up to the chains framing the lower part of the picture. The dark sky and the lights reflected in the wet streets create a strong atmosphere.
Regards,
Gert

mursaloglu (5164) 2009-11-16 10:44

hello Craig
Great picture in the right hour with amazing wet pavements and reflection. Very great sharpness and wonderful compo bravo ihsan

Fis2 (45873) 2009-11-16 10:48

Witaj Craig!
A very interesting building.
Curious night photo.
I like the frame and colors.
Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

sacavem (8301) 2009-11-17 11:20

Olá Craig,

The shot is taken the most beautiful hour of the day the blue hour.Well done.
Filipe

Cretense (56222) 2009-11-18 1:48

Hello Craig!

Excellent nightshot (I am a nightshot lover) perfect timing for this fabulous "blue" hour, excellent composition and framing, wonderful reflections on the street! Really perfect light management, fantastic colours! Congratulations!

Hercules

jhm (82601) 2009-11-20 5:06

Hello Craig,

I love the colours and enlightenment generally of these lovely picture.
Excellent perspective and depth. TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

delpeoples (6102) 2009-11-21 20:18

Hi Craig, excellent Blue Hour shot, the vertical accentuates the perspective of this curiously shaped building and the pavement looks spectacular. I see what you say about the overhead lines. I am not a fan of photoshopping these things out, firstly because I don't have the skills to do it so it looks god and secondly, because you;re right, they can often add to the character and atmosphere of the place. I'd be interested to see how it looks without them, but quite understand why you didn;t remove them. Nice work, the light management is optimal. Warm regards, Lisa

delkoo (34308) 2009-11-22 2:51

hi craig,
You've caught a great atmosphere here. The sky looks very impressive. I also like this simple composition with great depth of field as well as the fantastic colors you have got.
Congratulations!
Warmest greetings from France.

didier

divail (1507) 2009-11-22 7:55

Bonjour Craig,
C'est une superbe photo, prise à une heure qui met cette belle architecture bien en valeur. Le ciel est magnifique,, ainsi que toutes ces belles lumières de rue.
Diane

wolf38 (12823) 2009-11-23 8:53

Hi craig. In this photo you again show an impressive architecture. Composition, light and colors are perfect. Above all, the colors yellow and blue harmonize beautifully. The technical quality of the photographs is excellent. Overall, a photographic excellence. Best regards, Wolfgang.

Graal (58039) 2009-11-26 3:56

Hi Craig,
beautiful image. Good shot duting the blue hour. I like it a lot.
Gr., Aleksander

Silvio1953 (41843) 2009-11-27 11:03

Ciao Craig, fascinating blue hour with wonderful exposure, splendid colors and lovely reflections, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

snunney (34942) 2009-11-28 1:31

Hello Craig,
A superb composition with bags full of atmosphere. The building is perfectly placed in my opinion. Excellent exposure control and good use of the chain link fence as a frame. I like the sparkling street lamps and, most especially, the glistening cobblestones and reflections. I like it very much. Thanks for sharing.

claudeD (11336) 2009-12-02 8:23

Hello Craig,

very fine blue hour shot after rainfall.I like your perfect light managment here very much.Excellent photojob.TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

Jean-Claude