My good friend Bizhan and his wife Linda recently had a short trip to Paris, and as expected, Bizhan captured some excellent images. He has rendered them in a neo-classical contrast or in black and white, entirely befitting of the architecture for which Paris is renowned. Both he and his wife took in the major sights, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and Sacre Coeur.The images are presented below for your edification and enjoyment!
Sunday gone, my friend Jena and myself attended the last day of the Sunday Times 50th Anniversary photo exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery. Afterwards, we ambled around Knightsbridge to find something to eat. Along the way we took some photos of Harrods. After dinner, we spent a few minutes gazing at a supercar through a Mclaren showroom, before moving on to Hyde Park and its corner where Jena took some more photos.I have presented shots from both of us on this single post, which Jena's shots first, followed my mine. Jena again used her Canon DSLR and 35mm F/2 lens for all her images, and I again used my old Nikon D40 DSLR and either my Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 or my Nikkor 50mm F/1.8G AF-S. RAW files again gave me rich details with this lens and 6 year old sensor. I also took a couple of shots of the car with my phone, the Nokia N8.
Reykjavik is the charming capital of Iceland, a city replete with both history and modernity, and flanked by Mount Elsa on one side and the wilderness on the other. It is a walkable city, with many distinct landmarks, such as the towering Hallgrimskirkja and Perlan (The Pearl). The new concert/conference building stuck out a little on the water’s edge, but it is a magnificent building to photograph, especially at dusk when the multitude of glistening colours stand out against the cobalt blue dusk. Inside was a small exhibition about the history of religion in Iceland, and the woman in charge was kind enough to show me around and translate everything into English. I also took in Hofdi House, an utterly unassuming but incredibly significant little house that staged the beginning of the end of the Cold War when President Reagan and Secretary Gorbachev met there in October 1986. I briefly popped into the National Gallery too, but was surprised to find only one room with art in it. No wonder it was free entry! The city centre is small but quaint, and the streets are relatively tidy and clean. In fact, during the months of June and July, the teenagers are invited to spend time cleaning litter and planting trees, something that obviously fosters a sense of community spirit and social responsibility. I cannot imagine that happening in the UK! There are plenty of places to eat, especially if you like seafood (I don’t), and I even tried some whale meat (strictly speaking that’s a mammal, so I don’t think of it as seafood). It is somewhat ironic that the harbour hosts both ships for hunting whales (which I’m against) and for taking tourists out to spot them. There are a few other churches, although none as photogenic as Hallgrimskirkja. The Catholic Cathedral stood out, and was reasonable impressive lit up at dusk. While walking back from The Pearl, I was fortunate enough to catch sight of a beautiful rainbow forming over the city. Anyway, enjoy the photos.
This was my second trip to Iceland in as many years, and this small volcanic island in the North Atlantic managed to impress me again. Not least because I arrived into warmer weather than the winter freeze behind me in the UK.The 320, 000 Icelandic people, warm and friendly, have taken this geologically young land, just 60 million years old, and made it their own. Iceland nestles on the join between the North American and European tectonic plates, suffering 1200 earthquakes per year (ok, so most of them are barely felt, but come on - 1200 of them!) and one third of all the lava flow on Earth. The weather can bring all seasons to just one day, and yet despite being in close proximity to Greenland and the Arctic, the warm gulfstream currents manage to keep the island relatively temperate. The landscape is a cross between a glacier and the Moon (in fact Neil Armstrong and Co came to Iceland in the 1960s to practice walking on a lunar surface). Despite all the hardships their land throws at them, the Icelandic people do not complain or moan, but make the best of their habitat. They exemplify how humans can successfully harness the resources available to them while still embracing and preserving the delicacy and beauty of their natural wilderness.On this trip I visited many of their waterfalls, a volcanic crater and walked on and around a glacier. I spent a little time at the Blue Lagoon, and on the south coastal town of Vik. I also spent a day and evening re-visiting Reykjavik’s sights, and I will present those photos on a separate post. I even tried some Minke Whale meat for dinner one night. I am fervently against all forms of whaling, but I figured that this particular whale was already dead, and if I didn't eat it, they'd only serve it to someone else. A small proportion of Icelanders eat horse meat too, an abundant meat source given that there is one horse for every 4 Icelanders. One has to remember that historically, a small population confined to this island needed to use whatever resources were available for sustenance, so one cannot judge them from our own standpoint.I took my usual travel complement of lenses, including the Nikkors 35mm AF-D F/2 and 50mm AF-S F/1.8G, and the Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8. All images were shot RAW and converted with Capture NX2, then batch edited in Aperture. I used a 10 stop ND Grad filter to achieve the blur effect for many of the waterfall shots.I have included a few images from my last trip 2 years ago, just to give a more complete picture.Anyway, enjoy the photos.
