Nice view from up here

[Darren Bradley]

An artist recently installed a new piece (lights that change color depending on the weather) on top of one of the tallest buildings in San Diego. It took some doing, but I finally managed to wrangle access to the roof of this tower to get some shots a few weeks ago. This photo will be published in a local magazine next month:

 

[Davie Hudson]

you've surpassed yourself Darren that is bloody amazing!! there is so much in it and so much to look at, brilliant

 

[Brian Moore]

Wonderful shot, Darren. Whose the bloke?

 

[Darren Bradley]

Thanks, guys! That's me! I put the shutter on timer for this one. I thought it would be a more powerful image with someone in it, but I was the only one up there!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

nice self portrait - which building is it Darren? haven't seen the lights, but then I'm not often downtown at night

 

[Pete Askew]

Excellent Darren and if you're going to do a self-portrait, do it in style (I think there is still a self-portrait theme running). I especially like the way a number of areas of light (eg on the street) match the colours in the tower and the way the grey waters act as a backdrop. Nice.

 

[Glenn Clabo]

Nicely done. You...in the picture and the road give it a real perspective. Otherwise it would be just another nice building shot.

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks, guys! That's me! I put the shutter on timer for this one. I thought it would be a more powerful image with someone in it, but I was the only one up there!

Well done!

 

[Darren Bradley]

Thank you, guys! It's not every day that we have weather in San Diego - in fact, it's not very often at all. But it was unusually cold and very windy when I was up there. I have a heavy-duty tripod, which I weighted down with my bag, and it was still moving in the wind!

 

[Darren Bradley]

Oh, I forgot to answer Chris's question. This is on top of both towers of The Grande on Pacific Highway. Here are a couple more shots of it:

 

[Pete Askew]

That really is quite a view. And I like the motion in the clouds - is that partly down to the stitching?

 

[Darren Bradley]

Thanks, Pete. I did stitch these shots, but the clouds where from a single frame. The motion blur comes just from the long exposure. It wasn't very long, but those clouds were moving VERY quickly! There was a storm on the way, and the winds were very high. I tried to act casual, but I was nearly blown off the damned roof.

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

A dramatic composition, and perfect timing to merge a day and night image.

 

[Brian Moore]

The colors on the first one are amazing. What lens for these, Darren?

 

[Darren Bradley]

Cheers, Brian! These were with the 24 Ts