Pictures of city skylines abound. A seemingly ubiquitous subject for photographers both amateur and professional, it's hard to pass a gift shop in any airport in the world without seeing racks of glossy skyline post cards. And why not? A city's skyline, in a way, is its stamp, its signature. It's the first and last thing people can see when they're coming or going, and glimpses of certain skylines can evoke all sorts of emotions (think New York City pre- and post- 9/11). Skyline aren't only aesthetically or emotionally pleasing, however. On this blog, Luigi di Serio, a self-proclaimed "nobody," has created a detailed mathematically based ranking system to judge the beauty of the skylines of the world.
Another great thing about skylines is that because they are a rather static subject, they are a great base for all sorts of photographic innovation. Different times of day, different weather and different vantage points enable a variety of unique shots. In addition, all kinds of photographic and technologic innovation, from timelapse photos combined in image editing software to something as simple as flipping the camera upside down, give photographers the chance to truly "compose" and exercise their creative skills in a unique way, ensuring that skylines as a subject will never be exhausted. One of the most interesting elements of skyline picture variations, to me in particular, is the way they play with time.
Atlanta skyline time lapse photo
