Through the Screen, a photo from Washington, West

Photographer's Note

I guess we should expect the unexpected, when will I learn that?

When I spent the day in Seattle, I had planned out specific photo locations and subjects. When I arrived at one of them - the Space Needle - I spent an hour photographing something which was a total surprise, and it turned out to be the best shoot of the day.

Its the blown glass you see in this shot. I'm standing in a large glass enclosure. The blown glass artwork is flowing all around it, up and down, climbing and clinging to the walls like real vines on a tall fence. It was great to see the Space Needle through the glass, that was completely unexpected.

If you look closely, you'll notice the Space Needle along the bottom is more clear, where the top and middle portions of the building are somewhat foggy. Thats because there was a large sun shade covering the glass enclosure.

Hope you like this one.

worldcitizen, shaukatmi, papagolf21, bukitgolfb301, ChrisJ, ikeharel, GyurMaster, holmertz, Fis2, cornejo, marabu61, Royaldevon, king, ourania, Cricri, PaulVDV, alvaraalto, adores has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

worldcitizen (16226) 2016-03-18 18:55

Hello Craig,
This is great! I really love the composition, and the way you framed the Space Needle with those beautiful glass flowers. It has the feeling of Asian art to me. I like that the view outside is a bit muted, and the colors in the foreground are so strong. Really nice. :-)

shaukatmi (487) 2016-03-18 19:12

Hi, Craig. I like this composition with the Chihuly glass flowers forming a nice design climbing upwards and the Seattle space needle in the background. Lovely colors, nice sharp image and good presentation.
Thanks for sharing.

quovadis (5711) 2016-03-18 22:17

Well seen and executed photograph, Craig. Yes, the Needle Tower is a landmark structure in the west coast, known also all over the world for it's elegant design.

Your image shows more of artistic and unique point of view from down below the base, and it's an award worth winning one. Congratulation !!!

kasianowak (17676) 2016-03-18 23:51

Hi Craig
I don't know what to say - I just love this image and am going to include it in my favs. The combination of colourful artwork and the tower which looks as if it was drawn with a pencil is irresistibly beautiful.
Well-seen, well-done.
Best wishes
Kasia

heimann2 (2067) 2016-03-19 0:37

Very nice composition and wonderful contrast color-b&w. LIKE
regards
Pierre

papagolf21 (152607) 2016-03-19 1:03

Bonjour, cher ami Craig,
Cette image ne manque pas de joliesse. Bravo pour le choix du cadrage. Trиs bon rendu gйnйral.
Sujet intйressant.
Amitiйs.
Philippe

snunney (130967) 2016-03-19 1:25

Hello Craig,
A well conceived original composition. Excellent light management and superb colours and clarity. Well observed and perfectly executed.

You may know the city of Chennai by its former name of Madras. It sits about two thirds down the East coast of India and is the gateway to Southern India. I am afraid I chickened out of making my own travel arrangements this time and went on an escorted tour. We went on a similar tour to Northern India back in 2004. Not ideal for photography I know but if anything goes wrong somebody else has all the worry.

Tue (93296) 2016-03-19 2:05

Hello Craig,
Wow, these flowers are made of glass too, that's quite an impressive result from a true master of art. The vivid colours embrace the foggy Space Needle so nicely, the effect is perfect. It just looks like just a very foggy day outside.
Lars

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2016-03-19 2:27

Hi dear Craig

Very comfotable and fashinating image to see.
So well considered farmework and perfect composition keeping so delicate balance at all. Outstanding light effcet is so fantatsic too.

All the best and have a good weekend! Takero

Nicou (193814) 2016-03-19 2:32

Hlelo

Quelle vu ces fleur en grappes tout en couleur et au travers la tour blanche toute pвle et en finesse superbe compo et effet.
Bravo et belle journйe
Nciou

ChrisJ (172372) 2016-03-19 4:00

Hello Craig,

Well I did consider going to Seattle when I was in Victoria, BC, but decided against for 2 reasons. Firstly the public boat to Port Angeles does not connect with a bus for 2-3 hours and secondly I had listed my first point of entry to the US as Denver from Calgary on my tourist visa application. But it looks like it is a nice city and well worth a visit. The water lily patterns of the orange sculpture are great and the bg space needle makes a great backdrop. Tfs!

GyurMaster (24996) 2016-03-19 4:27

Dear Craig!

What a lovely composition, and yes, it is a bit unexpected. But one should try himself in every kind of photography.

Best Regards,
Gy.

holmertz (103520) 2016-03-19 5:25

Hello Craig,
I never plan any pictures in advance. I always let myself be surprised. It's great fun! ;-)
This photo shows the pleasure of being inspired by something unexpected. The vertical shape is of course necessary for the Needle but fits the blown glass perfectly too. It's a very elegant combination of two totally different features.
Best wishes,
Gert

Sergiom (117241) 2016-03-19 6:36

Bonjour Craig,

Une ville que je n'ai pas encore eu le bonheur de visiter. C'est assez prиs de chez toi chanceux. On voit rarement cette tour mythique sous cet angle fleuri trиs recherchй.

