Urban Low Light V: Erasmusbrug, a photo from Zuid Holland, South

Photographer's Note

Displayed here is the Erasmusbrug (De Zwaan – The Swan). It’s round midnight, we were returning from a IFFR screening. It was a bit hazy and the bridge’s floodlights painted the haze around the bridge in a striking way.

This beautiful bridge was designed by Ben van Berkel . As more then a few TE members know, it has become the hallmark of Rotterdam. It’s a single pylon suspension bridge. The prominently displayed cables (tuien) caused the bridge some problems shortly after iitwas opened. During the design phase some engineers of Gemeentewerken (municipal technical services) who worked with van Berkel on the project were sceptical about it's revolutionary design and were almost proved right when there was a big resonance problem during a rainstorm – the bridge deck began to move. The retrofitting of bigger sized shock absorbers (connecting the tuien and the bridge deck) rectified the problem.

PCS tech: ran noiseware, saturation (master) boosted/altered, adjusted levels, contrast, highlighted some shadow areas, burned the rust, USM-ed , frame added saved for the web and ran noiseware again.

exif data

Camera Model : C8080WZ
Exposure time [s] : 160/100
F-Number : F2.5
Exposure program : Aperture priority (3)
ISO speed ratings : 50
EXIF version : 02.20
Date taken : 2005:02:04 00:06:46
Exposure bias value : -10/10
Max aperture : F2.4
Metering mode : Multi-segment (5)
Focal length [mm] : 7.1000
FlashPix Version : 01.00
Colour space : sRGB
Image width : 3264
Image length : 2448
Exposure mode : Manual (1)
White balance : Auto (0)
Contrast : Normal (0)
Saturation : High (2)
Sharpness : Hard (2)

MvS, Fixfocus, Rinie_Hoff, jhm, alvaraalto, Albrecht, carper, nwoehnl, chinchini, Tue, digi-mom, cmartos, pamastro, peter1892 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

MvS (4163) 2005-02-18 3:55

Bert,
One of all them bridges in Holland you are blessed with.
I really like the effects of including the light arrangements. Fantastic sharpness and effects by the lit wires, and the POV is great.
Congratulations!
Magnus

Fixfocus (9385) 2005-02-18 4:23

We´ve seen already a few pics from this bridge here on TE,-but this one is shurely the best!
Excellent and cristal-clear compo in your typical style,Bert!
Wonderful colors and sharpness,great poV and perspective.
Excellent work!

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2005-02-18 5:01

Hi Bert, because of this really superb picture, in composition, and in tech, I just created a new theme, the Erasmus bridge, seen from all sides.
As always, this one is spot on, the colors, the empty pathway, the line of the backlights of the cars. It's a stunning one, it looks very sterile this way, probably because of your pp work, it looks a bit like shiny, stainless steel.
Right into my favorites!

puister (570) 2005-02-18 5:47

Hi Bert, Like modern art this picture of yours. Great use of the light and strong POV.
Groeten,
Paul

jhm (211738) 2005-02-18 5:48

Wel Bert, dit is een wonderlijke mooie foto hoe u deze tot stand heeft gebracht, door de belichting op de kabels krijgen wij een schitterend lijnen spel, maar ook een perfect perspectief, het frame en de nota, dit alle is verzorgd tot in de puntjes, waarvoor mijn compliment Bert!
Groeten uit Vlaanderen,
John.

antti (0) 2005-02-18 6:48

Hi, Bert. Woderfull use of light. Well composed. I like this low point of view. Red lines is great effect - like painters use in their works. I remember well your last shot, so your presentations are in very high level. Joy for eye and even this is so elegant and night time work, its spirit is still very positive.

alvaraalto (42868) 2005-02-18 7:32

It is remarkable that you, as “Rotterdammer” only for the second time upload a picture of this photogenic bridge. But you have the advantage that you can easily take pictures in a situation that we are already on our way home. And you did!!! Perfect shot of this deserted bridge.

