P#42: Round the Rotunda We Go
How David Tejada transformed a flat, lifeless photo into this visually compelling rotunda
Depth should come naturally to any shot of a rotunda, but as David Tejada explains, part of photography lies in knowing when to shift the image around and get the shot you want.
The Rotunda Mosaic
David Tejada: That one there was shot for the cover of an annual report for an energy company here in town, a utility company. I found a condominium complex, an old building in downtown Denver. A client wanted a spiral staircase. This is not that but it is a rotunda which has a similar feel to it.
They wanted to have the board of directors meeting at a table at the bottom of a spiral staircase. The client actually had me pick up some carpeting to match the carpeting on the other floors and place it on the lower level where the table is sitting and I did shoot it that way for my client. (click the image for a larger version)
This was shot with a 15 mm rectilinear lens -- film days -- suspended out on a boom over the edge of the upper deck looking down. I shot it with this burgundy carpeting just like the rest of the carpeting on the other floors down on the mosaic tile floor with the conference table on it.
Quite honestly it was perfectly flat. I didn't like the shot at all. I went ahead and shot it for my client because they're the one who wanted it that way. Then I convinced the directors to give me another five minutes, thankfully .
We quickly removed the swatch of carpeting we had laid on the bottom level and then replaced the table back onto the original mosaic tile floor. That's the shot that I show today. I just didn't care for the one with the other carpeting.
I have six strobes placed in various locations on different floor levels to open up some of the darker areas. Then down below I've got a couple strobes just lighting up that bottom section there.
Audri Lanford: The composition on this one is just so striking.
David Tejada: Thank you. I sold that for a lot of stock for many, many years. It was a big, big winner for sure.
Audri Lanford: I agree with you.
David Tejada: You can see how flat it would be.
Audri Lanford: Yes, this is the way to do it.
To Sum Up
When you're doing commercial photography, you have to deliver what the client wants. But as David demonstrates in this stunning shot of a rotunda, you also have to know when to exercise your own creative sensibilities.
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