Located in Downtown Montreal and inaugurated in 1963, Place des Arts is the central hub of the cultural life in Montreal and is home to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, and the Opéra de Montréal. It’s also the heart of several musical festivals and events such as the International Jazz Fest, Montreal En Lumières and Francofolies.

During the summer, it’s also a meeting place for a lot of Montrealers who like to enjoy the sunny days laying down on the stairs or simply grab a bite and relax on the outdoor esplanade.

Since the inauguration in 1963, Place des Arts has changed a lot thanks to the works of several architecture and urban planning firms:

•  Affleck, Desbarats, Dimakopoulos, Lebensold, Michaud and Sise for La Grande Salle, today called Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, inaugurated in 1963.
• David, Barott, Boulva for the Theatre building housing Théâtre Maisonneuve and Théâtre Port-Royal, inaugurated in 1966.
• David, Boulva and Cleve for the Théâtre du Café de la Place and the design of the underground corridor leading to Complexe Desjardins, in 1975.
• Jodoin Lamarre Pratte and Associates for the Musée d’art contemporain, inaugurated in 1992.
• Dimakopoulos and Associates for the outdoor Esplanade, inaugurated in 1993.
• Bess Pappas for the renovation of the corridor leading to the Metro and the design of the Hall des Pas perdus, carried out in 1995.
• Consortium Menkès, Schooner, Dagenais, Le Tourneux / Provencher, Roy Jean-Pierre Le Tourneux for the Grand Foyer culturel, carried out in 2009-2010.

Now, enjoy the visit!

Entrance of espace culturel Georges-Emile-Lapalme on Ste Catherine Street, Place des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

Entrance of espace culturel Georges-Emile-Lapalme on Ste Catherine Street, Place des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

View of the roof of the entrance of espace culturel Georges-Emile-Lapalme on Ste Catherine Street, Place des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

Roof & Stairs of the entrance of espace culturel Georges-Emile-Lapalme and hotel Hyatt at Place Desjardins, Place des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

Roof & Stairs of the entrance of espace culturel Georges-Emile-Lapalme, Place des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

Salle Wilfried Pelletier and esplanade of Place des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

Esplanade of Place Des Arts, Place Desjardins & Hyatt Hotel, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

Esplanade of Place Des Arts, Place Desjardins & Hyatt Hotel, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

Salle Wilfried Pelletier and esplanade of Place des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

Salle Wilfried Pelletier and esplanade of Place des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

Salle Wilfried Pelletier and esplanade of Place des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

Museum of Contemporary Arts and Ste Catherine Street viewed from Esplanade of Place Des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

Maison Symphonique, Place Des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

President Kennedy Building of UQAM, Place des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown Montreal

Thanks for viewing!

David Giral is a published Montreal/Toronto based editorial and commercial professional photographer specialized in architecture, interiors, portrait and travel photography.

Blog | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Email | Fine Art America

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright David Giral (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without permission from David Giral.

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davidgiralphoto.photoshelter.com will now be used exclusively as a images library where you’ll be able to license stock photos and image gallery from previous projects.

Feel free to comment on the new design!

Thanks for viewing!

David Giral is a published Montreal/Toronto based editorial and commercial professional photographer specialized in architecture, interiors, portrait and travel photography.

Blog | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Email | Fine Art America

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright David Giral (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without permission from David Giral.

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You woke up in the morning only to discover that the trees and streets are covered with a thick layer of snow. It’s so extraordinary that I had to take my trusty Nikon D800 with my Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 G ED and go on a long stroll.

So down I go, strolling into the streets of Outremont, a beautiful district of Montreal with beautiful classical homes from the turn of the last century.

Winter scene of Outremont’s houses on Bloomfield Avenue in Montreal

Then a bit further, I find myself dazzled by this snow covered bicycle, it just seems you could take a ride on this magical snow bike! Well, I had to pass on this opportunity, because what a bike is good for if you have not seat!

A snow covered bike in Outremont District of Montreal

Located in the heart of Outremont, Outremont park is a beautiful little place to go with your family or to walk your dog, and with all that snow, it just feels it’s just out of a fairy tale.