My friend Jena and I spent an evening shooting around Piccadilly and Chinatown. Lots of colour around, especially the lanterns in Chinatown to celebrate the recent Chinese New Year. And plenty of succulent food on display too.I only had a couple of primes with me, so all these images where shot with either a Nikkor 35mm F/2 AF-D or the 50mm F/1.8G AF-S. Jena used just her 35mm F/2 and again came up with some creative compositions which I will post in due course.It's a vibrant and bustling part of town, and although we didn't much care for the Friday night rabble and herds of thundering tourists, we did manage to eek out a few nice photos, so I would recommend it.
Watching a show on TV recently reminded me of what a vibrant place New York City really is, a city of kaleidoscopic colour and raw energy. My best friend Lisa and I had a great time there last year to celebrate her birthday, and I dug out some images from my archives to see if I could bring out the colour and energy of the place.These shots were all taken at or after dusk, in Time Square, from Brooklyn overlooking the skyline, in Bryant Park, and from atop the Rockefeller Center. The fading or absent light really allowed the colours to stand out. I hope they convey the sheer energy and vibrancy of the city.
Went into London to see my friend for lunch today, and I had heard that there would be an artificial 'sun' in Trafalgar Square. Well, I went along to have a look.Not sure what all the fuss was about, just a giant balloon with a light inside it. Apparently bright enough to be visible from space. Let's hope someone more intelligent out there finds and rescues us.I didn't bring my camera with me as quite frankly, I couldn't be bothered to carry it around with me on top of sporting a painful trapezius muscle. So I shot all these images with my phone, the Nokia N8. The best camera is always the one you have with you.As for the last image, when I left Trafalgar Square, I bumped into Yoda, who was engrossed in some kind of telepathic/telekinetic activity.
Even though we've both shot this part of London to death, my friend Jena and I just couldn't resist it after a big lunch, and we certainly needed to walk it off. These are my shots, and in due course I will post Jena's too. There really is no shortage of potential compositions especially if you keep looking. This is always a good way to train one's compositional eye to continually strive to see something new. I just had my old D40 in my rucksack to keep things light, and I only shot with the Nikkors 50mm F/1.8G AF-S and 35mm F/2 AF-D primes. The 35mm AF-D will not autofocus on the D40, so I manually focused with this lens, which was very easy. Once again, and despite its age, the D40 did not disappoint, providing some richly detailed 6MP RAW files. Even high ISO shots (of which there were a few hand-held) had a finely textured grain that was either unobtrusive or easy to clean up in software. Shooting with primes also forces you to think about your compositions and to see things differently. With a limited focal length and only your feet to zoom, you need consider more carefully what makes a photo work, what to leave in and what to leave out. For example, with a 50mm lens, from where we were, I couldn't get the entire London Eye in the shot, so I accepted that only part of it would make it into the frame. I then had to consider how arrange that part within the frame, and/or in relation to other elements to make an reasonably interesting photo. Other elements not only being structural, but also light and colour. (See the last photo) Anyway, I'm glad I kept the now ancient D40, even though I have newer, more capable gear. I'm sure I'll keep it yet for a very long time.
Happy New Year, if a little belated.I spent first week of the New Year in Wales with my good friends Nat and Rob, and their parents and friends. They hosted a 1980s themed New Year party, so I ended up in the company of Bananaman, Magnum PI, The Incredible Hulk, Ghostbusters and Madonna to name but a few!! It was great fun and I took many shots of them, but since this is a public bog I will not post any photos of them here. Instead I've posted some close-ups of some of the food and decor, the former of which was in endless abundance. After much drinking and mirth, we tried to launch some Chinese lanterns, but with the strong winds it proved to no avail. I managed a shot of the Milky Way, though.The weather wasn't so great owing to the severe gusts and rain, but a I managed a few shots around town. I took my shots with the Nikkors 50mm F/1.8G, the 35mm F/2, and the Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8. All in all an enjoyable time spent with great friends in a lovely place with many fond memories.
