1/25/2006: Gateway arch shadow projection

[BigV]

Beautiful image.

I appreciate the artistic talent shown by the photographer, but I admire more the powers of observation. Who looks upward to find shadows? Wonderful!

[Bitman]

I thought you were going to show this image, but yours is better.

[Elspode]

I'm sure it is because of my relative proximity, but the Gateway Arch is the one "major landmark" to which I've been more than once. IIRC, I've been up in the thing about six times in my life, and I'll never get tired of it. Hell, the first time I went up, they hadn't even constructed the Westward Expansion Memorial Museum beneath it. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've ever been to St. Louis when I haven't gone up in the majestic structure. It is definitely an experience I can recommend.

[mlandman]

Originally Posted by BigV

Beautiful image.

I appreciate the artistic talent shown by the photographer, but I admire more the powers of observation. Who looks upward to find shadows? Wonderful!

Well, if someone had the foresight to look up with the intent of searching for the shadows, then I would commend them too. However, since the arch is ABOVE one's head, and you HAVE to look up to see the arch if you're standing underneath it, I suspect that it's something that a good number of 'average-observing-skill' people could detect.

[srom]

i think that even though more than person may have seen it, this guy's still got the photographer's eye. the composition's amazing. and taking a good photo in the dark is not as easy as doing so in the daytime.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by mlandman

Well, if someone had the foresight to look up with the intent of searching for the shadows, then I would commend them too. However, since the arch is ABOVE one's head, and you HAVE to look up to see the arch if you're standing underneath it, I suspect that it's something that a good number of 'average-observing-skill' people could detect.

Yeah, I don't think there's anyone who has visited this monument and failed to look up at it. No bonus points there. I reckon there have been many people visit in the nighttime too, who also look up. But I credit the photographer's powers of observation for bringing together in one frame what many thousands, perhaps millions, have seen, but not noticed.

On the other hand, I could be all wrong. Maybe it's a boring old picture of the arch. Or of the moon. Or some dumb ol' clouds and stuff. Maybe I'm just projecting my thoughts on the photographer. Maybe he was just lucky. As when preparation meets opportunity. Yeah, very lucky.

Regardless, it is a lovely photograph, and I applaud his skill.