Family walking their dog in a snow covered park of Outremont in Montreal

You can even see people contemplating the amazing spectacle in front of them and appreciate this opportunity to take a moment and appreciate this Winter wonderland.

Kids and adults walking in a snow covered park of Outremont in Montreal

Then, just a few blocks away, one of Montreal jewels Lies. Mont Royal Park. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also co-designed New York‘s Central Park, and inaugurated in 1876.  In that morning of February, the forest wasn’t a green jewel  rising above downtown Montreal, but a white one.

Woman running in Mont Royal Park in Montreal during winter

Snow covered trees at Mont Royal Park in Montreal

If you ever visit Montreal, the Mont Royal park is the place to go jogging, crosscountry skying or simply go on a stroll with your dog.

Woman running with her dog in Mont Royal Park in Montreal during winter

Details of snow covered trees at Mont Royal Park in Montreal

I’ve always loved running and seeing those two women jogging in the park really made me itch to go on a run!

Women running in the snow on a trail at Mont Royal Park in Montreal

What’s remarkable about Mont Royal Park is that you can go off the main trails to find yourself lost in the woods, not aware that you’re just a few miles away from the heart of a busy city.

This picture of a man and his dog reflects that moment of peace and appreciation you feel when you are alone in the nature.

A Man and his dog on a trail of Mont Royal Park in Montreal

It’s also a paradise for dogs and this husky was really excited to enjoy the freedom of being in the snow.

Portrait of a husky dog in Mont Royal Park in Winter and snow covered trees

And the more dogs, the merrier! It’s such a treat to watch dogs enjoying themselves, playing and chasing each other in total freedom!

Winter Dog Fun in a snowy Mont Royal Park, Montreal

Then, going up the stairs into the fog and the misty morning, I wasn’t about to be let down by my visit to the park.

Snow covered stairs of Mont Royal Park in Montreal

This scene is so magical, I love this picture of the forest lost into the fog, it feels like it straight out of a movie, just waiting for the Red Riding Hood to appear in the picture.

Snowy & Misty Forestat Mont Royal Park in Montreal

The beauty also lies into the details of this trails, and the delicate snow covering the sign posts and the trees.

Trails, details and sign posts at Mont Royal Park in Montreal

And how romantic it is to witness this couple climbing up the trail leading to the Mont Royal Cross.

Couple walking in a snowy mist at Mont Royal Park In Montreal

The cross, installed in 1924, was converted to fibre-optic light in 1992, and then to LEDs in 2009. Even with the foggy weather, it looks majestic!

Mont Royal Cross during a misty snowy morning at Mont Royal Park in Montreal

As mentioned before, the park is the best place in Montreal for cross-country skying with 22km of trails!

Man cross-country skiing in Mont Royal Park in Montreal

Woman running and men cross-country skiing at Mont Royal Park in Montreal

So I hope you enjoyed your visit! See you soon in Montreal!

Thanks for viewing!

Oh and if you have a moment to check those Montreal Photos on Fine Art America, I would be really grateful!

David Giral is a published Montreal/Toronto based editorial and commercial professional photographer specialized in architecture, interiors, portrait and travel photography.

Blog | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Email | Fine Art America

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright David Giral (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without permission from David Giral.

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Before going further, I think that if you ever go on a stroll in the neighborhood, be sure not to miss spending some time on the Highline, you will be delighted by this aerial park located in the heart of Chelsea which is just a few blocks away from the Highline, like you can see for yourself here:

IAC Building viewed from the Highline Park

For this short series, I was equipped of:

• Nikon D800
• Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G ED VR
• Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 G ED
• Nikkor 135mm F/2 DC
• Gitzo Leveling 6X tripod GT2540LVL
• Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head

What I love about architecture photography is capturing details or abstracts from the buildings I photograph. And even though it’s not my main lens for architecture, the Nikkor 135mm F/2 DC can be very useful to capture them like you can see in that example below.

