Standing beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, I felt a quiet sense of awe as I aimed my Sony a7ii at the immense structure above. There was something humbling about the sight of this iconic landmark, arching over the Brooklyn Bridge Park and holding its own against the night sky. In that moment, I was reminded of how small we all are compared to the grand cityscape we call home.
The shot came to life thanks to the lens I chose: a 24-70mm f2.8, which allowed me to capture both the towering iron details of the bridge and the foliage creeping into the frame. I set my aperture to f2.8, opening wide to let the lights of the city softly illuminate the scene. The shutter speed was slow enough to add a subtle motion to the leaves, giving the image a bit of that dreamy, cinematic quality that I love. The depth of the shot made it feel like the city was breathing, and I wanted to show that in every element captured.
This photograph speaks to the feeling of being small in a large world, but not in a way that’s disheartening. Instead, there’s beauty in our smallness, a comfort in knowing that we are part of something grand. I think that’s what drew me to shoot it this way—in the presence of something so monumental, we find the rhythm of our existence.
Photography like this is all about finding a balance—between the lights that bring a cityscape to life and the shadows that ground it in the quiet moments. You can check out more of my creative work here, or show your support by grabbing some merch here. For those of you curious about my professional projects, head over to my portfolio. Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram and Facebook for more of these moments, and feel free to reach out for business inquiries at ramontrotman@gmail.com.
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