An afternoon in Central Park Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is yet another shot from that Saturday afternoon in central park. I know some of you will compare it with my previous picture, so let me share my thoughts. The previous picture was taken facing the sun, so the light conditions were actually quite difficult. This one was taken with my back to the sun, so the colors are more vibrant (I think) here. This one to me has a lot more details versus the other one where I wanted to show the contrast of the city life with nature. Both were shot in RAW format.
See what you think.

Some info on the BOW BRIDGE:
(courtesy: www.centralpark.com)
Bow Bridge stretches across the Lake in Central Park.
Stretching sixty feet over the lake, from Cherry Hill to the Ramble, it is not only one of the most beautiful cast iron bridges in the world, but also offers some of the most breathtaking views of the park around it.

Completed in 1862 Bow Bridge was built of cast iron instead of stone, which was used for almost all of the other archways in the park. While this was ostensibly done for economic reasons (eliminating the need for stone cutters and masons) it is impossible now to imagine how it could have been executed in any other manner. From its graceful curves to the subtle ornamentation it is one of the finest examples of the magic that resulted from the combined vision of Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould. It displays an understated, yet powerful aesthetic that provides the perfect transition between the carefully crafted Cherry Hill and the natural jumble of the Ramble.

The bridge also provides the perfect perch from which to watch the slowly moving row boats as they glide across the lake, or to photograph the skyline over Fifth Ave. as it rises from the leafy skirt of trees that edge it. It is one of the most popular, and best known, spots to meet and has hosted numberless romantic moments, both on and off the big screen. In fact, if you edited them together, you could probably construct an entire Woody Allen feature just from the scenes filmed on Bow Bridge. And despite rumors to the contrary the bridge has always been very easy to work with and has nothing but admiration and respect for the celebrated director.

Location: Mid-Park at 74th St., west of Bethesda Terrace connecting Cherry Hill and the Ramble

FYI: Bow Bridge was constructed with ironwork provided by Janes, Kirtland & Co., the same company that constructed the dome of The Capitol in Washington, D.C.

aylincaliskan, asajernigan, pboehringer, mvdisco, gracious, danos, dlevy23, feather, stelli, Wandering_Dan, Clementi, kiwi_explorer, Dyerco, JCG, Tue, noborders, Floydian, stego, angela926, JorgeCK, dareco, leo61, avene, axiotea trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

mesutilgim (37054) 2008-04-16 13:17

Hi Shaeri,
Wonderfull scenery very well captured !
Great pov and very nice graphical effect with many nice geometrical elements. Wonderfull reflections. Nice compo with many usefull info's. A real TE job !
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

aylincaliskan (248) 2008-04-16 13:23

Hello Shaeri ,
i think this photo have very special reflections and composition. well done,
Aylin

erbiloguz (861) 2008-04-16 13:33

Wonderful reflections and nice composition..
Well done
TFS
EO

Jimbal (1221) 2008-04-16 13:52

Hi Shaeri.
Beautiful picture. Very good point of view, nice reflection and colours.
Greetings from Wallonia (Belgium).
JMB

sacavem (8387) 2008-04-16 13:55

Olá Shaeri,

Excellent shot of this nice reflections, with lovely colours and perfect clarity.

Well done!
Best regards,
Filipe

batalay (21086) 2008-04-16 13:56

Hello Shaeri,

This is lovely view of Bow Bridge, revealing the smooth curves and details of the carvings. The placid conditions allow the perfect reflections, and the chance to submit two photos for the price of one. This is a genuinely lovely image.

Warm regards,

Bulent

asajernigan (14236) 2008-04-16 14:58

Shaeri,
Great shot with a fine reflection. The reflection gives the shot nice depth and balance. The lighting and colors are great with nice sharpness and detail.
TFS,
Asa

bracasha75 (22219) 2008-04-16 16:02

Hi Shaeri
Another one very useful shot from this bridge
Excellent composition and POV
TFS
Cheers,Braca

pboehringer (770) 2008-04-16 18:45

shaeri,
I was only once in New York but obviously I did a walk through some parts of the Central Park and I'm pretty sure that I saw this bridge although without this wonderful reflections. what a perfection of moment taht you captured here. Lovely!
Peter

mvdisco (11565) 2008-04-16 19:32

Hi Shaeri,
Another great composition of the Bow bridge in across the lake in Central Park in New York, lovely reflection and POV. nice perpective and beautiful colors and sharp picture, Very well done My friend,
My compliments,
Michel

gracious (20017) 2008-04-16 22:17

Hello Shaeri,
another fine and beautiful view of the park and the bridge!
good pov with a great reflection well captured in sharpness, good colour and details
well done always
best regards
tony

danyy (69147) 2008-04-16 23:23

Bonjour Shaeri,
voici un thème interessant à exploiter, les ponts avec leurs reflets en eaux calmes.
Et avec la symétrie, c'est enconre plus beau.
Excellentes lumières et couleurs.
Regards.
Daniel.