IAC Building abstract by architect Frank Ghery
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 135mm f/2 DC | ISO160 – 1/1600s – F/3.5

However, most of the time, I like to use the Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G ED VR or the Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 G ED to capture most of architecture. What is striking in the picture below is how well the Jean Nouvel’s 100 Eleventh avenue blends in with the IAC building. Both have unique features and a style that is very unique.

Jean Nouvel’s 100 Eleventh Avenue and Frank Ghery IAC Building
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G VRII @ 28mm | ISO100 – 1/50s – F/16.0

When shooting architecture, it’s always a good idea to include some movement into the picture by adding some people to give a sense of scale or traffic to make the scene more dynamic.

traffic on north west view of IAC Building by architect Frank Ghery
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G VRII @ 27mm | ISO100 – 1/25s – F/16.0

Or simply wait for traffic to clear out for a clean shot of the building without anyone around.

Vertical panorama of north west view of IAC Building by architect Frank Ghery
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G VRII @ 35mm | ISO100 – 1/50s – F/13.0

Sometimes, it’s worth getting close and stay wide to enjoy a fun perspective and play with the lines.

Detail of north west side of IAC Building by architect Frank Ghery
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G VRII @ 16mm | ISO100 – 1/50s – F/13.0

However, when I’m close and that I am already shooting very wide (16mm), I like to combine two photographs into a vertical panorama (aka vertorama) and then correct the perspective.

Vertical panorama of South west view of IAC Building by architect Frank Ghery
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G VRII @ 16mm | ISO100 – 1/125s – F/8.0

The versatility of the Nikkor 16-35mm also allows me to capture details or abstracts from really close.

IAC Building abstract by architect Frank Ghery
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G VRII @ 35mm | ISO100 – 1/160s – F/8.0

But my favorite time of the day is when the sun is coming down and dusk sets in.

IAC Building detail at dusk by architect Frank Ghery
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 GI @ 50mm | ISO400 – 1/250s – F/2.8

I love how the sky turns blue and gives wonderful tones to the pictures with the blue tones of the sky reflecting them into the windows like below.

IAC Building detail at dusk by architect Frank Ghery
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 GI @ 45mm | ISO400 – 1/400s – F/2.8

My favorite time of the day to take pictures is the blue hour, when the colour of the sky changes into a deep blue. It usually happens 30 minutes after sunset and only last a few minutes. In the picture below, I love how the yellow tones blend into the blue tones of the sky and the car trails really add movement to the whole picture.

Rush hour at IAC Building by architect Frank Ghery
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4.0 G VRII @ 17mm | ISO100 – 10s – F/13.0

Rush hour at IAC Building by architect Frank Ghery
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4.0 G VRII @ 27mm | ISO400 – 1s – F/8.0

Thanks for viewing!

Oh and if you have a moment to check those nyc photos on Fine Art America, I would be really grateful!

David Giral is a published Montreal/Toronto based editorial and commercial professional photographer specialized in architecture, interiors, portrait and travel photography.

Blog | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Email | Fine Art America

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright David Giral (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without permission from David Giral.

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A yummy goat sandwich at olives and Gourmando | Old Montreal, Canada
Lens: 50mm F/1.4 | ISO 800 – 50 mm F/2 1/50s (left) | 50mm F/2.8 1/125s (right)
For this food diptych, notice how easy it is to summarize a restaurant in two pictures, with one picture showing the menu and another one with the plate ready to be served.

So you’d like to start doing diptychs? Dipt-what?? What’s that? Let’s forget Google or Wikipedia for the history lesson and dip into the specifics.

Editorial portraits of Actress Christina DeRosa | Palos Verdes, California
Lens used : 24-70mm F/2.8 | ISO 200 – 60mm F/8.0 1/250s (left) | 70mm F/7.1 1/250s (right).
Here is a classic example of editorial portraiture’s diptych with one picture showing Christina looking away from the camera and another one looking straight at the camera. The energy of each shot is different, showcasing the versatility of a talented actress. Notice how the two pictures use the same cross-processing effect.

WHAT’S A DIPTYCH?!?

