There are only three locations in Perth where you can shoot the city's skyline in all it's glory.  The first and most famous location is from Fraser's Avenue in Kings Park and Botanical Gardens.  However, that viewpoint has been shot to death.  Everybody who has ever been to Perth has already shot from that viewpoint.  The second location is from Sir James Mitchell Park in South Perth.  This viewpoint offers a different perspective of the city reflected from one of the three small lakes across the park.  The third location is from Mends Street Jetty, also in South Perth.


Mends Street Jetty is only a 10 minutes drive from the apartment that we always rent when we are in Perth.  Getting to Mends Street Jetty is only a matter of punching in "Mends St Jetty" in Garmin and the GPS will get you there in no time.  The view from Mends Street Jetty offers the classic view of the Perth Skyline reflected across the Swan Rivers.  I think the best time to shoot this location is during the weekdays at sunset.  Although the setting sun will not be in the frame, this timing is perfect as the lights from the buildings will be at it's maximum during this period.  Shoot this location during sunrise or weekends and you will find that the lights from the buildings will not be fully lighted.


The above image was shot at the Mends Street Jetty area during the autumn of 2012.  As the sun was setting behind me towards the left, it was impossible for me to include the sun in the frame.  I had waited for a good thirty minutes until the ambient light had balanced with the artificial lights of the building.  This had ensured that the contrast of the scene was manageable without needing any fanciful filtration techniques.  I was careful to expose for the brightest part of the sky without blowing out the highlights.  From there, the highlight exposure was pushed towards the far right as possible using the "Expose To The Right" or ETTR technique.  This had ensure that the details in the shadow or the darkest part of the scene had contained details and not rendered as pure black.


EOS 5D Mk II / EF 7-200 mm. F2.8 L USM Lens.