US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, 2021.
All the pixels, none of the campaign ads, at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/51221569646
Discussion
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Captured with the Phase One IQ4-150 digital back, Rodenstock 90mm/5.6 HR-Digaron lens (@ f/6.3) and about 10mm of vertical shift to maintain geometry.
Just over five years ago, a group of insurrectionist losers sacked this building in an attempt to overthrow the US Government and prevent the transfer of power to a newly elected president. They got frighteningly close to succeeding.
This photo was made about six months later; some of the physical damage from the attack remains visible here.
@mattblaze how much of a crop is that? I'm guessing it'd fill frame with at least a 150 if not a 210? Although have only been there the once, so my intuition for the space might be off.
@LapTop006 This was shot with a 90mm, which is about the angle of view of a 60mm on 35mm full frame sensor.
The Capitol is *huge*, but it's not got a lot of frames of reference near it that let you get a sense of its true size. This was shot from fairly close by, just across a small reflecting pool, so it required a fairly wide angle.
I post this mostly as a periodic reminder to myself that it wasn't that long ago that the rule of law prevailed. I hope it will again in my lifetime.
I'm mostly satisfied with this photo, but if I were to do it again, I'd probably use a one or two stop ND grad to even out the brightness of the dome with the main part of the building.
@mattblaze would a ND filter also have allowed you to bring out some detail & drama in the sky behind the dome?
@mattblaze Would you just have to use the ND on the top of frame to reduce the brightness? I don't know much about filters.
@virtualbri Right. This would require using a "graduated" ND filter that darkens the top of the frame. They're usually used with a 100mm wide rectangular filter holder; you slide the filter up or down in the holder to move the transition line.
I kick myself for not using one here.
@mattblaze Ah, got it. It still looks beautiful. Love the contrast in your work and the geometric design. An added bonus to your election posts :)