Photo by György Sziklai
Stairway to Heaven
Captured in Budapest on May 31, 2026, around 7 PM, I was immediately drawn to the powerful geometry of the stairway and the striking silhouettes against the evening sky. My goal was to create a minimalist, timeless image that captures the sense of aspiration and movement in the late light. Photographed natively in monochrome, I aimed to maintain the stark purity of the scene while enhancing the dramatic tension between the light and shadow.
Camera settings: Nikon Z6II, 1/320s, f/8, ISO 100
György Sziklai (https://www.instagram.com/gyorgy.sziklai/)
Post processing notes:
The image was processed exclusively in ON1 Photo RAW 2026, starting with a custom Black & White preset incorporating Glow and Dynamic Contrast for added depth. I used the Healing Brush for the removal of sensor spots and dust, and advanced retouching tools to carefully remove a distracting head from the scene. Finally, I utilized Quick Mask AI for precise local adjustments, isolating the figures to ensure a perfect, high-contrast silhouette.Exif information:
| Copyright: | György Sziklai |
| Camera: | NIKON Z 6_2 |
| Aperture: | f/8 |
| Focal Length: | 48mm |
| ISO: | 100 |
| Shutter Speed: | 1/320 sec. |
| Created: | May 31, 2026 18:57:48 |