A diptych is a subtle pairing of two photographs either side by side or one above the other with a specific relationship between them. Through analogies, associations, repetitions or shifts of perspective, a photographer looks to enhance the viewer’s interaction, communicate ideas, share emotions. It’s also a simple way to tell a story, share a moment, or give a different perspective on a theme. What’s fascinating about the diptychs, it’s their ability to create ambiguous feelings and also puzzle the audience who will tend to figure out the relationship between both pictures.

Editorial winter portrait of stylist Patricia Trepanier | Old Montreal, Canada
Lens used: 50mm F/1.4 | ISO 800 – 50 mm F/2 1/800s (left) | 50mm F/2 1/800s (right)
Another classic example of editorial portraiture, with a full body shot of Patricia and then coming closer to her, a headshot (both pictures using the same lens once again). These two pictures also give a sense of Patricia’s personality. Once again, pictures were cross-processed using the same technique.

WHY SHOULD I SHOOT DIPTYCHS??

Practically, diptychs are also often used when presenting printed portfolios. It’s a good way to show the viewers your ability to tell stories or present concepts. It gives a better flow to a portfolio by having two images from the same spread with some commonalities.

Now, let’s focus on shooting diptychs in assignment photography.

SHOOT IN PORTRAIT ORIENTATION

Considering a diptych is a pairing of two photographs side by side (most of the time), it’s important to shoot in portrait orientation as much as possible. This will make the process of assembling the pictures so much easier later on.  At first it may seem unnatural to shoot this way, however the more your practice the better you will get.

A tasteful goat cheese salad | Nice, French Riviera, France
ISO 200 | 46mm F/3.2 1/3200s (left) | 46mm F/3.2 1/400s (right)
This example demonstrate perfectly how to showcase local cuisine for a specific location in an editorial. Acknowledge how the first picture on the left sets the location and how the second shows us what kind of local cuisine is cooked there

PAY ATTENTION TO THE ASPECT RATIO

When I shoot, I always tend to visualize how I’m going to use the picture while I take it. When you shoot in landscape orientation, it’s not as important to focus on the aspect ratio. However when you shoot in portrait orientation, it is critical to take into consideration that most publications & portfolios use an 8×10” format. What that means is that it’s best to leave some unused space in your composition.

Imperial Lofts | Montreal, Canada
Lens used: 24-70mm F/2.8 | ISO 200 | 62mm F/8.0 1.6s (left) | 31mm F/9.0 0.6s
The first picture gives a sense of location of the lofts with a loft being renovated. The second picture shifts our perspective by putting us inside the building and letting us visualize a finished condominium.

BE CONSISTENT

A factor to take into consideration is consistency. It’s best to shoot at a fixed length or a fixed aperture in order to have the feeling the images belong together. Consistency is also critical when you post-process the images. This will reinforce the concept to have the pictures show some similarities in terms of depth of field, colors, contrast, palette and composition styles.

Colourful graffiti in Downtown Montreal | Montreal, Canada
Lens: 24-70mm F/2.8 | ISO 200 | 31mm F/2.8 1/80s (left) | 31mm F/2.8 1/80s (right)
Notice in that example, with the same zoom, how it’s possible to give a sense of location, scale and context for this graffiti.

THINK AND SHOOT FOR DIPTYCHS

Now that you understand the basic rules of shooting diptychs, let’s move on the specifics of shooting them. Possible pairings involve different perspectives and angles, textures, patterns, before / afters, seasonal aspects, colors (same and different), bottom / up (portraiture), out of focus / in focus, emotions, portrait / context, action / consequence, light, manufacturing / end product and big picture/details.  Look into your favourite magazine and see which kind of pairings exist and figure out what was the intent. The more you will understand the process, the more intuitive your shooting will be.

The Castel Beach at dusk, Promenade des Anglais | Nice, French Riviera, France
Lens: 50mm F/1.4 | ISO 400 | 50mm F/1.4 1/100s (left) | 50mm F/1.4 1/100s (right)
Another simple example of to show details of a specific place. Notice how the first picture shows us that entrance and how by getting closer we can capture a nice detail of that location.

