I usually have some vision of an image I want to make when I head to a new place, but I always try to keep an open mind. Some of my favorite images come from simply interpreting my surroundings. I caught an early morning taxi to shoot the Abu Dhabi skyline and warm, orange glow of sunrise reflected in the Persian Gulf. But when I arrived, I found myself surrounded by meowing kittens and soaring birds, and a bit too much wind for smooth water. I knew the birds would be perfect for this image, and I could create a reflection in Photoshop. So I captured the skyline with a single frame, and then boosted my ISO and shutter speed to capture several images of the birds to composite into the final image. I love how it all came together. I arrived with an idea of shooting an ultra-modern city skyline, and left with an image that captures a bit of the city’s link with the natural world. It feels much more true to the moment than a cold urban scene. But still, no cats.
Post processing:
- Dodging and burning with Lumenzia to give depth to the buildings
- Local contrast enhancement with Lumenzia to bring out more detail in the buildings
- Cloning to remove some construction cranes
- Replace existing water reflection with one which is much more clear