Joy of Light Photoblog
Rainy Rooftops
Posted by Stephen Phillips (San Francisco, United States) on 5 January 2009 in Cityscape & Urban and Portfolio.
The shopping district of San Francisco on a rainy night.
© copyright 2009 by Stephen Phillips Photography / San Francisco / www.joyoflight.com
please respect these rights - do not copy or use these images without permission
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djedfre from schaumburg, United States
really great shot - i love the glow of the buildings - and that striped green parking ramp - it all almost looks like a scale model!
(did i mention it's ALWAYS raining when i'm in SF?)
5 Jan 2009 5:39am
@djedfre: YOu didn't mention the rain thing yet - but please come at once - - - we are heading toward a third year of drought and could use your presence.
Suzanne from Huntington Bch, United States
Exquisitely beautiful cityscape. Wonderful perspective.
5 Jan 2009 5:44am
MontereyJohn from Salinas, California, United States
I love it when the clouds are low and you get that relected light. Nicely done.
5 Jan 2009 6:34am
@MontereyJohn: Thanks, John - I had a great time with this 'wee hours' shoot.
@Inés: Merci pour la visite et commentaires.
Paco Díaz from Spain
Great city night shot, very clean image.
It makes me to remember that side of SF, I was living there.
5 Jan 2009 8:05am
@Paco Díaz: You lived here, Paco? When? ...and thanks.
@chrissy: thank you, chrissy
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
Just love building when they have been washed clean by the rain. I must say when I see the words "San Francisco", that great song from Scott McKenzie always comes to mind. Maybe it was one of those folk with flowers in their hair that took the trouble to decorate the rooftop with the beautiful looking pot plants!
5 Jan 2009 8:31am
@dobbino: "...All across the nation,
such a strange vibration,
people in motion,
people in motion..."
I love your suggestion that one of our aged flower children might be responsible for the rooftop plants. Those plants are 'high' - that's for sure. Thanks, dobbino.
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
Such beautiful lighting and amazing clarity... wonderful city shot!
5 Jan 2009 2:31pm
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Wow, what a lovely city wide view, you took it so well, I'm experiencing the mood :)
5 Jan 2009 3:59pm
melodia from ffm, Germany
also a good night picture. like the colors that this time of day (or better night) creates.
5 Jan 2009 4:08pm
Stephen from Charlottetown, Canada
The range of colors in the buildings and sky looks great
5 Jan 2009 4:36pm
Jeff from Pembroke Dock, United Kingdom
When this old world starts getting me down...You and the Drifters got it right Stephen,it is as peaceful as can be,beautiful shot mate.
5 Jan 2009 4:37pm
@Jeff: When this old world starts getting me down,
And people are just too much for me to face,
I climb way up to the top of the stairs,
And all my cares just drift right into space,
On the roof, it's peaceful as can be,
And there the world below can't bother me,
Let me tell you now..."
Thanks for the thought, Jeff. And I would like to declare Carole King a national treasure.
Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France
A perfect sharpened night shot ! Cheers
5 Jan 2009 5:05pm
Alphons from Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands
Nice play of lights, shapes and colours. Fine picture.
5 Jan 2009 6:51pm
EYES WIDE SHUT from The library of my soul, United Kingdom
The colours here are superb, you've really captured a marvellous ambience of light and hue. Wonderfully done
5 Jan 2009 7:05pm
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
For a rainy night, you've got some incredible clarity and sharpness.
5 Jan 2009 8:43pm
@Viewfinder: I had a blast with this night series. It had been raining and a lot more rain was on the way - but around the time of this capture - it had become showery. I walked around and selected my spots and waited in the car for a break in the weather. Shortly after making this exposure - I had to cover my gear and run for cover.
Chris from South Jersey, United States
really stunning colors and lighting - the recent rain adds a sense of freshness to the city. Is this HDR? It really has a lot of range in it.....
5 Jan 2009 9:40pm
@Chris: Hi there, Chris. On the HDR question - strictly speaking, no. The Canon 5D allowed me to shoot at ISO 50 and to engage a 'custom function' where the camera suppresses noise on long exposures - making for a very clear capture. I processed the image in Adobe Lightroom™ including slight boosts in clarity and vibrance - before going to my normal processing in Photoshop™. Thanks for the visit.
Wolfgang - vu@granby from Granby, Québec, Canada
Very clean, how long was the exposure?
5 Jan 2009 9:55pm
@Wolfgang - vu@granby: Here is the full EXIF data:
Canon 5D w/ 16-35mm f/ 2.8 lens at 16mm (full manual) ISO 50 / f/7.1 @ 20 seconds
...thanks for the visit, Wolfgang.
Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States
Love the story behind the photo... they are the fun times... sounds like my kinda thing...
5 Jan 2009 9:56pm
@Fliss: Well, you're always welcome to come along...
@Veronelle: thank you, Veronelle.
Scott Schilling from San Martin, United States
Stephen, a great image - the sky is great with the clouds! - the clarity makes me feel like I am right there. I also like the nice vertical lines and horizontal lines of the structures - great work!
5 Jan 2009 10:47pm
k@ from Paris, France
The yellow arrow-like border gives it its perfect balance and originality !
5 Jan 2009 10:57pm
Betty from New Jersey, United States
The light and details are stunning, Stephen! Fantastic work!
5 Jan 2009 11:28pm
Shrig from Washington, D.C., United States
Call me crazy, I love that yellow wall at the bottom of the photo. I know it's not the point, but I can't stop looking at it.
Well done and nice to meet you!
6 Jan 2009 12:29am
@Shrig: Hi there, Shrig. Greetings. I was born and grew-up in Bethesda and moved to California from Arlington back in 1970. Thanks for the visit. On that yellow wall - it really is a deep yellow. That streetlamp gave it the greenish tinge. I thought about doing a color balance but everything else was spot-on, and besides - that's what it looked like under those circumstances - so I decided to let it ride.
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Excellent exposure.... the buildings look great, and I really like the roof planters.
6 Jan 2009 12:47am
Walter from Watkinsville, United States
I remember the first photo I commented of yours on this blog a while back. I loved it. The streetcar with your photo from the previous day in the advertisement area. I now have another favorite of yours in this photo. I have read all about how you took the photo, but need one more bit of info. Was this the only take? One photo and you got it spot on? Please say yes so I can be impressed beyond belief because this is awesome.
6 Jan 2009 1:07am
@Walter: You're embarrassing me, Walter, you are too kind. One take - that was it. It was raining so I couldn't take too long. I think the Canon 5D deserves a lion's share of the credit. I manually metered the shot and took a reading about 2/3 of a stop less than what the Canon read. I compromised by setting the Canon -1/3 stop. I'll also credit a really sturdy tripod and very little wind.
grant from kansas city, United States
excellent, and subtly surreal - it looks like a train set model.
6 Jan 2009 1:52am
@grant: Thanks, Grant. I loved my model trains.
JJ from Jersey City, United States
WOW this is superb, the glow of the buildings the vivid colors, spectacular
6 Jan 2009 2:16am
sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
I love this capture with all it's light and brilliant colors. It almost looks like a miniature model of a city.
6 Jan 2009 4:44am
@sherri: thanks for the kind words, Sherri.
Mike from Lichfield, United Kingdom
I love this photo. So many buildings packed into so little space.
7 Jan 2009 8:42am
@Mike: Thanks, Mike. It is a bit crowded...
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