Looking up toward the light.
Lesson 10 in Photo 101 had Michelle sending us to find a Mystery. She used lighting as her teaching cue, illustrating how different angles bring hues and shadows to our frames.
I had a trip planned to a big place in Syracuse, and decided to share two views of one of the landmark’s most prominent locations. The first is shooting up, toward the light source.
Looking down.
The second is taken from as close to the light source as possible, shooting down.
Both images seem fairly mysterious to me.
Without looking at the tags, can you guess where I was?
It’s a mall. The center atrium of Syracuse’s mega shopping, dining and entertainment complex Destiny USA, to be specific. I like looking at the floors surrounding the square in the middle, and wondering how many people are scooting off to each side, where they’re going, and what they’re looking to buy.
Regal Cinema, Destiny USA, Syracuse.
Me? I was heading to the Regal Cinema chain to see “Run All Night” for my Syracuse New Times film blog review. It’ll run at syracusenewtimes.com Monday morning, with a sister piece right here by the way.
Which view of the Destiny USA center atrium do you prefer, and why? Would you stand at the rail, looking down, attempting to people watch, or is it too high up for you? Which shot of the three is the most mysterious to you, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
Fabulous!! Awesome job!
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Thanks, Nancy. Where do you shop and go to the movies in Arizona? Mega mall or smaller place? Just wondering.
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A mega place… but We are known for having outdoor movies at our back patio!
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Oh, you guys are my kind of people!
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On a big screen… not an outdoor tv…
just sayin’ 🙂
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I assumed on a big screen when you said showed movies. We’re old school, after all. 😉
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I think you did great in all 3 shots, but I like the cinema one the best… probably because I’m a bit of a rebel and you’re not supposed to have your cellphone on or take photos at the movies. 😉 Nah! it’s because it’s dark and mysterious. 🙂
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I made sure I took the shot right before the trailers started, and no flash, of course, Rachel. Thanks!
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LOL! I knew you’d play it safe. 😉
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my fav was the ‘looking up’ view, makes me feel how small we are in the scheme of things and wondering about the ‘big picture.’ most mysterious is the last one, a hazy, blurry view of things.
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Your curiosity comes out once more, Beth. Thank you for your great addition to the cutline writing. 🙂
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This was an excellent photo and perspective. This looks futuristic, like the movie theater photo the best. I love mysteries so more details are also helpful…
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Hooray for the mysterious, Robin. 🙂
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Today, I don’t like the darkened Regal theater as much as the shimmering light through the sky light. Perspectives change day by day, Mark! I am smiling at the “hooray!”
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We are allowed to change our minds, right, Robin? Hooray to that, too. 🙂
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Mark … Amazing photos. Love them. I knew right off the bat what they were (Carousel Center Mall photos) – now Destiny. I used to hang out there every week. Thanks for sharing. 😉
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You know that spot, Judy! It’s a big view, up and down. 🙂 Thank you, my friend.
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Not a very busy mall, from the looks of it. Or did you have your team of productions assistants clear the area for your photo shoot?
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I went at 10 a.m. on a Friday to catch the first movie and get an early writing start on the day, Scott. Busy production values all the way around, you know?!
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Great shots. My fav is the first one. Love the abstract perspective you captured.
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Thank you, Cate. It is a cool abstract, yes. Your eye rules!
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What an effect…the green glowing ‘exit’ light in the theater shot.
That really is some Destiny! Wonderful photos!
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Thanks, JoHanna. If the movie is good, there is no exit from the story, right?!
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Absolutely!
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I liked the picture looking up Mark – it looks majestic. The pic looking down would be a great place to people watch. It reminds me of the most impressive atrium I have ever seen in my life. In Shanghai the Jin Mao Tower s the 17th tallest building in the world – 88 stories. The Grand Hyatt Shanghai occupies from 53rd to 87th floors and the atrium is from the 56th floor to the top. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jin_Mao_Tower#/media/File:Inside_Jinmao_Tower_from_88th_Floor.jpg When i visited Shanghai with a school group, we stood on the viewing platform on the top and looked down 31 floors to the main desk of the Hyatt on the 56th floor. I enjoy being high and looking down. I would have been a good cat. Ha!