GET THE BIG PICTURE THEN GO INTO DETAILS

For example, let’s say you want to shoot inside a coffee shop, you could start by shooting a wide angle view of the shop, and then photograph some details, or you could take a portrait of the owner and then take a picture of his hands preparing the beverage. You could also take some pictures of the beans in their container and combine it with the picture of a cup of coffee. You could also take a picture of the hands of a customer waiting to take a sip and shoot a portrait of her waiting for someone. And why not mix a portrait along with a nice texture shot of the location. The possibilities are endless and the only limit is your imagination. Keep an open mind while shooting and follow your intuition.

Quick guide on how to make a latte | café névé, Montreal, Canada
Lens: 24-70mm F/2.8 | ISO 800 – 48mm F/2.8 1/250s (left) | ISO 400 – 62mm F/2.8 1/160s (right)
This is a perfect example of how to showcase a process with just two pictures. The first one shows the making of and the second the finished product. Simple, yet effective.

FOLLOW YOUR INTUITION

Sometimes after a day of shooting, it’s when you review all the pictures that you took that you realize that two images fit amazingly together even though you didn’t think about it when you took them. Just like when you’re shooting just follow the intuition and share your diptychs with others so they can tell you how they feel about it or if it evokes something for them.

A spectacular sunset over NYC and statue of Liberty | New-York City, USA
Lens used: 70-200mm F/2.8 | ISO 200 – 116mm F/8 1/30s (left) | 200mm F/8 1/125s (right)
In that example taken from the 20th floor of a building in the Wall Street district of Manhattan, with a rather unusual composition for a diptych, we see how a wonderful orange sunset can affect two different structures. It also shows how the gaze travels by first acknowledging the light on the building and then moving to the right and noticing the effect on the Statue of Liberty.

BE PATIENT

Sometimes we don’t see the patterns immediately and it can take years before we can finally match two pictures together. So don’t dismiss any pictures too quickly and let time do its magic.

The girl reading at the coffee shop | Montreal, Canada
Lens: 50mm F/1.4 | ISO 400 – 50mm F/1.4 1/50s
This is a perfect example of a natural diptych. Notice the contrast between the girl being warm and reading inside and the cold weather outside in the street.

GO THE EXTRA-MILE

Now that you master diptychs, why not go the extra-mile and shoot triptychs! Just follow your intuition and have fun with it!

The different sides of a contemporary building on the Highline | Highline Park, Chelsea, NYC
This is a great example of how three pictures can paint a good picture of the different sides of a building and show the big picture and some details in just one triptych.

Show us your diptychs and tell us more about them!

David Giral is a published Montreal/Toronto based editorial and commercial professional photographer specialized in architecture, interiors, portrait and travel photography.

Blog | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Email | Fine Art America

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright David Giral (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without permission from David Giral.

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Azure Magazine Nov/Dec 2012 – Restaurant Kinoya By Jean De Lessard

My client, Jean De Lessard is a talented award-winning interiors designer based in Montreal. We had previously collaborated in the past to photograph a lounge in Sainte Julie, near Montreal. Working with him is always a pleasure, he is very clear in what he wants to see in the pictures. So when he talked to me about this specific project, I was really filled with anticipation to discover his latest creation.

When I arrived on location, I was really surprised by the bold graphics of the flowers on the walls and ceilings and by the beautiful wooden box in the middle of the restaurant. Photographing this type of projects is fun and challenging. The space isn’t that big and finding unique angles and perspectives can be a challenge. Framing the wooden box was a challenge and necessitated shooting vertical panoramas of 2-3 photographs.

I have to thank Jean for creating such a beautiful interior and for getting the pictures out there on Arch Daily‘s website and published in Azure magazine.

Here is the rest of the pictures taken during the assignments.

Restaurant Kinoya Montreal By Jean De Lessard – Interiors Photography

Restaurant Kinoya Montreal By Jean De Lessard – Interiors Photography

Restaurant Kinoya Montreal By Jean De Lessard – Interiors Photography

Restaurant Kinoya Montreal By Jean De Lessard – Interiors Photography

Restaurant Kinoya Montreal By Jean De Lessard – Interiors Photography

Restaurant Kinoya Montreal By Jean De Lessard – Interiors Photography

Restaurant Kinoya Montreal By Jean De Lessard – Interiors Photography

Thanks for viewing!

