London photography outing - suggestions

[Kermit power]

Probably a bit late now, but if you can get a later train back, I'd say it would be worth it! London before and after dark make for two completely different experiences in one day.

[z4RRSchris]

if your still about I can get you up very high for free.

[Nigel_O]

z4RRSchris said:

if your still about I can get you up very high for free.

That's what the surprise was for the lads - View from the Shard - very enjoyable.

Could you have got us any higher? Would have been cheaper for sure...

[Resolutionary]

brianashley said:

noell35 said:

Perhaps Brick Lane and Spitalfields and maybe around Canary Wharf

Lets hope he does not get robbed in Brick istan

Quite a lot of pseudo-bigots joining this site of late.

[Kermit power]

Resolutionary said:

brianashley said:

noell35 said:

Perhaps Brick Lane and Spitalfields and maybe around Canary Wharf

Lets hope he does not get robbed in Brick istan

Quite a lot of pseudo-bigots joining this site of late.

Hmm...

I have attempted to comprehend your use of the word "pseudo" in this context.

I have failed.

I have now read and agreed with "Quite a lot of bigots joining this site of late".

[z4RRSchris]

Nigel_O said:

z4RRSchris said:

if your still about I can get you up very high for free.

That's what the surprise was for the lads - View from the Shard - very enjoyable.

Could you have got us any higher? Would have been cheaper for sure...

cant get any higher unless you are in a chopper!

i can do 160m.

[Nigel_O]

Back on topic please gents....

A few samples from the day out yesterday - rest are on my FlickR account

I think I've over-processed a couple, as the conditions got gradually worse during the day. Lovely and sunny first thing, clouded over for the trip up the Shard, then got more and more grey during the afternoon

I've decided that I rather like upward-facing "vanishing point" shots of tall buildings. Probably because living in Staffordshire, we don't have a lot of tall buildings (at least not photography-worthy ones)

Also, despite my aim of avoiding all the London clichés, that's pretty much what we did all day....

As always, constructive criticism is very welcome

DSC_5543 by Nigel Ogram, on Flickr

DSC_5563 by Nigel Ogram, on Flickr

DSC_5655 by Nigel Ogram, on Flickr

DSC_5735 by Nigel Ogram, on Flickr

DSC_5656 by Nigel Ogram, on Flickr

[K12beano]

All are interesting!

The perspectives on the first two are great; I remember being drawn to a composition like #2; is #1 the corner of the "Dark Tower" and the "Cheesegrater"? (I was working there last year and wish I'd seen that angle!!)

For the others, especially the last two, I don't care for your processing treatment, but like the composition (especially Wobbly Bridge, although some different arrangement of people might have been more appealing). Others might disagree. I especially don't like how the skyline ends in such a rough transition - very distracting.

However, some people like that sort of thing. Where I'm working currently they have their literature adorned with horribly over-processed stock images of the City from the west which I find particularly grating and unattractive. Clearly their Marketing (Muppets) would just decide I don't have taste......

[Nigel_O]

The Millenium Bridge shot was hurried in post-processing. I need to spend longer setting the mask to process just the sky. I've also over-processed the sky - needs toning back a bit. I'll have another play over the weekend

Sadly, the people on the bridge wouldn't walk where I wanted them to - very inconsiderate...

Yes, #1 was to the side of the Cheese grater - didn't know what the other building was - the "quarters" effect only became apparent later, so it was a bit of a fluke - pleasing though....

[Resolutionary]

Kermit power said:

Hmm...

I have attempted to comprehend your use of the word "pseudo" in this context.

I have failed.

I have now read and agreed with "Quite a lot of bigots joining this site of late".

Apologies, I was trying to convey the notion that the people who say silly stuff online wouldn't necessarily make such remarks without a screen and keyboard present - but I detest the phrase 'keyboard warrior'. You're right though, an influx of actual bigots for sure.

The last photo posted is awesome, great cityscape!

[Nigel_O]

K12beano said:

I don't care for your processing treatment, but like the composition (especially Wobbly Bridge, although some different arrangement of people might have been more appealing). Others might disagree. I especially don't like how the skyline ends in such a rough transition - very distracting.

I've had a play - is this any better, or still a bit overdone on the sky?

Millenium bridge and St Pauls by Nigel Ogram, on Flickr

[K12beano]

Yes

It's "better". I find it a bit flat. But don't take me as the final arbiter!

Reminds me of the day of the eclipse some while back:

Eclipse London Thames-6 by Beano!, on Flickr


But the lighting can be so changeable there, from:

London Street Photography-381 by Beano!, on Flickr

to

London Street Photography-365 by Beano!, on Flickr

within minutes

...and the whole thing takes on different moods!!!

[Nigel_O]

Ah - direct sunlight - sadly lacking after lunch on Tuesday....

You're right - it was very flat - the skies were grey and the light was poor, so I was never going to be able to get much from some of the images

All good for learning though....

[K12beano]

Still a rich learning ground! And always entertaining there!

Glad you had a fun day out, anyway! Have you tried any B&W conversion? It's not an all-cure panacea, by any means, and would really/should really only be contemplated where you "saw" it in B&W to start, but just sometimes the shapes - and in this case that silhouette - can just pop out and make an image a level or two higher.

(It's the sort of image I "like" as a challenge - if you had a RAW file you were willing to share I'd love a five minute "play"!)