Photo 24 2016: From Dusk Till Dawn

Regular visitors to this blog will know that night photography is one of my 'things'.  So it should come as no surprise that the main reason I take part in Photo24 is the opportunity to shoot through the night, in the heart of the city, in the company of other 'togs.   Sadly, this year, much of our plans regarding the night shoots didn't survive contact with the weather. 

Vic and I chose to miss the scheduled sunset meet at Westminster Bridge, instead heading for Tower Bridge.  A large bank of cloud to the west ensured that the sunset was less than thrilling.  Although, it did catch an attractive afterglow for a while.  The looming cloud bank should really have tipped us off as to what was to come.  By 11pm we had reached the next meet-up point, at Liverpool Street station, for a late night walk through the City.  Probably half the people taking part in the event (maybe a 100 or so) had chosen to join in this walk and we all set off in a big long line.  We didn't get far.  No sooner had we reached the Gherkin than the rain hit with a vengeance.  Sixty or so 'togs made it to shelter under the eaves of the Gherkin and we spent the next hour there, whilst the rain came down in stair-rods.  All credit to the building security, who were very understanding about the whole thing.  Apologies to the customers of the bar inside, many of whom apparently delayed going home, to find out which celebrity had drawn such a big group of 'paparazzi'.  Eventually, the rain stopped and we completed a shortened version of the walk, reaching St Paul's in time to watch the building illumination be turned off for the night. 

From St Paul's Vic and I hopped a night bus back to the West-end.  We rested for a while in a McDonalds on the Strand; the night-time clientèle of which could best be described as 'colourful' and 'lively'.    Fully caffeinated, we moved on to the sunrise meet at Westminster Bridge.  Again that same troublesome cloud bank saw off the sunrise.  Photo24 has been running for 4 years and, I'm told, they haven't had a decent sunrise yet.  Oh well, maybe next year.

Photo24 2016: British Museum

Last weekend, and for the second time, I took part in Photo24.  This is a 24 hour photo event in London, organised by Photography News and sponsored by Nikon.  My mate Vic and I joined 250 other photographers, from across the country, in a hotel in Coven Garden at Noon on the Friday, with the aim of making it back there 24 hours later.  In between there would be regular meet-ups across the city and some organised trips.

Last time, Vic and I went into the day without any real plan.  This time, we had a clearer idea the places we definitely wanted to hit and how we could best link these together.  First stop was the Great Court at the British Museum.  I know this is a location that has been done to death photographically speaking, and by better 'togs than me.  But I had never shot it properly, and since we were near by, it seemed the logically start.   Naturally, we first headed to the viewing gallery that offers 'the shot'.  But after that we explored the court more fully.  I particularly enjoyed the lead-lines and frames it offered for people shots.  We managed a couple of hours there before heading to the first official meet-up.

 

 

 

 

A Morning At Paxton Pits

Some images from a recent morning spent at Paxton Pits.  I visit fairly often during the spring/summer (well it is about a 5 minute drive).  But I never seem to have much luck there.  Usually whichever hide I am using, the birds are somewhere else.  However, by my standards it wasn't a bad morning; with a greylag goose in a meadow, some cute ducklings, a banded demoiselle, an orange tip butterfly and even a black headed gull in flight.

 

Kew - Close-up and Abstract

When it comes to flower photography, I don't believe there is any right or wrong way to do it.  All that matters is what you enjoy and what works for you.  One thing I particularly enjoy doing is getting as close up as possible to the subject.  I like to concentrate on just a small part of the flower, often with a small depth of field.  At Kew, I spent ages in the 'Rhododendron Dell' trying to pick out the stamen of the different coloured flowers.  Frankly, I could have spent all day there, but eventually I moved on to other things.

 

 

Kew - Flower Portraits

On Sunday, I joined a large group from the CCC for a very enjoyable day out at Kew Gardens.  For much of the day the weather was bright and sunny.  So I choose to explore the extensive grounds,  rather than spend my time in the glass houses.  Only later in the afternoon, when there was a spot of rain, did I venture into the 'Princess of Wales Conservatory'.

There were too many subjects to choose from and I didn't manage a fraction of them before I ran out of time and energy.  This first set of images mainly concentrates on simple flower portraits.

Spring Flowers

A few shots of other flowers, taken alongside the bluebells.  I especially like the first image.  I had set up for some minimal depth of field shots of the Greater Stitchwort, when the tiny bug wandered into frame and became the only point of sharpness.

Bluebells

Only a few bluebell images this year.  Taken at Brampton and Gamlingay woods.