David Giral is a published Montreal/Toronto based editorial and commercial professional photographer specialized in architecture, interiors, portrait and travel photography.

Blog | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Email | Fine Art America

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright David Giral (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without permission from David Giral.

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So what was my excuse for being there this time? Well, rejoicing with some actors friends and attending the NYC Fotoworks portfolio review.

As a professional photographer, one of the key element for success is creating a solid network among professionals, editors, art buyers and agents. It was my first time attending this type of event and even though I had spend a lot of time getting my printed portfolios organized, I was a bit anxious to meet with 12 editors and have my portfolio criticized. My purpose was pretty clear, I wanted to get direct feedback from people who would be likely to hire me and see what I could improve. As an artist/business owner, getting quality feedback doesn’t happen very often and when the opportunity presents itself to get feedback from experienced professionals, then one has to seize it and take this as a way to grow into a better photographer.

As expected, some meetings went well and some reviewers were less enthusiastic about my work. However, it was a great experience that I will likely to renew in the future. More importantly, it was a great opportunity to meet amazing photographers such as Bonnie Holland, Luke Copping and Corina Marie Howell and see more than a few inspiring portfolios in the process.

Now, let’s get back to why we’re here. New York is a wonderful city, one could call it Skyscraper National Park. Photographing NYC skyline has been to done death and finding a unique angle to scenes photographed so many times is always fun. So having scouted the possible locations for a shoot in Queens, I decided to walk to Gantry Plaza State Park.

Vertorama of Long Island Luxury “The View” Condos at dusk from Gantry Plaza State Park Quays, Queens, NYC
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 G ED | ISO 200 – 0.8s – F/10.0 – 24mm

What I also love about New York is the architecture and getting the opportunity to shoot some majestic buildings fills me with excitement. So as I walked into the park, I had to take a picture of the condo buildings overlooking the east river and the NYC midtown skyline. You won’t be surprised to know that these condos are called “the view”.

Wide Angle view of gantries from Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island, Queens
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G ED VR | ISO 200 – 6s – F/16.0 – 16mm

Walking further south, I discovered some stunning piece of architecture,  restored “contained apron” transfer bridges (AKA gantries) of the James B. French patent, and built in 1925. These gantries were used in the past to load and unload rail car floats that served industries on Long Island via the Long Island Rail Road tracks.

Long Island Luxury Condos and Gantries at dusk from Gantry Plaza State Park Quays, Queens, NYC
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 G ED | ISO 400 – 5s – F/8.0 – 29mm

They are wonderfully preserved and blend in perfectly with the beautiful luxury condos. As you can see, it was a wonderful night and even though it was June, the light was just amazing. Now, I know you’re probably impatient to see the view on Manhattan and the NYC midtown skyline.

Vertorama of gantries and NYC Midtown Skyline from Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island, Queens
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G ED VR | ISO 400 – 5s – F/8.0 – 16mm

Ok, so let’s turn the other way around and contemplate the beauty of Skyscraper national park, first through the gantries.

Panoramic perspective of NYC Midtown Skyline from Gantry Plaza State Park quays
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G ED VR | ISO 400 – 2.5s – F/8.0 – 35mm

Then walking down on one of the quays, I was amazed by this amazing perspective. I love the human element her on the foreground with the couple, it gives some sense of scale and adds an emotional aspect to the whole picture.

NYC Midtown Skyline and Gantries at the Blue Hour from Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island, Queens
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G ED VR | ISO 400 – 2.5s – F/8.0 – 16mm

Now, what I look for when I shoot skyline is for an interesting foreground, something to anchor the composition. The gantries make for a perfect distraction to what would have been “another NYC skyline shot”.

