I believe Blue Hour is the preeminent time for urban landscape photography. Unfortunately, in Austin, this magical look is fleeting. Despite its name, it lasts at most 15 minutes. This varies by location. When I was in Amsterdam, it lasted over an hour. I had so much fun there.
With the clock running, I’m rushing to photograph as many urban landscapes as possible. Being nimble is the key and not being tied down with a tripod.
From this angle, the architecture of the Fairmont isn’t dramatic. It just appears as a slab of mirror overlaid with a grid. However, it can have a translucent effect in the right light. I like the leaf-less tree in the foreground. It contrasts with the architecture and anchors the picture.
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