Stepan (27175) 2008-04-17 0:01

It reminds me parks in China... The way you compose the place is excellent. And you produce style, peace and silence... That's pretty well done.
Stéphane
PS : I just come back from NYC and I regret I didn't see you were there. We could have met !!

trekks (14324) 2008-04-17 2:46

hello Shaeri

I like this diagonal skew better than your last post. Sharp and calm water. I wonder if you skew more diagonal from corner, how will it look?

A lovely day and light for your capture of this vision. Great shot.

tfs, bill
later

ambar_81 (665) 2008-04-17 4:20

Hi Shaeri,
Plz don't mind I didn't liked the shot.It's better in some aspects than ur previous one like as u said light is good enough here and I liked the POV as well.But couldn't u avoid those grass in the foreground?It's quite messy. It could've been an excellent shot without those grasses.The reflection looks wonderful here.
Regards,
Ambar

danos (32882) 2008-04-17 5:20

Hello Shaeri,
one more beautiful shot from the Central Park.The reflection of the bridge on the stationary water is something more than impressive.The placement of the bridge in frame is managed well and the result is great.Informative your note too.

Regards,danos

Cretense (56648) 2008-04-17 6:16

Hi Shaeri!

Is it the same bridge like your last post? Anyway, it's a brilliant one, great POV, and diagonal perspective, beautiful colours and perfect reflection! Congratulations!

Hercules

dlevy23 (2018) 2008-04-17 6:18

Hi Shaeri, this photo looks like a postcard. Excellent reflections and composition. Love the colors, the only thing that bother me a little bit is the center taqller weed, it is a little distracting, but everything else is perfection.
Good job.

Daniel

sagar (2307) 2008-04-17 7:01

Hi Shaeri,
If a comparison is done between the two , this one would get the edge for the better management of light. However , as you said, the two have different POV and thought behind them. This is a good composition Shaeri, however I would prefer to get the view of the entire bridge. The crop of the right part of the bridge causes a little asymmetry. I am not sure though , whether it was a crop, or you were standidng too close to get the entire bridge in frame.!!!
Regards,
Sagarneel.
PS- We are both stranded on 99. Mone hochhe 100 ta ek sathei hobe!!!

feather (49872) 2008-04-17 7:37

Another good image of Bow Bridge, again with wonderful reflections. The light does seem to be more manageable here and the blue in the reflection catches the eye nicely. The detail in the metalwork is also easier to see than in the previous image. Well done
Kath.

stelli (2959) 2008-04-17 8:19

Great light management and beautiful colors! I like all three versions (including the Ws from the previous one! This one is a bit brighter and the scene more inviting! Thank you for sharing! Regards Stella

Wandering_Dan (3265) 2008-04-17 10:14

Hi, Shaeri -

Interesting that with a shallow DOF you still managed to get much of the foreground in focus. Nice placing of the bridge on a diagonal, too.

Best,
Dan

nirvana73 (8782) 2008-04-17 13:20

Hi Shaeri,
good observation
good idea
i like reflection and colors
thanks fro sharing
regards
Ozhan

kiwi_explorer (12195) 2008-04-17 17:14

Hi Shaeri,
I prefer this one than the first one you've posted. Colors and lighting is much better and your angle of shot framed the bridge better. Awesome reflections and image clarity. I like the way you positioned the grass in the foreground to anchor the view. Well captured and composed. Excellent work! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

Dyerco (9180) 2008-04-17 22:15

Hi Shaeri
I like the POV here with the bridge at more of a diagonal and the grasses in the FG. You managed to keep the grasses from intersecting with the bridge.
Very nicely done.
Phil

dvlazar (6488) 2008-04-17 22:39

Hey there,
Such a lovely and clear shot of the bridge - its truly beautiful!
Clear reflections in the water and perfect use of light.

Dave

jafadabret (40023) 2008-04-17 23:47

Cette photo, Shaeri, est également très belle tout en étant plus dynamique.
J'aime le graphisme de ce pont et les belles couleurs de son environnement.
Jacques

Clementi (44683) 2008-04-18 0:43

Ciao Shaeri,
a perfect rugby ball that the bridge creates with the reflection in water.
beautiful light and colors .
perfect job
Giorgio

JCG (25573) 2008-04-18 4:48

Hi Shaeri,

I like the soft shapes of this bridge which is integrated agreeably in the landscape. One would say a little these bridges that one finds in the Japanese gardens. These tall grasses on the left of the image do not obstruct me. The unit is very harmonious and resting with this pretty reflection. Interesting note, Thank you Shaeri.

