This photograph resulted from a reflex reaction, driven by my long-standing image-making interest in reflections, the night and abstracts. A Reflection On The NighCOPYRIGHT 2008 Paul Grayson AMDG

Straggling

The Parvis of La Defense can often seem a lonely, even forbidding place at night, especially in the Winter when most people are comfortably snuggling in front of the TV at home. It is improved by the lighting and colours of the annual Christmas Village and the company provided by stragglers doing last minute shopping for presents.

I was making my own way home, walking away from the Grande Arche and the Village, when I saw them re-appear in front of me, distorted in a chrome, globe-shaped sculpture. I liked the combination of twisted shapes and colours framing the Arche, which I have photographed so often in its “pure” architectural look.

Skulking

One enjoyable challenge of reflection photography is either using the inevitability of your own presence in the image to tell the story, or, if this can be avoided, finding that particular angle of approach which delivers the desired scene, while hiding the photographer. This necessitates a M. Hulot-like dance around the object: crouching and standing up, bending and weaving, much like a cobra sizing up when to strike. As always the curious gaze of passers by need to be filtered out of consciousness, in order to concentrate on the desired objective.

Settings Choices

In extreme lighting conditions, there is always a compromise to be made with all or some of aperture, ISO and speed, in order to capture even a basically workable image. I felt able to avoid a more extreme ISO, largely because the target image was largely abstract and somewhat “fluid”, thereby reducing the need for best quality sharpness. Nevertheless, given that the speed and aperture were still very unforgiving for a hand-held capture, I was gratified at the result.

Because of the lighting conditions and ISO, the post processing was, of necessity, quite aggressive, in terms of sharpening, brightening, contrast and colour saturation. The result is nevertheless, not a pixel-manipulated view, but a relatively faithful snapshot of what marvels can be seen, if we only take the time to stop and look.

Technicals

Camera: Nikon D300

Lens: VR 70-200mm zoom f/2.8G

Focal Length:  125mm

VR: On

Focus Mode: AF-C

Autofocus Area Mode: Single

Aperture: f/ 3.5

Shutter Speed: 1/13s

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Exposure Compensation : -1.3 OEV

Metering: Centre weighted

ISO Sensitivity: 1250

Hand held

The final result gave me pleasure, in its evocation of the magic of Christmas lights, the scuttling presence of the people huddled through the image and the friendly interest that the skyscraper “monsters” are showing, as they protectively bend over the scene.

Copyright Paul Grayson 2014