Shanghai Cityscapes

Shanghai

Shanghai is an endless sea of high rises. Some of the worlds taller building stand there, rubbing shoulders with ramshackle old buildings and cookie-cutter garbage.

Shot as a high dynamic range image (HDR), during a rare sunset in Shanghai, the shot combines different exposures to show the unusual sky with lots of detail in the clubhouse and water. The living compound at the Western end of Changning district is typical for Shanghai's wealthier people, with several high rises encircling playgrounds, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, golf driving range and clubhouse. The HDR technique allows us to show the scene like the human eye would perceive it, extending the dynamic range upwards and downwards by two stops each. The old shipyards along the Huangpu river are being dismantled, giving way to the Expo 2010. Most shipyards have been moved to the Yellow River, where land is cheaper and in ample supply. In this image, a massive tanker is floating next to smaller vessels in the docks, while material is piled high on shore. The Jin Mao Tower stands for Shanghai like no other building. It is the second tallest building in Shanghai, dwarfed by the Wold Financial Center, but much prettier. It is one of the few buildings in Shanghai actually worth looking at for its design. In this image, the tip is captured in the early morning light, revealing endless facets of glistening steel and glass. The World Financial Center is (for now) the tallest building in Shanghai. Shaped like an oversized bottle opener, the viewing platform on top provides an amazing view of Shanghai. This shot of the top end's facade shows its intricate class work in a most abstract fashion. The facade of the Jin Mao Tower is an endless mosaic of pipes on top of glass. Surfaces are angled and cut up into smaller panes, and there are endless reflections of the surrounding buildings and the sky. I must confess that this is probably the most likable building in all of Shanghai for me. The canvas roof of the visitors center in Lujiazui Park partly obscures the facade of an unfinished building. New building sprout like mushrooms in this city, adding dazzling reflections everywhere. This iconic image of the Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai was taken during the late afternoon, when the sun was lighting it up with a golden glow. I was high up on the other side of the Huang Pu river and able to isolate the tower against the sky with the sunlight behind me. The sun rises behind the skyline of Pudong in Shanghai. The river is already busy with traffic and the lights from the office buildings blend with the sunrise. This shed stood on the site for many months. It is rather typical for many places in Shanghai. Nowadays, the Puli stands there, with glitzy facade and ambitious slogans. A young man climbs across the wall, rather than using the door to have a wash and say hello. Living next to an old factory that is slowly being dismantled, he might find a new home across the street or somewhere far away.

Tags: architecture

Category: architecture

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The sun rises behind the skyline of Pudong in Shanghai. The river is already busy with traffic and the lights from the office buildings blend with the sunrise.

Pudong Skyline, Shanghai

The sun rises behind the skyline of Pudong in Shanghai. The river is already busy with traffic and the lights from the office buildings blend with the sunrise.

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