Well, 2011 proved to be another busy and enjoyable year. I had many trips and excursions, new friends and experiences, and I have presented a few highlights here. I started the year (and will be ending it too!) in Wales. Not much photography, but I managed to capture the Milky Way one evening behind my friends’ house. February saw a trip to Prague. A beautiful and ornate city, but sadly the least friendly or welcoming place I have visited so far. As is typical on my travels, the friendliest people I met there were American tourists. March was a little quiet, busy with work. Boring! April was another amazing vacation with my best friend Lisa, this time in New York, to celebrate her birthday. My good friends there, Gene and Ralph, took excellent care of us, but Lisa and I really photographed the hell out of the city and its attractions! We nailed it Lise! In May, my good friend Bizhan and I went to Butterfly World, where the main butterfly house hadn’t yet been built! But there was still plenty to see and do and we had a good time. June was warm and I visited Hatfield House with my sis, a lovely stately home with excellent grounds that offered some nice photographic opportunities. July was a busy month. I attended the unveiling of a statue of President Ronald Reagan outside the American Embassy in London on Independence Day. The statue was to commemorate the 100th year of his birth and also his efforts in championing the cause of freedom. Later on the same month I went to see my dear friend Genka in Bulgaria, who again organised a fantastic holiday, with excursions into the National Forest, and horse-riding. Thank you Genka! At the end of July I attended the annual Berkeley Skirmish, an excellent medieval event with jousting and sword-fighting. August was also busy. A few photo trips with Jena to Richmond Park, Marwell Zoo, and Winchester Cathedral, and The Notting Hill Carnival with my friend Zuzana. September I had a superb trip to stunning Norway, with its breath-taking fjords and scenery. I called in at Bergen, Flam, Olden, Alesund and Stavanger. All equally different and beautiful. Also in September, I enjoyed a falconry experience, where we got to hold and fly several birds of prey. October was another excellent trip to Berlin, a terrific city with much to see and do, including two world-class zoos! All throughout the latter half of the year, my friend Zuzana and I visited most of London’s sights, including all the major museums. In November alone we visited the Natural History and Imperial War Museums. December rounded off nicely with some stunning tigers (in a nameless country) and some last minute photography in London. A great year, with many other successes and experiences, and I look forward to 2012 with great enthusiasm. Happy New Year!
My sister recently returned from a trip to Jordan in the Middle East. Being more of a snap-shot taker than a photographer, she proved it is possible to capture good photos with a simple compact providing the composition and lighting are good.I have presented a selection of her images here, and below are her descriptions of the places she visited.JARASHThis is the 'Pompeii of the east'- built by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. It was a Roman City with Greek/Roman architecture 2 hours north of Amman (capital), was made a city of the Decapolis, full of temples and theatres The Picture is of the Oval plaza -which has 63 Columns to represent its construction in 63BC The South Theatre - One of the few amphitheatres there, with great acoustics. The ex Army of Jordanians are playing the bagpipes DEAD SEAHad some time to float in the Dead Sea, under the sun. Some of the girls covered them selves in mud to wash it off in the salty sea water – it’s supposed to take off 15 yrs from your face!! MOUNT NEBOThe magnificent view from where Moses died- you can see the Dead Sea in the background and can even stretch as far as Bethlehem MADABATown on the way to Petra, stopping off at the Byzantine St George's Church, famous for its Madaba Mosaic Map on the church floor, depicting the Holy Land KARAK CASTLE, KARAKA grand fortress used by the Crusaders, with great views of the valleys below, as well as overlooking the King's Highway PETRAThis is obviously the highlight of Jordan yet it is difficult to explain in words and I doubt my pictures could justify the range of colours and stonework that was on display. The striated rocks of red, pink, chocolate looked even more radiant once the sun had calmed down in the late afternoon. The Treasury is Petra's most famous feature, depicted in the Indian Jones & the Last Crusade film, and is situated at the end of the narrow entrance, which itself has carvings and 'statues' lining its path. There was a lot of climbing and hiking to reach some of Petra's many tombs, dodging camels, donkeys and horses en route. We met a lot of Bedouins, especially