Panoramic view of NYC Midtown Skyline and Gantries from Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island, Queens
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 16-35mm F/4 G ED VR | ISO 400 – 8s – F/8.0 – 16mm

Here is another angle. Here I really love the contrast between the orange/red tones of the foreground and the blue tones of the  skyline. It blends perfectly together and the panorama crop here really work imho.

couple enjoying the view of NYC Midtown Skyline viewed from Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island, Queens
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 G ED | ISO 400 – 4s – F/8.0 – 32mm

When I started photography and landscape, I was always looking to avoid humans in my compositions as I found them distracting, since then I’ve changed my mind. Having people in landscape and travel pictures can add so much to the picture, it engages the viewer as they can very well imagine themselves admiring the same view.

Couple hugging in front of Queensborough Bridge & Pepsi Cola Artkraft Strauss’s neon sign (1936) viewed from Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island, Queens
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 G ED | ISO 400 – 4s – F/8.0 – 35mm

Here is another example of how this couple on the foreground makes this scene of the Queensborough bridge so much more interesting. I love the architectural element in the foreground.

Couple Hugging in front of NYC Midtown Skyline viewed from Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island, Queens
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 G ED | ISO 400 – 4s – F/8.0 – 26mm

Now, I also love this angle as it mixes architecture, landscape and travel photography all at once, there is a subtle balance between the different layers of this image.

Classic closeup view of NYC Midtown Skyline viewed from Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island, Queens
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 G ED | ISO 200 – 10s – F/8.0 – 70mm

Of course, this simple view of the NYC midtown skyline, Empire State Building and United Nations headquarters is amazing, I would call it a classic.

NYC Midtown Skyline through Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island, Queens
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 G ED | ISO 200 – 13s – F/8.0 – 38mm

However, I still find this last image of the same scene through the Gantry Plaza State Park to be much more interesting. I absolutely love the blend between the green tones of the park, the blues and oranges throughout the pictures.

All pictures presented here are processed through Oloneo PhotoEngine and Photoshop CS6. HDR is first generated in Oloneo PhotoEngine then HDR exposure is blended with one RAW exposure in Photoshop CS6 using masks to create a realistic look and feel to the images.

So which of this pictures is your favorite and why? I would love to hear about it!

Oh and if you have a moment to check those nyc photos on Fine Art America, I would be really grateful!

David Giral is a published Montreal/Toronto based editorial and commercial professional photographer specialized in architecture, interiors, portrait and travel photography.

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Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright David Giral (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without permission from David Giral.

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For those not familiar with the name, Frank Gehry is one of the most renown architects. Born in Canada, he is now known as one the best architects in the world. His work falls within the style of Deconstructivism and his visual style is very unique.

Gehry has his own personal interest in research on brain disorder and joined the board of the hereditary disease foundation more than 30 years ago.* (source)

Gehry told ruvo he’d design the building only if ruvo added huntington’s to the list of diseases the new center would treat and study. the complex further expanded its offerings when the cleveland clinic, the multidisciplinary healthcare research and treatment center in ohio, reached an agreement with the ruvo center to operate the las vegas facility. (source)

The Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health was completed in 2009.

view of the south side of the building at sunset

view of the atrium looking east

detailed view of the office space inside the atrium and the wall of donators

Details of the wall of donators

View of the atrium looking west

left: View of the garden and atrium from the eastern side of building / right: detail of the southern facade

South view of the building at dusk

Detail of the southern facade of the event center

Photo of the west side of the building at dusk

Photo of the west side of the building at dusk

South west view of the building

South view of the building at dusk

South East view of the building at dusk

Detail of the southern facade

Detail of the southern facade

Detail of the south western facade

Wide angle view of the south western facade

David Giral is a published Montreal/Toronto based editorial and commercial professional photographer specialized in architecture, interiors, portrait and travel photography.

Blog | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Email

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright David Giral (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without permission from David Giral.

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On my last trip to NYC, while attending a portfolio review at the NYCFotoworks event, I had the pleasure to spend two evenings at the highline park located between the Garment district and Chelsea district in NYC.

Built on an former elevated rail line  above the streets of Manhattan, the park was founded in 1999 by the Friends of the High Line. This group of residents fought to maintain the structure when it was under the threat of demolition. Later, they worked with the city of New York to make sure the High Line is maintained as a extraordinary public space for residents and tourists to enjoy.

