This shot was taken using a NIKON D5000 at ISO 100, f/22, for 101.00sec
Knoxville Sunsphere – World’s Fair Park
This shot was taken a shutter speed of 101 seconds. Yes, one minute and 41 seconds. The reason for such a long shutter speed was due to the shot being taken during such harsh light. I used my Nikon 18-55mm kit lens and put on a .10 ND Filter. Putting on a filter is like putting on sunglasses for your camera.
The harsh light wasn’t the only reason for the filter. Notice the water, looks like glass. Because of the filter, I had to use a super long shutter speed, which in turns smooth’s out choppy water.
History of the Sunsphere
The iconic Sunsphere was constructed for the 1982 World’s Fair that was being held in Knoxville that year. It served as the symbol of the Fair and was also the home to a full service restaurant and the Observation Deck. At the time a trip to the Observation Deck cost $2.00.
After the end of the World’s Fair, the Sunsphere closed to the public and remained vacant for most of its life. However, in 1999, the Observation Deck reopened to the public, but only for a short time. It was reclosed so that the Public Building Authority could use the space for offices to oversee the construction of the Knoxville Convention Center. The Convention Center was finished in 2001, but the Sunsphere remained closed.
It wasn’t until 2007 when Mayor Bill Haslam announced that with tax payer’s money, the Sunsphere and the Tennessee Amphitheater would both be renovated and reopen to the public. Later that year, the Observation Deck of the Sunsphere reopened to the public free of charge.
At this time the Observation Deck remains open and free to the public to visit, and a privately-owned business resides on the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth floors of the sphere.