London at night - Where to go/how to do

[Mr Bishi]

I'm off to London tomorrow evening for my first attempt at long exposure night photography and have two questions,

1) Where to go? I'm looking for anything really but would quite like some modern architecture. Where are the good spots to go?

2) Basics of night photography? I understand it's best to set up the ISO to around 100-200, and will use the self timer and tripod to stop any camera shake. I will be shooting in manual* so should I set my aperture to the style of shot I'm taking or will this need to be set more or less fully open regardless? I guess I will also need to use manual focus rather than auto?

Any other tips and tricks appreciated, Thanks

• Have to shoot in manual as part of a beginers photography course however this is not part of the course as such.

Edited by Mr Bishi on Monday 10th March 11:44

[toasty]

There's plenty of things to choose from along the riverbank around London/Tower Bridge.

Use mirror lock up if you can to reduce shake even more. If you've got a tripod then I'd set aperture quite small (for starburst effect) with low ISO and play around with long exposures.

Most of all, have fun and try lots of combinations.

[V1DL3R]

Use your delayed timer as pressing the shutter creates shake. Set the timer press down and then leave. Just play around. I like Chelsea bridge as there is a mixture of new and old.

[james_tigerwoods]

I rested the camera on a ledge, or pressed against a wall or stayed as still as I could while holding my breath (really) - Oh and not too much beer.

I tend to just wander about and shoot what takes my fancy - Some work, some don't. And sometimes you can see something that just appeals:

[gary71]

I always liked this night view for a bit of long exposure fun:


Thames View by Suggs, on Flickr

So much in fact I have a 6ft canvas of it of my kitchen wall

[Mr Bishi]

Thanks for the tips all, these are the just the sort of stuff I'm hoping to shoot tonight. Depending how successful tonights trip is I'll post up the results here.

[dele]

Let us know how it goes, im thinking of doing the same this week

[Kermit power]

gary71 said:

I always liked this night view for a bit of long exposure fun:


Thames View by Suggs, on Flickr

So much in fact I have a 6ft canvas of it of my kitchen wall

I've got a shot like that, but it annoys me. I'm not sure whether you'd want me to tell you why, though, as then it might start to annoy you too!

[Kermit power]

Not my photo, but if you want modern architecture without schlepping all the way down to Docklands, head for the City and places like the Lloyds of London building....


Lloyds building, City of London by John Parfrey, on Flickr