Amicalement

Serge

Fis2 (171789) 2016-03-19 7:29

Witaj Craig!
A very interesting work.
Good POV and composition.
Excellent colors and light.
Amazing effect!
Warm regards.
Krzysztof

No_One (4) 2016-03-19 7:53

Hi Craig
The unexpected ate the best I find, while planned trips and locations do what they are supposed to do, the unexpected are the ones that make you say wow, just like this. That's blown glass? Man that is some work of art and looking at the beautiful toning of the color in the flowers, a lot of skill had gone on to this. What an unexpected set of complimentary subjects between the tower and the glass. Really nice moment to catch.
Cheers
Noel

ikeharel (114435) 2016-03-19 7:57

Hello Craig,
Perfectly managed to post with the full view of the tower through the windows.
The colors of the blown-glass art-elements contrast well onto the grey day outside, or so it look like.
The giant "flowers" towering upwards in excellent partial coverage of the photo.
Enjoy a nice weekend,
Ike

cornejo (61504) 2016-03-19 11:06

Hi Craig, very good picture of this beautiful and interesting composition, very well captured in this beautiful image with good sharpness, light, color and quality. Very good and interesting work perfectly realized, my congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this beautiful work.

Good afternoon and happy Sunday.
Best wishes from southern Spain.
Angel.

carlo62 (81265) 2016-03-19 14:52

Ciao Craig
che bella questa cornice colorata che si avvolge intorno alla famosa torre.
Hai avuto una brillante idea e il risultato и proprio bello.
Buona domenica
Carlo

emka (158672) 2016-03-19 15:18

Hi Craig. Lovely composition, there glass flowers are so delicate and colourful. Good view of the Needle. Charming picture.

WArm regrads MAlgo

marabu61 (11587) 2016-03-19 15:33

Hi Craig
This is a rather unusual view on the space needle but a very effective one. The colored glass flowers nicely enwrap the tower like a garland. It It has a definite "belle йpoque" feel to it, a bit like the iconic champagne bottle from Perrier-Jouet.
have a great evening
Daniel

rychem (72187) 2016-03-19 22:44

I like the artistic glass very much, this here is a labor-intensive and time-consuming artwork, and the result is perfect, excellent photo with the tower behind the glass
regards Ryszard

Royaldevon (86328) 2016-03-20 2:06

Hello Craig,

Well, a space needle is enough to grab the attention of any photographer!
I would have loved to capture this, too! It is a beautiful mixture of architecture and art. It's almost like bringing the garden into the building and what stunning, complementary colours!
I just love how you have captured the flowers climbing sinuously up the frame, mimicking the curves of the needle in the b/g.

Have a great Sunday,
Bev :-)

shreya2000 (2815) 2016-03-20 3:16

Hi Craig,

Certainly a different look image taken by you. I like the artificial flowers inclusion and showing the tower in the background. Well cropped image. Yes this is the best shoot from your side. I like it.

Regards,
joginder

king (4242) 2016-03-20 7:32

Hello Craig,
Nice composed picture. It suggests that the shapes of the Space Needle and the shapes of the glass flowers are tuned to each other. Much depth of focus.
Well done!!
Have a nice day.
Huub

robmal (2439) 2016-03-20 10:36

Hi Craig,
Fantastic vertical shot with amazing glass flowers composition, absolutely good idea with tower in the background, well done.

Best Regards
Robert

ourania (51103) 2016-03-20 11:04

Hello Craig,
you did an excellent work on this photo, not only regarding the original and elegant point of view and composition, you also managed to balance two totally contrasting elements and made them complete and support each other. Both of them are well defined, the Space Needle looks dynamic and its circle fits so well in the space allowed by the glass flowers. The cascade of flowers is graceful, colourful and displays superb details and plasticity. You made the management of contrasts look so easy but I'm sure it took great skill to achieve this result. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great day,
Ourania

mkamionka (75009) 2016-03-20 14:53

Hi Craig,
very creative use of the characteristic Seattle motif of the tower. It is quite recognizable indeed, and even the slight fog doesn't make it difficult to guess where we are.
This artwork makes a lovely foreground.
You have composed it perfectly with the glasshouse introducing so many pleasant lines and curves.
Excellent work!!!
M

mesutilgim (0) 2016-03-21 0:14

Hello dear Craig,
Another topclass capture in your gallery !
As I often use to say, tha phantasy of an artist has no linmits.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Cricri (176) 2016-03-21 11:16

Hi Craig
Une composition artistique, bien cadrer, rien a dire de plus, c'est tout simplement trиs joli a regarder, donc bravo :-)
belle soirйe
cricri

PaulVDV (63432) 2016-03-21 12:57

Hello Craig,
I like the elegance with which the blown glass flowers turn around the Space Needle. The result of a very good composition.
Further also the colour contrast between the red and yellow flowers and the grey tower in the fog. Indeed the view of the lower part of the tower is very clear.
Best regards, Paul

alvaraalto (42804) 2016-03-21 13:08

Hello Craig,
This is really a shot out of thousand. The fragile red and yellow flowers dominates the scene, but without the grey needle on the background this was a common picture instead of a very special.
The DOF is perfect. Excellent work.
Groet Rob

batalay (41261) 2016-03-21 19:43

Hello Craig,

Just fabulous! Having seen Chihuly's glass exhibited in several cities, I have become an ardent fan. The colors and shapes are fantastic, but more than that, it is the way he puts them together. It seems all the displays are different and original. If you take a look at the private group, Symphony of Colors, you'll see a number of Chihuly's works, including the stained glass rowboat that you recently posted.

Warm regards,

Bulent

Rafer (0) 2016-03-30 10:21

Hi CraigЎЎЎincredible beauty of composition,, interesting color and light, very good. regards

serp2000 (47063) 2016-04-04 12:53

Wow! Great! I like this creative idea, Craig! Excellent realisation! Wonderful composition and very nice colours.
Best wishes,
Serghei

adores (46979) 2016-04-23 14:30

Hi Craig!
Another great one to your series. The glass flowers are wonderful and the composition also. It was a great idea to include the tower! The fog really helped you here!