My experimentation with long exposure, night and HDR photography took place recently over 2 days and a night along London’s South Bank and more.
I shan’t be repeating the night photography stint, lasting from 10pm until 2am, in a hurry. I’m surprised I still have my fingers and toes attached. I’d even donned three layers of clothing on every major part of my body and it felt as if I was wandering around naked, while the temperature played around 4 degrees. I just don’t believe my body functions optimally in the cold, perhaps.
One problem that nearly drove me to fling my camera in to the River Thames was trying to get Elizabeth Tower supporting Big Ben in focus. Albeit doing everything by the book. Tripod, focus set to infinity etc. And still no such luck. Return I shall to practice, but only in the summer.
Why I didn’t capture the night shots during the summer months is beyond even me.
I don’t believe any of the photographs requires an introduction… I loved the different looks by night and by day, and how lights at night can transform the dullest of dull structures, such as the Black Friars Bridge.
Peter
December 04, 2015
Congratulations, Nicola, on producing images from the South Bank of landmarks that even a Londoner would stop and take notice of. That is a theme running through your photographs; you select, edit and crop an image and it demands attention. Clearly, your eyes are always open whether it is hot or it is cold.
The image of St. Paul’s Cathedral from the Millennium footbridge is beautifully framed and quite unique with the turquoise blue walkway, the dark blue sky rising from the bright white lights of the illuminated city buildings. You have even caught some of the red lights from cranes ever present in London’s continual process to knock down and rebuild.
The red, blue and white lights reflecting in the river could be colours painted on black molasses and make the Thames look warm and sticky not cold and wet as most would expect. The heavy old timbers, in fine definition, seem to be just pricking the surface.
Deciding to picture the OXO Tower through a mesh of leafless twigs and branches is inspired, Nicola. Why take a clear shot when you can dare to be different and do what you have done with blue and white bulbs of light pebble dashing your image?
The pale moon appears fragile and suspended in the lightest of mists against the dark sky.
Looking up at the bridge from the South Bank you have cleverly caught the starburst images of two lights which complement the metal struts of the suspended bridge and the poles anchoring them to the ground.
The Palace of Westminster looks pale in comparison to the rich golden colour of the Elizabeth Tower with a new, illuminated green bandana. (You would have no clue of this colour looking at the building in the light as you do again later). The buildings and Westminster Bridge seem suspended on the Thames in the way that you have photographed it, such lovely reflections in the dark water.
The poppies and individual crosses meticulously displayed in the grass outside Westminster Abbey appear more poignant with autumn leaves scattered amongst them.
It is easier to feel the cold in some of the day time photographs you have taken perhaps from the grey stone or the uninviting water moving with the wind and currents.
The jetty sticking out redundant from the South Bank seems out of place with the old, new and refurbished buildings in the background yet quite at home on the desolate, unkempt beach that part of the ancient timbers penetrate. The sky is one from an artist’s water colour palette. Staggering.
The photograph with the Shard in the background and mixtures of glass, steel , brick and concrete, all competing with each other are a mess of construction, of property development, space chasing rental greed, compared to the timeless beauty of St. Paul’s Cathedral. I think I prefer your London in the dark.
Nicola
December 04, 2015
Thank you, Peter, for another appreciative set of comments to my latest blog.
I don’t think my eyes could be any more open right now!
I considered removing the red cranes from the St Paul’s shot, but then it wouldn’t be a true reflection of, as you said, “London’s continual process to knock down and rebuild.”
Endeavour, I do to take shots out of the ordinary, so the OXO Tower amongst the naked twigs and bulbous lights instantly jumped out at me.
The coloured reflections in the water is definitely one of my favourite shots!
I agree; I definitely prefer my London in the dark!
Nicola @BeanOn.Photography.