Along the highline, one can enjoy beautiful examples of public art, like the High Line zoo and several murals created by the Inside Out collective. It’s a great place for contemporary architecture and the park itself is a brilliant example of landscaping in a urban environment. Whether you’re in NYC shopping in the garment district and Chelsea’s Market or eating in the neighborhood, the Highline is the perfect place to enjoy a good evening chatting, flirting and enjoying the beautiful view over midtown.

The High Line is located on Manhattan’s West Side. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues. The first section of the High Line opened on June 9, 2009. It runs from Gansevoort Street to West 20th Street. The second section, which runs between West 20th and West 30th Streets, opened June 8, 2011.

Radial benches and photo mural “Brandon Many Ribs”, from the Inside Out Project by French street artist JR.

Photo mural “Brandon Many Ribs”, from the Inside Out Project by French street artist JR.

People walking and running on wildflower field

The fun animals of the High Line zoo

Owl on the balcony - High Line zoo

Day view of HL23 – 515 West 23rd Street – Condo – Chelsea – by Neil Denari / detail of HL23 building by  Neil Denari

 left: 245 10th avenue building – by Della Valle Bernheimer / right: details of view of HL23 – 515 West 23rd Street – Condo – Chelsea – by Neil Denari

People walking on Wildflower field and 245 10th avenue building – by Della Valle Bernheimer

left: view of HL23 – 515 West 23rd Street – Condo – Chelsea – by Neil Denari / right: 245 10th avenue building – by Della Valle Bernheimer

Day view of the High Line path and HL23 – 515 West 23rd Street – Condo – Chelsea – by Neil Denari
details of nearby buildings and view of HL23 building at 22 second streets seating steps /people seating at 22 second streets seating steps

Flowers on the Highline / Thomas Houseago, Lying Figure, 2012

View of adjacent buildings at the corner of 10th avenue and W 18th Street

People enjoying the view of 10th Avenue Square

Youngsters enjoying the seats of the Sundeck Water Feature

A Couple enjoying a moment seating on a Highline bench / flowers on the highline

Another view of the 10th Avenue Square

245 10th avenue building – by Della Valle Bernheimer / details of 245 10th avenue building – by Della Valle Bernheimer

detail of 245 10th avenue building – by Della Valle Bernheimer

 245 10th avenue building – by Della Valle Bernheimer / details of 245 10th avenue building – by Della Valle Bernheimer

detail of 245 10th avenue building – by Della Valle Bernheimer

a funny guy poster at the window along the Highline

Girls chatting on the woodland flyover / view of HL23 – 515 West 23rd Street – Condo – Chelsea – by Neil Denari

Front view and side view from view of HL23 – 515 West 23rd Street – Condo – Chelsea – by Neil Denari taken from 23rd Street

10th Avenue traffic viewed from the 10th Avenue Square

Youngsters enjoying the Sundeck Water Feature and Chelsea Market Passage

Highline park and IOC building viewed from nearby 10th Avenue Square

Chelsea Grasslands

Blue hour view of the highline path and HL23 – 515 West 23rd Street – Condo – Chelsea – by Neil Denari

Blue hour on 245 10th avenue building – by Della Valle Bernheimer / details of 245 10th avenue building – by Della Valle Bernheimer

auto repair shop and mural at the corner of W 25th street and 10th avenue

Radial benches and photo mural “Brandon Many Ribs”, from the Inside Out Project by French street artist JR.

David Giral is a published Montreal/Toronto based editorial and commercial professional photographer specialized in architecture, interiors, portrait and travel photography.

Blog | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Email

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright David Giral (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without permission from David Giral.

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This specific picture was taken from Twin Peaks summit south of the city, 30min after sunset using a D200 with a Nikkor 70-300mm F/3.5-5.6 VRII using an exposure of 25s at F/8.0 and ISO100.

Enjoy the cover photo below, right click to download at full resolution!

Interested in licensing or ordering a print of this picture? Click on the image below (right click to download wallpaper size).

David Giral is a published Montreal/Toronto based editorial and commercial professional photographer specialized in architecture, interiors, portrait and travel photography.

Blog | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Email

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright David Giral (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without permission from David Giral.

Share and Enjoy