Down in the drain which is the Shibuya-gawa; Shibuya, Tokyo
A little more lurid than I would ever normally make my HDR images but the light here in this spot was particularly odd, making a very weird colour caste in lots of places. This drain, or river – as it once was – runs across a large chunk of Tokyo and on Sunday myself and a bunch of people walked along 4-miles of it, from Azabu-juban to Shibuya; on one of the photowalks I organise here in Tokyo.
It was a long and very hot, humid day and all but Justin had left to go home by the time we reached this place.
Not content with shooting it from the bridge, I climbed down into this ‘river’ and walked along to the next bridge taking a series of shots. Not easy, very smelly, dark and I was infeasibly sweaty. Not ideal conditions to be shooting. Got some OK shots, will be going back again to walk the whole length of it…. inside the concrete culvert. If anyone’s up for it, feel free to join me.
This location will certainly be part of the ’set’ for my crime novel shots.
Nikon D300
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
HDR image blended in Photomatix and tweaked in Photoshop
37 comments
Alfie Goodrich wrote...
It really is an atmosphere shot, a setting for some shots I am going to do soon. I was tempted to put it into black and white but liked the sort of future feel to it..... as that is the setting for a series of shots I am doing to go with a book I am writing.
din eugenio wrote...
I seen this shot but yours is better with the fish eye effect congratulations!
Alfie Goodrich wrote...
Not really fisheye.... but the camera was angled up a lot on the tripod, so the distortion really comes into play.
Jeff Laitila wrote...
Absolutely, positively... Stunning.
This shot has it all, and it is all expertly combined. And not at all over the top on the HDR treatment.
Instant favorite.
Kenny Lam wrote...
Like the industrial feel of this.
broken rhythm wrote...
Wow! Like how you made the moss and algae pop out.
I've got the same lens and your work is really inspiring me to get out and use it to the max.
Great work as always.
din eugenio wrote...
Yes your right not fisheye lens it's just really wide... it's like anime scene I like the mood, more more:)
Charlie Kirk wrote...
why not go back with a fish eye? scene for a mad hallucination from one of the characters?
Patrick M wrote...
Normally not a fan of super-wides, but for a dark, atmospheric shot, the wide angle here works well with the buildings atop looking as if they're closing in around you. I likey.
Kumar Nav wrote...
Very wild. I wonder why they made a big mess of the canals in there.
Francesco Gallarotti wrote...
Add a figure running away into the scene with a splash of water and you will get the cover for your next book :-)
Chiara wrote...
Wow..amazing...very "Ghost in the Shell" :D
Romain CHASSAGNE wrote...
ok thank you alfie for your response.
Eric Flexyourhead wrote...
Yeah, you're a strong man, Alfie! There's no way I'd be wandering into one of these! Haha! Insane image though, and well worth the smell, I think!
Andy Mukunoki wrote...
very nice Shibuya shot!
Neil Curry wrote...
WOW. Excellent HDR.
Danny Santos wrote...
love this abstract image :)
Pavla Brenova wrote...
weird, hence catching the eye!
Abhijit Dasgupta wrote...
Amazing
Ken Tsang wrote...
brilliant!
softlad - "why stop time?" wrote...
At last - a HDR shot that doesn't make me want to punch the monitor! Great take.
--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
Tafari Stevenson-Howard wrote...
Beautiful HDR representation!
carla drago wrote...
Very atmospheric and creepy! Quite sci-fi. I really like it.
/\/\r_/\/\_/\/\ontg0mery wrote...
well done for going in the water. did you have welly boots?
Alfie Goodrich wrote...
No welly boots, Mr Mongo... the water wasnt deep at all; just an inch or so. Had my sandals on and gave them a thorough washing when I got home!
Thanks all for your comments.
Suradej Chuephanich wrote...
Wonderful capture .
Have a nice day :)
Tristan Le Blevennec wrote...
Great perspective, colours and texture. Love it. :)
Marc Scott-West wrote...
not much i can add to the comments, incredible - loving your eye
jamesjustin wrote...
Here's my pic of Alfie making this image if you're interested.
jphanky08 wrote...
Alfie, This is fantastic!
wellington wrote...
If you make all of the images for the novel this surreal and vivid, it's going to be a hit.
sanpo Tokyo wrote...
best hdr photo I've ever seen before.
yu5aku wrote...
This is totally insane. Great picture. I think I know some places "behind" Akihabara which look quite like this one...
Now I wish I could go back there with my nikon ;)
léo Giraud-Thomassey wrote...
so deep, fantastic
G Ohara wrote...
so moody cool
Will Dwinnell wrote...
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Futurica, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
very graphic work but I don't know what looking. Good photo for an atmosphere, but alone it is for me too disordered. Perhaps with a shadow of a character it takes more sense for me. It remain a well shot with high quality as usual.