Beetham Tower & Marmite

Posted by Ted (South Wales, United Kingdom) on 15 October 2009 in Architecture and Portfolio.

HDR to some people is like Marmite...you either love it or hate it. This is Beetham Tower, a feat of engineering and architecture that dominates the Manchester skyline. It's home to the Hilton Hotel and some ultra expensive apartments of a number of Premiership Footballers.
This shot has been PP'd with HDR. There's another one here -without - Which do you prefer? http://tedsnelgrove.smugmug.com/England/Manchester /7800843_vUEZy#661114946_ge7VE

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Comments (15)

Mike from Lichfield, United Kingdom

I find with HDR a lot of people go a bit overboard with the tone mapping and spoil the shot. You always seem to keep yours to a sensible level. I generally never get too excited about photos that look skyward up the side of buildings but this one is very good. It's composed well and what makes it stand out is the reflections on the entire surface of the building. It goes against my usual answer to this question but I think the HDR version is probably better. However, you know me, this photo just screams black and white........ with high contrast.

15 Oct 2009 7:57am

@Mike: You've said everthing I think about HDR and these two shots. Mono never crossed my mind here though...

Mike from Lichfield, United Kingdom

I'm going to withdraw my black and white statement. I think the building and sky are too similar in pattern and would probably blend together and lose impact when converted to black and white. The difference in colour from building to sky I think is important and the key to why this photo has so much impact.

15 Oct 2009 8:12am

@Mike: ...i agree and I think it is the contrast that creates the impact....many thanks Mike.

Klaus from Germany

Fantastic PP Ted, well done!!

15 Oct 2009 10:54am

@Klaus: thanks a lot Klaus!

Sarito from Basingstoke, United Kingdom

Fantastic shot..

I think I prefer the sky from the original image and the building from the HDR Version.. :).

15 Oct 2009 1:37pm

@Sarito: hmmm...great thought...i hadn't considered that one...cheers Sarito!

Curly from South Shields, United Kingdom

I love this one Ted, I also love those "over the top" HDRs (of which this is not an example), the contrast between the building and sky is of the greatest importance in your shot here.

15 Oct 2009 5:38pm

@Curly: cheers Curly!

Alun from cheshire, United Kingdom

cool image, love the contrast

15 Oct 2009 5:45pm

@Alun: thanks Al!

pedro alexandre from loures, Portugal

this one has more impact, i guess thats the advantage of hdr.

15 Oct 2009 7:51pm

@pedro alexandre: when it works, it can be really effective...thanks Pedro!

grouser from Ludlow, United Kingdom

Nice series on the big wheel Ted. This is a striking architectural image too.

16 Oct 2009 10:18am

@grouser: thanks Grouser... I was pleased with the results.

Line from Chambly, Canada

Un ciel envoûtant. La réflexion sur le bâtiment est magnifique. Très belle image.

16 Oct 2009 8:54pm

@Line: merci beaucoup Line!

Philip from Cowbridge, United Kingdom

Great HDR of the Tower. I've spent many a time in that Hotel and taken many pictures of it. None of them come close to this one. The dimensions of the tower in the picture are prefect to my eye and the reflections of the clouds on the glass add to the effect.

16 Oct 2009 9:50pm

@Philip: Thanks Philip...it's such a monster of a building it's difficult to know how to do it justice or the best lens...just got lucky I guess.

MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany

Old Paracelsus once said: "All things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dose permits something not to be poisonous.", and so it is with HDR.
This is a gorgeous shot, I love its massiveness and the reflections.

17 Oct 2009 1:04am

@MadScientist: WiseScientist is definitely not Mad! Profound but so true!
Cheers MS!