Glass Castles
Beautiful Dubai, such a joy to my eye, all these towering glass castles that reach towards the sky…
I know I may have gone a bit overboard with the little rhyme above but I just couldn’t resist. For me, Dubai represents a harmonious blend of some of the most incredible modern architecture ever constructed. As a photographer, I love the unique challenge of framing these towering monoliths against the pale desert sky. The more I visit, the more I’m compelled to return as I seem to develop a strong appreciation for Dubai’s strange yet fascinating urban sprawl.
Well, it’s that plus all the incredible Indian food. That may have something to do with my love of Dubai as well. 😉
Technical Mumbo Jumbo
Camera: Fuji X-E1
Lens: Fujinon XF 14mm f/2.8
Tripod: RRS TVC-24 / BH-40 Ballhead / RRS L-Plate
ISO: 200 at f/8
3 Exposure Brackets (-1,0,1)
Location: Shot in Dubai, UAE – May 2013 and post-processed in Rome, Italy – October 2013
Hardware: 15” 2013 Macbook Pro Retina, Wacom Intuos5 Small Tablet
Software: Lightroom 5, Photoshop CS6, Nik Color Efex Pro 4
Technique: 2 of the 3 exposures were blended together manually in Photoshop using a simple gradient mask to correct some of the overexposed lights. Nik Color Efex Pro was then used to balance the colors while adding more contrast and pop to the structures. Additional (and light) edge sharpening was applied using Nik Sharpener Pro. Water was smoothed slightly to create a softer feel.
Espresso: Lavazza Oro brewed with delicious cold Roman tap water.
