InfraRed, a photo from Lisboa, South

Photographer's Note

Time again for something a little different.

I'm sure you all know about the Monument to the Discoveries in Lisbon. It's been photograph and posted on TE several times.

It was created initially in the early 1940's as a temporary beacon in the 1940's Portuguese World Exhibition Opening Ceremony. It was decided later that it would be kept.

The sculpture is a celebration of Portuguese Exploration of the 15th and 16th centuries.

But have you seen it like this? I hope not.
Rather than show the same touristy photo that everyone else displays, I wanted to show something creative. But that also comes with risk, some people may not like that.

I took this photo on a hot, sunny day, worst time of day as well, at about high noon. So what I decided to do was convert the image to InfraRed.

What that did was, it converted the blue sky into black, and here is the result.

Just curious...do you know how many sculptures make up the monument? there are 33 individuals. Please take a look at the WS photos as well.

ikeharel, jemaflor, CMJC, holmertz, Royaldevon, pierrefonds, Fis2, worldcitizen, tyro, tyro, papagolf21, alvaraalto, rychem, sacimar, paura, gervaso, ChrisJ, PiotrF, jean113, jean113, adramad, clic, COSTANTINO, cornejo heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

jemaflor (147076) 2019-09-28 23:00

Hi Craig,
Well managed the light capture, good management for contrast between the white stone and the black BG, interesting sculpture, good photo, tfs.

ifege (48019) 2019-09-28 23:43

Superb result Craig!
The sculpture is quite startling with the black background.
Cheers
Ian

CMJC (5097) 2019-09-29 0:15 [Comment]

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holmertz (102650) 2019-09-29 1:11

Hello Craig,
Architecture, but not really. People, but not really. I guess this is leaving the comfort zone whichever way you look at it. These photos show us the monument in different ways but they are all very eye-catching compositions. The black background was a perfect idea and the light on the figures is very well captured. We really see them as sculptures with a perfect 3D effect.
Have a nice Sunday.
Gert

Tue (92322) 2019-09-29 2:20

Hello Craig,
I have never been to Lisbon, but I immediately recognised the sculpture, it is so famous. A fantastic photo, it is really super sharp and the brightly lit sculptures looks fantastic against the dark sky. Very good and idea and perfectly executed.
Lars

Royaldevon (85896) 2019-09-29 2:37

hello Craig,

There's nothing wrong with being creative and trying different approaches. The result, for me, is excellent. The figures have amazing clarity and show up well against the b/g because of the strong contrast.
I have experimented in the same way, sometimes using solarisation or different lens effects, just to make a difference. Sometimes it works amazingly well, sometimes you have to admit, this is not the shot for the treatment, but what fun can be had experimenting!

This was a very good subject for your infra red treatment, images that you wanted to stand out sharply and that is exactly hat you have achieved. (W/s, too)

Have a good Sunday,
Bev :-)

BennyV (34748) 2019-09-29 4:02

Hello Craig

A successful, different take on this well-known monument. THe conversion worked. (Religious pun not intended.)

Benny

pierrefonds (114395) 2019-09-29 4:55

Hi Craig,

This is an impressive monument. The point of view is showing the details of the monument. It is clear and precise. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Fis2 (170693) 2019-09-29 6:27

Witaj Craig!
A very nisce sculptures, this scene makes impression.
Good POV, composition and light.
Well done.
Nice sunday.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (221525) 2019-09-29 7:04

Ciao Craig, beautiful B&W with lovely statues, excellent clarity, splendid light and fine details, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

emka (158092) 2019-09-29 9:00

Hello Craig, You had to cut in this place on the left because it was the wall there, as I can see in my picture here. Interesting idea. I always appreciate something creative when the object is so often photographed. The result is very attractive with fantastic different shades of white.
Kind regards Malgo

worldcitizen (16048) 2019-09-29 11:10

Hello Craig,
Interesting idea for this photo. Not being familiar with the exact background of this statue, I would have assumed that it was next to a black background. The result is very nice, with the details of the statues really popping out.

tyro (30513) 2019-09-29 12:11

Hi Craig,

A fascinating note and three superb photographs to accompany it! I very much like your conversion to "infra red" - was that just a case of converting the sky to black, or how, exactly, did you do it? However you did it, it's added lots of impact to the shot.

But one little thing. There may well be 33 individuals depicted on the monument but you could well be called sexist because you've missed out the single female who appears on the monument!!

The one female is at the back of the line, she is Queen Philippa of Lancaster and she can be seen second from the left in this photo which I took in the summer of 1965!

But don't worry, Craig, you've already written a critique on that picture a couple of years ago!

Brilliant!

Very Best Wishes,

John.