With all my friendships and a very good WE,

Jean-Charles

sayanwithsenice (717) 2008-04-18 9:18

HI!!!

Sorry for reaching to your photographs late.. I was actually a bit busy with chess.. Anyways , i am really very amazed by this photograph!! WOW!! What a reflection , what a framing , amazing colors and contrast!! I really like the way you placed the bridge...

Thanks a lot for sharing,
Sayan

Bluejeans (32715) 2008-04-18 10:06

Ola Shaeri ,
Que beleza de foto , que reflexo perfeito , bom ângulo de visão com a ponte em diagonal , gostei muito deste primeiro plano com as ervas secas, boas cores, parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

toto (18743) 2008-04-18 13:22

Bonsoir,
belle photo de ce superbe pont qui se reflète de fort jolie façon dans cette eau calme. Grande netteté; très jolie vue.

Amitiés Thomas

Tue (25608) 2008-04-18 17:01

Hi Shaeri,
Another great photo from the park and again gorgeous reflections of the bridge in the calm and very blue water. Also the reflected trees look great with nice distortions. Very good inclusion of the grass in the foreground too. Great photo work!
Regards,
Lars

samrat_roy1 (683) 2008-04-18 21:37

hi shaeri
another one of your excellent shots. i love the way you have captures the mood and framed the shot. the reflection is perfect. if only you could have avoided those people standing on the bridge. good work done...

noborders (14199) 2008-04-19 0:33

Hi Shaeri, this view of the bridge, even more than the previous one pleases me, the elegant curve taking almost all the frame is great,
Compliments and best regards,
Cath.

Floydian (30970) 2008-04-19 2:10

Hello Shaeri,
Light was not on your side, but your eye in making this composition was there. The reflections of the bridge and the tree at the left gave you a beautiful mirror effect. Grass in front is essentiel, but maybe a bit to high, but better than without it. People on the bridge make the image alive...very nice.
Have a nice weekend, Henk

rishabh6296 (706) 2008-04-19 22:05 [Comment]

Show Comment

devylla (79) 2008-04-20 4:54

I'm so grad to see the Central Park in this POV.
Very well taken.

Best regats,
Sabina

stego (22376) 2008-04-20 15:24

Hi Shaeri,
This one is even more achieved and attractive than the penultimate. There is so much I like about it... The compo is superb, very gracious and well balanced. I like the grass on the FG and I am very surprised that you managed to include it in the DOF with only f.3.5. I guess I don't need to mention the reflection. I think that the perspective distortion introduced by the wide angle and low POV results combines very nicely with the curve of the bridge.
Regards, José.

angela926 (1882) 2008-04-20 19:50

Hello Shaeri,
Very lovely shot, excellent composition and point
of view, fantastic sharpness and good depth of
field, beautiful colors and very nice
reflections.
Angela

Angshu (33927) 2008-04-22 0:39

Hello Shaeri
What can I write more than what you've already mentioned in your note about the technical quality of the picture?! If you ask me, I'll say I like the more diagonal approach of the bridge here...gives good depth. Of course the colours, reflections are very good.
Best Wishes
Angshumanda
Heartiest congratulations for your 100th! Wish to see many, many more. I have posted by 350th yesterday. Kolkatai jachho ki ma’r operationer jonne?

JorgeCK (2598) 2008-04-22 6:45

Hola amigo,
Excellent symmetry. wonderful shot with a very good composition.
wel captured.
take care
joRge

dareco (17104) 2008-04-22 14:39

A very beautiful scene!! I love the bridge. This picture has a very nice mood to it. TFS

leo61 (43448) 2008-04-22 21:37

Hi Shaeri!
Great shot of this bridge again.A well chosen POV and a nice foreground with this grass.Good reflections and great depth with the diagonal of the bridge.
Regards,leo

jmdias (19593) 2008-04-28 7:22

shaeri

I liked this version of the bridge, the pov is better, light too and we can see all that beautiful details, including that ones of nature. Beautiful compo, congratulations

jorge

avene (11068) 2008-05-12 19:58

hello Shaeri,
very elegan and I'd even say graceful photo, the bridge looks like a delicate bracelet, not cast iron contstruction. I particularly like how you emphasise its elongated shape, and I don't mind the grass in the foreground. this is very well seen and presented, my compliments.

with best regards,
Kristine

axiotea (16191) 2008-05-24 23:08

Hello Shaeri
Beautiful bridge shaped like an archer's bow with great details to look at...Its shape is very elegant and I like it's reflection among the trees and blue sky. The inclusion of the dry grass in FG is a detail I appreciate too!
Cheers
Marilyn