Great photos Mark.
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You are a good cat, Paul. In all senses. Most aware dude out here, most days! I think Shanghai from up high would be a treat never to forget, my friend. Yay!
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I loved those pictures, Mark great mall !! Happy Weekend my friend 🙂
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I think you’d have a great time taking pictures at our mall, Lelya. Eating and shopping, too. 🙂
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Shopping!!!!!! I love that jejejej 😛
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Lovin’ the curves in that second shot, Chum. Well done.
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It was a fun and wiggly shoot for me, at the rail and on the floor, Aud. Thanks.
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Great shots. I look forward to the review.
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Well done, you!
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I hope you say the same after you read my review of the movie on Monday. Thanks, Jay.
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I like both of them Mark. It looks like HQ for some special secret agents or scientists! ❤
Diana xo
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I like that. Secret Agent Headquarters. Agent Mark, reporting for duty! Thanks, Diana. 🙂
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Shhhhh don’t forget the cone of silence!
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I might have to take a Meclizine before I go much farther bro Mark. I love all the pictures, and couldn’t figure out what they were because I was dizzy from looking up, then from looking down, so when I saw the lights I started going toward them, only to bump into my monitor screen. I think you captured “mystery” very well, and then got your movie in as a bonus. Good job! Just curious though, did anyone stop and stare when you were lying on the floor for the “up” picture? Around here you would have been surrounded by paramedics and firemen, plus mall security asking what drugs you were on.
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Thanks, sis Angie. Sorry for throwing off your balance. Yeah, I was waiting for somebody to corner me for my floor shot here.
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Now THAT would have been a true Kodak moment bro Mark. I’m laughing just thinking about it.
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I don’t like heights. I wouldn’t stand at the rail and look down. I think the shot of the Cinema is the most mysterious of the three. You just never know what lurks in the shadows.
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There are some shadows in the dark theater, Freeda. I was glad to get there early enough to be there with the side lights on. Thanks.
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🙂 Maybe nobody will say boo to ya’. lol
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I find the view up is much more interesting (probably because I really don’t dig malls). The theatre shot is the most mysterious to me….Makes me wonder who has sat here before, what movie is playing, what kind of emotions have played out here…..great photos to get me thinking!!
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Thanks, Katie. Looking up, I scootched to the middle of the area, flat on my back, and was able to get a more true representation of the area than being on the rail above. But it’s more interesting, anyway, I agree. And the theater, thinking of the before’s, yes, that is fun! You are a good thinker for these assignments. I dig your glasses, too. 🙂
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I was wondering if you sprawled out on the floor for that photo!! Ah – so have been a passerby to capture THAT shot! 🙂
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I’m going to show up on YouTube, aren’t I, Katie? Oh, boy. 🙂
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haha!! you just might!
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wow awesome!!!
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Thanks, mansa! I’m glad you like them.
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Thank you too mark!!!
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I get dizzier looking up than I do looking down, so I will just stick to shopping! 😀
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You’d like shopping here, Sheena. It’s a really good mall, I think. For the looking up, picture, I lied flat on my back on the floor. FYI. 🙂
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I’m getting dizzy just looking at that picture. You’d think a squirrel wouldn’t be fazed by looking down over a high ledge….
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I thought you’d dig the ledge, sir. Wow. You’re full of surprises.
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I can never resist the urge to look down in such instances… but I’m always immediately wishing I hadn’t once I do poke my head over the railing…. and….. ooooohhhh, why is everything spinning?
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My favorite image is the second one. The most mysterious is the third one. I would people watch for about 1 minute and then stop because I would be too dizzy to continue. LOL!
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Thanks, PJ, for liking any of them. It would be easy to get dizzy looking down from there. 🙂 That’s no mystery.
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Too high for me! I’d stand at the floor and look up at that atrium. That’s the most mysterious. We only know what’s out there sometimes, for so far, the rest is theory and conjecture! 🙂
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They only let the public up to the sixth of eight floors, too, Joey. The seventh and eight are marked “Private” and the elevator won’t let you get there. I wanted to shoot the scene from even higher up. I agree, looking up is very mysterious to me, too. Conjecture is kind of fun sometimes, right?
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I think conjecture is great fun, Mark!
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