On the edge of the Oslo Fjord you’ll find the Barcode area. I went there on Monday night to eat at one of the new restaurants and to take some new photos of the area.
In these two shots I’ve played with different looks: one outrageous, almost HDR looking photo. The other a bit more toned down, but still sparkling. Personally I prefer the slightly toned down version, but I know that a lot of people like pictures that are highly saturated. Especially when it comes to night photography.
The theme for #photo101 today is Edge.
If you want to find out more about the Barcode area, you ‘ll find info on Wikipedia about the style and the controversies:
Some are enthusiastic about the fresh architecture, the “champagne apartments,” and the unmatched opportunity to reshape the urban landscape and relieve pressure on a rapidly growing city without diminishing existing green space. However, there has been widespread criticism of the heights and designs of the Barcode buildings, both from architects and from citizens of Oslo. The Barcode has been described as a barrier between the fjord and the rest of the city that will destroy Oslo’s character as an open, low-rise city with a lot of green space and cast a permanent shadow on adjacent neighborhoods for the benefit of a rich few. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode_Project_%28Oslo%29)
Cardinal Guzman 
you surely love night scenes photography and what is more important – know how to take compelling low-light images… the reflections work magic here… 🙂
Thanks for the nice compliment Alexandra.
Great photos, it looks absolute brilliant. Reading the Wikipart, I feel torn about the effect of the architecture though. But the again I suppose that’s what so exciting about Oslo. It’s constantly growing and changing.
Oslo is growing and changing and people are always gonna criticize everything, but the Barcode criticism is bullshit.
– “a barrier between the fjord and the rest of the city” – A barrier? More than the train tracks, the highway and the barren, dead industrial area that was there before?
People at Enerhaugen complained that they lost their ocean view. Enerhaugen is a couple of kilometers away from the ocean. People can’t seriously expect that the city is not going to develop, just because they don’t want their apartments to lose value.
Besides, most of the people in Oslo are pro-immigration (judging by how they vote in the elections): at the same time they don’t want to build high rising houses, they don’t want to build closer (less space between the buildings) and they don’t want to build where the forest begin (“we can’t touch the forest, we need that for recreation”).
Here’s a reality check for them: People need to live somewhere and if we’re going to have immigration, the immigrants also need houses…
Clear and fair enough, my friend. I’d go for that! 🙂
I personally find the expansion in Oslo interesting. Amongst architects Oslo is high up on the list because of the possibilities, money to carry it out etc. I can vividly remember many long years of fight over the opera house. Keep showing us great buildings growing up in Oslo, please! 🙂
Yes, the Opera discussion went on forever.
The idea of an opera house in Oslo first started 1917, then again in the 1920’s and in 1946.
In 1989 they started working on some plans, in 1999 they finally decided where to raise the building.
Then the construction started in 2003 and it was finished for the opening in 2008.
People were complaining a lot about the Opera House too, but now that it’s finally there I think that most of them like the Opera House.
Oslo without the opera house is not Oslo any longer … 🙂
Love the two panorama photos, brilliant reflection in the water. I personally like the HDR one on the left, really like how you bring our the colours in it. It looks like a relaxing and peaceful place for an after-work stroll, great views indeed.
Thanks Mabel. The water that you see there is great for ice skating before the snow comes.
Great photos, and now I want to visit Oslo.
Thanks. Oslo is like a village on steroids.
Both nice shots but I think I agree with you and prefer the second (although I do like HDR).
Takker Mjøllnir!
They are both excellent, but the second is better. More natural. The first has a cartoon aspect to it.
Thanks Alastair. Yes, you’re right: there’s a slight cartoon aspect to the fake HDR one.
Amazing view of the city of Oslo – really miss it – it have been too long time “no see”… 😀
Don’t worry. You haven’t really missed out on anything.
I tend to like softer versions but the reflection on water of the first caught my attention.
It’s my choice between two impressive photos.
The explanation behind it is amazing; thanks for sharing.
I visited Oslo for the last time in 95 and this is s totally different view than what I kept from the city.
I see the contrasting points of view about the barcode; not easy to reconcile them as both have good reasons to support them.
The city has definitely changed a lot since 95! Even a couple of my old neighborhoods are almost unrecognizable compared to how they looked like 20 years ago.
Luckily there’s no need to reconcile when it comes to the different points of view on the Barcode area: The people that are against city development always lose.
Perfect analogy!
Thank you very much and good luck with the snow!
I vote for the softer version…I always tend to prefer a natural look ,though I recognize a magical touch in the first one!
Thanks 76! (Are you a 76 model?).
I agree that the more natural look is better.
I think in this case both of them work very well…I was wandering about the barcode…But I suppose it is almost impossible to have everybody thinking the same about something…I do not know Oslo, so I can not give my opinión…But I think now a lot of people are trying to develop new structures to work like attractions with foreigners,…And may be they forget about the essence of people and towns..
You’re absolutely right: I’d remove the “almost” and say that it’s impossible to have everybody thinking the same about something… That’s why our modern democracies (representative democracies) doesn’t work. The only democracies that work, is democracies in its true form – direct democracies.
Yes…But they are not very useful…May be in the old days, in small communities, but nowadays… It is imposible..We will never move on….
The second I saw them I chose the toned down version, but the first one looks quite festive – almost Christmasy 🙂 Definitely edgy pic 😉
Christmasy, that’s true. I hadn’t thought of that. If I flip it clockwise, it’ll look like a Yule decorated tree.
Apropos Christmas: do they walk around the Christmas trees and sing songs in Croatia?
There’s any walking around the trees, but singing carols is part of our tradition.
i think i like the second best but its a close call and being a girl i love sparkly too. The barcode reference is fun! Great shots x
Stunning shot – I prefer the more toned-down version too.
This…is..simply awesome!!!
Thanks, I’m glad you like them!
Excellent!
I love both !
I suspect this part of town is more than capable of holding its own with a play on the light and colours, and it’s not that ugly overdone HDR that screams get me out of here. I like both versions.
nice picture guy well done i love all your site and pictures you are expert