Nicou (193806) 2019-09-29 20:51

Hello

Quel ensemble de statues quel blanc et image fantastique captage et image ce fond noir fait parfaitement ressortir les détails lave le support en fond le cadrage est parfait ce tête des personnages ces chevaliers quelle iamge
Bravo et amitié
Nicou

ikeharel (113291) 2019-09-29 22:09

A sophisticated photojob upon the famous "Monumento de los Descobrimentos", Craig, a place that draw most tourists in Lisbon for what it stands for.
Intriguing with the WS's as well.
Have a nic4e new week,
Ike

papagolf21 (152607) 2019-09-29 23:23

Bonjour, cher Craig,
Cet ensemble sculptural reste une marque pour la ville.
Les prises de vue sont d'une très grande qualité avec des détails étonnants.
Le tout est superbement rendu.
Amitiés.
Philippe

alvaraalto (42804) 2019-09-30 7:03

Hello Craig
Excellent and successful experiment that will certainly be greatly appreciated by most TE members.
This beautiful group of sculptures certainly does not need a blue background.
Excellent presentation
Have a nice day, groet Rob

rychem (72187) 2019-09-30 7:48

Interesting experiment and nice result, and I think it is good for Lisbon, luckily that sculpture has been preserved
regards Ryszard

sacimar (38173) 2019-09-30 9:07

Hello Craig,

this is an interesting photo, I like the visual effect you got here, it is a different way to show this famous Portuguese monument and the result is excellent, well done,

Best regards,

Sergio

paura (25802) 2019-09-30 13:54

Craig,
O fundo negro fez ressaltar de forma muito boa a bela escultura. Mais interessante ainda pelo fato de residir em um dos países descobertos pelos Portugueses. Lindo trabalho.

Abraço

Paulo

gervaso (28177) 2019-10-01 4:08

Hello, Craig!

You captured the details of this sculpture with perfect light and texture, and they are really impressive! I like the close-up on this piece of art, it is really a different and original view of that! Wonderful composition!

ChrisJ (171822) 2019-10-01 10:59

Hi Craig,

Wishing now I had spent more time in Lisbon as I missed this. There is just such an incredible variety of sightseeing in that town. Good sharpness and graphism here with excellent tonal range and tight framing. Tfs!

kasianowak (17676) 2019-10-01 13:19

It was a genius idea to make this infrared. Not many people would think about converting photos of a monument like this to IR. It's really beautiful as the dark sky contrasts with the bright colour of the stone.
Love the panoramic WS, it's another cool idea to include all the statues in one image taken at an angle.
I'm adding it to my favs!

Ilonka1974 (10289) 2019-10-01 15:19

Hi Craig,
Great artistry of the builder and then the photographer. You have captured great details of the sculptures. Light is great and so is the resolution.
Best regards
Janusz

PiotrF (54602) 2019-10-01 15:34

Hello Craig,
Interesting capture of the Monument to the Discoveries in Lisbon.
Perfect captured and fine details.
Thank you for informative notes.
Fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

jean113 (27847) 2019-10-03 11:43

Hello Craig, the special treatment was an excellent idea, love the black sky!
The statues are wonderfully sculpted, and your sharp focusing allows us to see every fold of their clothing plus all the other details.
Excellent work.
Kind regards, Jean.

adramad (72970) 2019-10-07 12:28

Hi Craig
My congratulations for this very meritorious work, which shows us the totally different monument, I agree with you, with that technique you have made the figures appear in 3D with that black sky background, in principle I thought of a dark night and a good lighting of the monument, but these effects of light and shadow would never be achieved.
The photos of the WS are equally magnificent.
Excellent brightness and sharpness.
Well done I love the photo.
Enjoy a good week.
Very best regards.
Luis.

clic (76) 2019-10-07 13:42

Hello Craig I couldn't take a single picture of this modern monument because it was completely circled by renovation or cleaning scaffolding! You succeeded a masterstroke showing only a few VIPs of those 33 prominent people of the era taking place
right on the bow in a beaming-with-pride posture! Most admirable are these legible details in highlights.
I didn't spent the night in Monsanto. Cheers

jmdias (115100) 2019-10-07 17:03

craig

I liked these three versions. the background in black is a perfect aspect here and enhanced more the beauty of the sculptures. maybe I will try something like this with the monuments of my hometown.

take care

jorge

COSTANTINO (116421) 2019-10-10 13:40

Hello dear craig
original version
they seem alive
greetings to the artist who
created this unique sculpture
welldone
regards
Costantino

jtovey375 (620) 2019-10-16 11:07

Very strong composition, and the infrared idea works. Good picture.

cornejo (61504) 2020-01-07 4:36

Hello Craig, excellent photograph of this beautiful composition with the discoverers monument, very well captured in this beautiful image with good sharpness, light and quality. Great and interesting work perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work.

Good day and happy week.
Best wishes from southern Spain.
Angel.