Tosin’s Images & Anecdotes (TIAA) is my self-assigned photography challenge of 2022. The immediate objective is to select one image from my inventory (a cityscape, landscape, portrait, oddity, etc.) each week and write something about it. This “something” could be the story behind the photo, a triggered memory in relation to the photo, or simply a reaction or reflection based on the subject matter featured. The long-term objective is to encourage myself to add more content to “La Vue Atypique”, which celebrates its first decade in publication this year.
What can I say about the photograph above?
The last few TIAA articles have been heavy and dark, in terms of topics, so I thought I would switch gears and finally share the image that I’ve postponed sharing on account of the darker issues I’ve discussed instead. Alas, I’ve made an independent decision to not let the events of the world interfere with my blog entry for this week.
This is a cityscape of downtown Seattle that I captured from the rooftop of a new high-rise apartment complex that didn’t exist five years ago. One could call it a “bird’s eye” view captured with a “fisheye” lens (a.k.a. wide angle lens). As a result, there is some distortion around each corner of the frame. In this week’s feature photo, the skyscrapers appear to be blooming or sprouting outwards in all directions from the center of the image as opposed to jutting up vertically from bottom to top. How particular the photographer is about distortions (of any subject matter) created by wide angle lenses will determine whether he or she will use the software tools available to correct or remove the distortion. Some distortions are left as they are because the perspective can have an artistic or creative appearance.
I’m not terribly particular in this case because I love the end result. This is very likely what a robin, raven, or one of Seattle’s several seagulls would see when flying above the downtown core of a major city.
It’s also what I love to capture as a professional photographer — the city illuminated at night (and the additional height always augments the perspective). I love the cosmopolitan vibe that’s emanated from the image.
It’s thrilling and exciting.
The night is when the city comes to life.
It’s electric and palpable.
I love the personality displayed in this portrait of a city (my definition of a “cityscape”), especially at this particular time when day transitions to night.
It’s brilliant and spellbinding.
Alas, for this week, I’m “Going Back to My Roots” with why I delved into photography in the first place. I hope you like the image.
22 articles down for the TIAA challenge. 30 remain!
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