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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Nine: Composition -- putting it together > Rotunda, Texas State Capitol, Austin, Texas, 2009
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02-JUN-2009

Rotunda, Texas State Capitol, Austin, Texas, 2009

A single star sends a series of decorative rays and circles spinning towards us as we look up into the interior of a dome that soars higher than the United States Capitol. These rays and circles lead the eye down to a series of circular galleries that mark each floor of the 120-year-old Texas State Capitol building. By limiting the scene to the vertical frame of a 24mm wideangle lens, I am able to compress the energy of the circular patterns into a narrow channel that leads the eye all the way up to the lone star at the center of the dome -- the focal point of the entire image. Organized by concentric circles and partial circles, the image guides the eye through the scene. Meanwhile, the color temperature changes from the palette from gold in the lower galleries, illuminated by electricity, to the white light playing on the dome’s interior, illuminated by the window light.

Leica D-Lux 4
1/125s f/2.5 at 5.1mm iso80 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis08-Jun-2009 21:22
Thanks, Rose, for adding a song to this image. Indeed, the Lone Star that shines down from this dome could well represent "The Eyes of Texas" that are upon us. I am sure anyone from Texas who sees this image and your comment will feel right at home!
sunlightpix08-Jun-2009 04:35
Yes, "the image guides the eye through the scene" but I have the feeling that an eye is watching me. Like the song says, "The Eyes of Texas are Upon You":
The eyes of Texas are upon you,
All the live long day.
The eyes of Texas are upon you,
You cannot get away.
Do not think you can escape them,
At night, or early in the morn'.
The eyes of Texas are upon you,
Till Gabriel blows his horn.
Phil Douglis07-Jun-2009 22:52
Thanks for your comment, Ann. It is a very special place, and I tried to do justice to it through my choice of both vantage point and wideangle focal length. The image essentially composed itself, once I found the right place to stand and frame the scene overhead.
Ann...07-Jun-2009 21:16
This is one very clever piece of photography and one very wonderful building!
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