It might look like a painted backdrop in a theatre, but it’s not. This was shot near Sixth Avenue in New York City in late June this year (2010).
Strong light late in the day can – and often does – cloak ordinary sights with nigh-magical contrasts of deep shade and silvery light.
When I first walked down this street in New York City, it was about midday – and these were simply buildings. But at about 6.30 that evening, the same view brought me to an immediate halt, because the late-evening sun produced shade on the lower structures and silver light on the higher building behind.
I do not crop, enhance or post-edit my images in any way. Shot with a Pentax K100D, using a Sigma 18-125mm lens. F13, 1/500 sec, ISO 200, focal length 78mm.
Featured in NEW YORK CITY JOURNALISM, October 2010.
This is an interesting shot! I like the inclusion of the water towers. The are so much a part of the New York city skyline.
Thank you for your kind words. It was my first visit to NYC and I was fascinated by the history of water towers on buildings, dating back to fire rules. You might also enjoy this water tower shot I took while we were there.
That’s brilliant news. Thank you so much for featuring this image. Your city really captivated me – now I must come back to research it as a place in which to set my next novel.
wonderful capture, love the sunlight reflections in the shadowed building windows.
Thanks so much, Sandra. It was a real combination of dark shadow and silvery light – and it was so very different from the sight I saw earlier that day, in the same spot.
Comments
fab shot
Thank you JustArt. Earlier in the day, in normal light, these were “just” two buildings I would never have shot!
– David McMahon
Great capture – love all the colours and reflections!
Thank you so much – we were actually on our way to the theatre and we were in a huge hurry, but I had to stop to take the shot!
– David McMahon
light can do loads…
You are absolutely right – this was so different from the way the same scene looked in “normal” daylight.
– David McMahon
Cool capture! :-)
Thanks very much, Linda – those silvery tones just made me come to a complete standstill!
– David McMahon
This is an interesting shot! I like the inclusion of the water towers. The are so much a part of the New York city skyline.
Thank you for your kind words. It was my first visit to NYC and I was fascinated by the history of water towers on buildings, dating back to fire rules. You might also enjoy this water tower shot I took while we were there.
– David McMahon
Wow wonderufl capture very beautiful!!! I like it that the lighting is all on the back building!
That’s exactly what brought me to a standstill. From memory, the building on the left was only about four storeys high – so it was in deep shade.
– David McMahon
That’s brilliant news. Thank you so much for featuring this image. Your city really captivated me – now I must come back to research it as a place in which to set my next novel.
– David McMahon
wonderful capture, love the sunlight reflections in the shadowed building windows.
Thanks so much, Sandra. It was a real combination of dark shadow and silvery light – and it was so very different from the sight I saw earlier that day, in the same spot.
– David McMahon
FEATURED IN ART IN MATH
OCTOBER 2010
Great news, Linaji – thank you so much for featuring this image and for letting me know,
– David McMahon
Isn’t it wonderful, how we wait for the light, and a then a scene like this appears!! love this David!! fav!
You’re so right, Linda. And when we re-traced our steps about half an hour later, the light had changed completely!
– David McMahon