Albrecht (11283) 2005-02-18 10:18

Prachtig beeld van de brug door de scherpte en de comostitie.Een hele goede plek om het lijnenspel vast te leggen. Je zult wel meer gamaakt hebben. Deze os top.

carper (96) 2005-02-18 12:29

een echt kunswerk die Erasmusbrug. Net als deze foto trouwens. Dit zijn foto's waar een Rotterdammer trots op kan zijn. De prachtige lijnen en dan de moeilijkheidsgraad, de goede scherpte en de juiste kleuren. Erg goed werk Bert. een meesterwerk

nwoehnl (122) 2005-02-18 15:37

Another stunning architecture shot to decorate your album, Bert. It's hard to imagine a better shooting angle than the one you found here - the resulting play of lines and shapes and the perspective is just great. Also a fine work with the exposure to render the special light effects. Very well done.

chinchini (31529) 2005-02-18 16:11

Bonsoir Bert,
Je découvre tes photos. C'est de l'art, permets-moi de le dire.
Le travail est excellent : choix du sujet, prise de vue avec cadrage, le traitement. Le résultat est sublime. J'aime !
Merci pour le partage.
Pierre

Hanssie (11022) 2005-02-18 16:54

A very nice bridge, a very nice object for photographers, but the way, you've "created" the Swan is amazing ! ! The colours and lights of the night, did not see such one. Nice, "my friend from Rotterdam" ! !

avigur_11 (22553) 2005-02-18 17:07

A very special view on this bridge, Bert. The strong lights turn the wires to white, and it makes the image look like a spider web. Excellent POV and perspective.

Tue (93556) 2005-02-18 17:46

Great view of this fantastic bridge! Great light and perspective! Very well done! :-)

Steft (6109) 2005-02-19 6:57

Wat mooi. Deze brug hebben we nu al vaker gezien, maar nog niet op deze manier. Prachtig dat de lijnen links beginnen en dan rechts naar de achtergrond verdwijnen.

Mooi contrast tussen de witte kabels en de zwarte lucht. Ik vraag me alleen wat er nou rechts op het voetpad licht. IJs?

c_kyr (1810) 2005-02-19 11:38

Very nice shot Bert.
The contrast of the sharp white with the rest dark of the photo is very nice.
Thanks for sharing.

jiherka (4552) 2005-02-19 17:45

Nice night view of this bridge. The light is beautiful, giving to the picture a special athmosphere. Good idea to take the picture form the ground.
Well done Bert.

cmartos (242) 2005-02-20 5:24

The POV and angle are excellent here. It gives that pylon much power, still enhanced by the lighting. The pylon is well positioned in the frame and the resulting play of lines is quite powerful. Not easy to include light sources here I guess, and you succeeded very well in adopting a low POV. There is also a single pylon bridge in Sevilla, the "puente del Alamillo" you may kow it. The designer is not Ben van Berkel I think, but the resemblance is quite impressive.

quantabeh (5205) 2005-02-20 23:02

a photo of tremendous depth, quality and composition, with great exposure, fantastic POV and beautifully finished. Even the exposure on the street lights is perfect.
well done,
regards,

pamastro (7296) 2005-02-21 23:49

This is very impressive, Bert. The lines of the bridge and cables are very engaging. THe composition is spot on. And I really like how the lighting is captured, so brilliantly against the pylon and connected so well with the lights themselves which makes it more engaging. The sharpness is spot on and the exposure perfect. And this, like the French facade, has a nice cold, steely feel. Even more so in this one when combined with the excellent lighting and enhanced by the blur of taillights on the road.

Intruder (3099) 2005-04-25 18:13

i like how clear this night shot is, the perspective of the bridge and the yellow-red colors at the bottom add a nice detail in your photo, very well done

peter1892 (1681) 2005-07-22 17:56

A really good shot of a great piece of architecture & engineering. The exposure here is great, the bridge is lit very well, but also there's some traffic in evidence. It all adds up to a great image :)

sergio1 (12152) 2006-01-06 18:44