Street Photography

[Mata]

Had a day out on Saturday around Covent Garden and the Strand. Share a few images.

Quality and editing is getting better, but still work in progress.

I am trying out different software’s to see how they work and bring a different feel to an image.

[Mata]

The image below is of Somerset House and others along the strand coming towards Trafalgar Square.

[Mata]

Another great day out around Brick Lane & Spitalfields Market. I met two willing ladies to model for me. One in a coffee shop and another in the pub opposite the market and a professional lady photographer out on an editorial shoot.

The only complaint I have is I missed taking a shot of Russell Brand the actor/comedian. I was leaning against the wall changing the setting on the camera and as looked up he was passing by. An opportunity lost.

The gate is called Spitfire Mk.Vb W3311 Gate because the Spitalfields fruit and veg traders clubbed together to buy a Spitfire fighter plane in World War II. They named it ‘Fruitation’.

[Mata]

The shots below were taken in the coffee shop downstairs. I have put a test shot I used to check the camera settings to give a layout and two near finished shots. I think the yellow colour panel and her coat in the background slightly distract the eye?

The lighting conditional weren’t great. The lady in question was quite willing and very helpful. Must have spent about an hour with her. I have promised to send her some images once I have processed them.

[Mata]

The shots below were taken in the pub opposite the market.

The lovely lady in question commented on the camera I was carrying and I asked her if I could take some shots of her as she worked. Again she was very willing.

We also discussed the possibility of doing a studio shoot. See what happens?

The last one is of a lady on an editorial shoot.

[Mike Farley]

The only complaint I have is I missed taking a shot of Russell Brand the actor/comedian. I was leaning against the wall changing the setting on the camera and as looked up he was passing by. An opportunity lost.

If you had been an attractive woman, he would have stopped for you.

[Mike Farley]

The image below is of Somerset House and others along the strand coming towards Trafalgar Square.

The two night time shots are atmospheric.

[Mike Farley]

The shots below were taken in the coffee shop downstairs. I have put a test shot I used to check the camera settings to give a layout and two near finished shots. I think the yellow colour panel and her coat in the background slightly distract the eye?

The lighting conditional weren’t great. The lady in question was quite willing and very helpful. Must have spent about an hour with her. I have promised to send her some images once I have processed them.

Gosh, that lighting is dark. Not so long ago it would have been impossible to have got anything usable in such conditions, but the high ISO performance of digital cameras has really improved in the last few years.

The colour of the yellow background can be changed, but you have learnt a lesson in assessing a scene and moving any distractions before tripping the shutter. It is always easier to sort things out at the time of shooring rather than trying to fix it afterwards in Photoshop. I would also think about toning down the brightness of the lamp in the second shot as you have got a bright area at the edge of the frame which is distracting from the subject.

A good find though and well done for finding willing subjects in both this and the pub shoot.

[Mata]

It was a great opportunity missed with Russell Brand. Will need to develop a ‘hawk eye’ for celebrities?

The shots in the café were taken on a mini tripod with a cable remote and slow shutter speed. Was trying to keep the ISO as low as possible. The second café image is at ISO 320 and the third one at 1000. There is noise when you blow the image up but couldn’t be helped.

Yes the lamp also distracts as well.

I am slowly beginning to take in the whole photo scene, hopefully few more months and lots of practice should do it.

Also finding my way around lightroom. Making gradual improvements all-round.

[Mata]

I wouldn’t recommend it. It isn’t going to improve anyones photography skills. I think David Attenborough and his team can rest easy.

It is full of kids and mummies with buggies and daddies carrying toddlers around their neck with plenty of tourists all clamouring to get close to the glass.

Lot of the Glass is curved and when I did manage to get on my knees to get under the water-line some kid would give me a nudge to get in front all excited.

I didn’t stay too long but I did have a good day out. I decide to take a walk along Lambeth Pier towards Vauxhall. I found a lovely skyline towards Nine Elms as the river meanders to the right towards Battersea Power Station and as things happens I found a moored boat that has been turned into a Bar/restaurant. It was nice to get out of the cold and enjoy a nice brandy to warm up (for medicinal purpose you understand).

The bar staff as usual were very obliging in posing for photographs. I have sent them some copies and they were very happy.

I waited for the light to go down and headed back towards waterloo taking shots on a tripod with slow shutter. Somehow night time photography has more appeal for me. Lots of interesting shots so a good day out.

If anyone is around the Lambeth Pier side do pop in to the river boat bar and have a nice drink. Kristina is the manageress, do say hi to her she doesn’t bite. She is the small one on the right in the first photo

I wouldn’t recommend the Aquarium for photography but it would make a good a day out with kids.