en route to Aarons Tomb, a 6 hour, sometimes treacherous, hike, in the middle of no where but with spectacular views of the landscape. The Bedouins speak remarkable English and sometimes try to sell us things from their stalls with phrases such as 'cheap as chips' and 'cheaper than Primark!'I don't think they directly benefit as much from tourism as the Royal Family do, as apparently ticket sales mostly go to the King (his picture is everywhere e, btw, cars, shops etc) LITTLE PETRAThis is unfortunately a place that is often forgotten by the tourists so it was quite deserted when we arrived. Again, fantastic views and I purchased many of my goods from the poorer Bedouins who ply their trade at the entrance. WADI RUMThis is a desert covered valley that we explored on the back of trucks, climbed sand dunes and left most of our tour group overnight to camp under the stars, while we headed to Aqaba AQABAA warm port in the south of Jordan, beneath the mountains, where one could explore a few more ruins including the city of Ayla. We walked on the public beach and it was strange to see children swimming in their tracksuit and ladies covered head to toe. Aqaba is also famous for its annual car rally (which happened whilst we were there in the town centre) as well as its Souks (markets) where I bought spices and other gifts. AMMANThe capital city at the weekend is crazy - lots of traffic. We visited the Citadel, a large expanse starting at the Temple of Hercules. The Citadel is elevated providing panoramic view of the capital below. The buildings in Amman resemble each other; square, beige with a distinct look of poverty. Amman houses 2m people, included many refugees from Palestine, Iraq, Syria and now Libya, partly due to the number of countries it borders, it's history (West Bank was part of Jordan) and the fact that it's a relatively stable country, welcoming everyone. FOODFood was very good though there wasn't so much variety. The mezze were addictive and the national dish is mansaaf (lamb with rice and yogurt). They love lamb and chicken. And rice. Lots of rice. In Aqaba there is more choice of fish and seafood. Jordan is a charming country and I would definitely recommend a visit. The people are so welcoming (always saying 'welcome to Jordan'!), friendly and speak a good level of English, even children as young as 6.I was very fortunate to have an amazing guide for the whole tour, who brought Jordan alive with his humour and vast knowledge and love of his country. I was also lucky with my lovely tour group. I travelled with a very good tour firm, Exodus, and we were a group of 19, ranging from 24-65. There were solos, siblings, friends and couples. We felt like we had known each other for years by day 4! I definitely enjoyed travelling alone and highly recommend it.
Well, who knows if we'll get that much snow this winter. These were all taken last winter in Richmond Park, London. I have included a variety of wildlife, including deer, a coaltit, a rabbit and my favourite, a parrot: a tropical bird in the snow!I remember spending an entire day there up to my knees in snow and freezing cold for the privilege!Some of the images have been rendered in black and white, simply because they worked better that way.I used a 400mm zoom lens for most of these which I have since sold. I also used the Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 for the wide shots, as well as the 50mm F/1.4 AF-D, which I have also since sold.
Had another excellent night shoot with my friend Jena. She also took some excellent photos with her new Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8, and I shall post her images in due course. For now these are some of mine. I used my Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8, Nikkors 35mm F/2 and 50mm F/1.8G.
My best friend Lisa spent her holiday this past summer in Montana and Glacier Park, with her dad and cousin David. She shot some really fantastic photos, capturing the beauty of the landscape whether it be water or land. She shot mountains, waterfalls and rapids, sunrises to sunsets, and a wide variety of wildlife. I have selected and presented here a mere snapshot of of her amazing photos.I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did, and also get a sense of the diverse beauty, wildlife and vastness of Montana. Makes me want to go there!Well done bratski!
My good friend Bizhan and I went on another of our photographic excursions, this time to Leadenhall Market and neighbouring places near St Paul's.Both of us took many photos, but I really like Bizhan's processing and compositions, so I have presented his work here rather than mine. His black and white photos are especially pleasing to my eye.He mainly used his Canon DSLR and the excellent 15-85mm lens.The last image was shot inside the Great Hall of the British Museum.
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