San Francisco Skyline II Photo

Photographer’s Note

During a recent visit to the San Francisco Design Center, as a friend whom I'd driven to the city was busily looking at fabrics and furniture, I was rambling around the building with camera in hand looking for photographic possibilities, when I noticed a partially open window. I peered through and was surprised to discover this view of the San Francisco skyline as seen from south of Market Street. The familiar outline in the central panel is the 52 story Bank of America building, the first major building in the city that was clad with dark marble.

Bank of America Building

The distortions you see in some of the buildings occur from the fact that this is old glass of inconsistent thickness that produces somewhat wavy images. On the right is a ladder that is part of the fire escape system accessed through the window. As you can see, it was a beautiful day in San Francisco, even seen through the window of an old building. Enjoy.

Galeota, carper, Cool-ice, mikee, Rinie_Hoff, ChrisJ, Hanssie, Liora, nwoehnl, janwalt, pamastro, elroyie, sn00zie has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Galeota (10329) 2004-08-12 3:37

The distorsion causes an odd effect, as if the city was underwater in a fishbowl. Seems also as if the viewer was behind bars...and outside a great blue sky and freedom.

carper (63877) 2004-08-12 3:42

I like the idea and the view Curtis,
Very nice lines in it, good colours, good composition, very good job

Cool-ice (5289) 2004-08-12 3:44

Original, with this distorsion.
And very well composed.
I like your image, Curtis !

mikee (1981) 2004-08-12 3:48

Interesting idea. I like your PoV of the city skyline under the big blue sky. The distortion is one of the things that makes this shot unique and so attractive. Well seen. Well done.

spence (1679) 2004-08-12 3:51

Very interesting and effective, Curtis - maybe one for the Windows category of the Autumn hunt?

Rinie_Hoff (9332) 2004-08-12 4:00

Nice view, Curtis, I love the old glass, it gives a feeling ythat people have taken well care of things. And to look trhough it, it always nice, you don't know what you can expect.
Very good composition.

olli (2091) 2004-08-12 4:12

Looks like this image is composed of smaller ones with black frame. The distortion makes this great shot even better. I would crop a bit from the left. First I thought that some clouds could be a nice addition – but now I prefer this simple blue sky.
Excellent work, Curtis – one of your best shots...

Isabelle (9014) 2004-08-12 10:50

the distortions grabbed my eyes immediatelly, Curtis! and they add a great charm to your beautiful photo.
actually, i wish there was more of distorted sky-scrappers and less sky ;)
great job, nonetheless!

Hanssie (9133) 2004-08-12 12:59

Hey, a nice frame too !
Nice seen, Curtis, I like that you've composed the buildings on the bottom of your picture and the rest as a frame, nice work you did !

Liora (1857) 2004-08-12 14:08

Hi Curtis, I see you're back to graphics. Nice choice of subject and the light blue is a perfect background for this fine shot. I like the glass distortion - gave me a feeling that I was looking through the glass there.

nwoehnl (118) 2004-08-12 14:34

A very refreshing way of showing the SF skyline, Curtis. Not only are the distortions of the reflected buildings delightfully subtle, but the grid pattern provided by the windows and the ladder really adds a graphical quality and like Olli said makes it look like it were composed of multiple smaller shots. The colors look great in this, very good job.

janwalt (263) 2004-08-12 14:55

I love this shot Curtis. It seems as if the city (and a slightly distorted version of it - quite effective here) is ensnared in some sort of grid. And of course the color of that sky!!

torben (3084) 2004-08-12 15:05

An engineer might consider the glass inferior but my sentimentality loves it along with the slightly irregular window bars. And the contrast from this to the very straight buildings behind is captivating, the blue sky vibrant.
As you might have gathered I find the photo passable.

Burnham (2426) 2004-08-12 17:10

I'm just laughing away reading your discussion with our beloved Danish Scrooge ;o)I however being less of a thinker when it comes to photography, find this quite a bit above pasable ;o) I love the sky and the skyline divided so nicely into squares, it reminds me of when I first picked up drawing subjects from photos, and how much having the picture divided into squares like this helped get the perspective right. Good stuff.

Proxilva (2157) 2004-08-12 17:24

!!!!
your new lense again? (or wasn't that you) (then ; sorry) :D I would say good buy... but maybe i should give the photographer a little credits as well...

what very well seen and what a great compo with no horizon, just the black framing... great work here Curtis!!!

pamastro (7213) 2004-08-12 18:11

Very good job spotting out this view. Your story reminds me of when I was walking through the Capitoline Museum in Rome and I'd come upon some windows with great views of the Forum beyond the art. It's an excellent capture of the skyline. Especially how you composed it into the two panes in a very pleasing way. The big blue sky is nicely broken up above the city. The distortions from the glass also add a neat touch. It sort of makes it look like a reflection as much as a view through a window. Excellent work and a well spotted view.

ChrisJ (69396) 2004-08-13 2:59

Good abstract shot with lots of geometry.

dom_inik_m (1707) 2004-08-13 3:56

(slight) Dizziness without ingesting any intoxicating substance (at least, you don't mention it in your note): as I keep on repeating, adventure begins at the corner of your street, as long as you keep your eyes open (and your camera ready)...
Great shot, elegant composition, vibrant harmonics... Well, all's been said before.
I just created a new theme, Exploring shapes and colours. Would you like to participate with this picture?
This invitation may not be quite formal, but we've all got to start somewhere, somehow... ;-)
PS By the way, did your friend find the stuff (s)he was looking for?

elroyie (2750) 2004-08-13 10:59

Very good picture with great colours and very good composition, the distortion of the buildings because of the window distortion gives to the frame an interesting aspect, well done!

timotey (1926) 2004-08-13 12:58

Very beautiful shot with this good point of view. It shows us an original composition qith this nice distortions effect. The overall bleu colours contrasts very well with the black one of the frames. Very well done !

Ebbe (9571) 2004-08-13 18:47

Wow Curtis, this is a great framing of the skyline. I like the low horizon in it too.

sn00zie (2384) 2004-08-16 5:31

i agree with Galeota.. the distortion does indeed look like it was caused because of water.. the way you've framed the picture is quite different. nice job Curtis