london at night photography

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iron maiden

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iron
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i want to go to london soon and take some photo's of tower bridge big ben etc by night,

has anyone got any advice on camera setting's please

thank you
iron
 
Don't forget your tripod! :lol:

Seriously though, the settings will vary wildly from place to place.

This was a 30 second exposure at f8, iso 100.


Wheel of Light by danjama, on Flickr

This was a 2.5 second exposure at f13, iso 200.


Waiting by danjama, on Flickr
 
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iron maiden said:
daniel the top one is amazing
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Thanks. I agree it is, just because it's beautiful :love:, but you can take that exact shot too! Took it just at the bottom of the embankment bridge, by the steps, in the shadows.
 
tripod
Iso100
f8

That was my recipe for all my London shots. Look for more interesting items, not the usual touristy shots. I tagged all my London night shots on the map in Flickr so you can see where they were taken.

What lenses do you have?

Don't be afraid to go low and sit on the floor with the tripod.

You can see some of my photos below and the rest on my flickr page.
 
dale,

the close up of H.M.S Belfast with Tower bridge in the back is a fantastic shot
 
Most of mine were taken with my sigma 10-20mm, try both lenses out. I preferred the wide angle shots I took.
 
iron maiden said:
dale,

the close up of H.M.S Belfast with Tower bridge in the back is a fantastic shot
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Everyone loves that, but the ones with the Belfast in are my least favourite. My favourites are city hall, the pier and the fountain.
 
Very timely thread - I'm waiting on a redsnapper tripod to arrive and then I'll be attempting to recreate some of those stunning images, Dale. Out of interest, what metering did you use? Just let the camera get on with it or did you do anything special? Also, can I ask how much PP were applied? I'm not very good at that yet...!
 
I don't have pp installed, straight off camera and uploaded.

I'd let the camera meter and sometimes adjust the exposure compensation or just increase or decrease the shutter speed ignoring the metering.
 
Cool, cheers Dale. Will post some shots in the next few weeks - hope I can get some nice ones.
 
hi dale - did you get any grief using your tripod on the north bank near tower bridge (right near where that fountain that you took a shot of is)? I was there yesterday morning and was told by a security guard that tripods were not allowed...
 
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London, at night wow brave.

I would love to do that but years ago when I was at Blackpool I got out of the car wife in car, I had JUST finished my pics and saw a group of five about three hundred feet away heading towards me, I calmly picked up all, got in car and left.

No more.
 
yea thats what i worry about is me with a nice camera and a group of people who want my camera,
 
iron maiden said:
yea thats what i worry about is me with a nice camera and a group of people who want my camera,
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As long as you stay in well-lit, open places, you should be ok. The other way is to go as a couple/group. About 2 years ago 4 of us met up at Tower bridge at 12 midnight on a Saturday and wandered around the Thames until 8am and we had no trouble at all. Just be aware of your surroundings.:thumbs:
 
iron maiden said:
yea thats what i worry about is me with a nice camera and a group of people who want my camera,
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As Prince once sang ''just take me with you'' i will come along bud. Something ive been meaning to do.
 
I have been to London and done night shots recently, it was a spur of the moment trip and I didnt take a tripod, the best 2 images are on my flickr photostream, feel free to have a look. Its very difficult without a tripod but not impossible
 
feek said:
As long as you stay in well-lit, open places, you should be ok. The other way is to go as a couple/group. About 2 years ago 4 of us met up at Tower bridge at 12 midnight on a Saturday and wandered around the Thames until 8am and we had no trouble at all. Just be aware of your surroundings.:thumbs:
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I like the way you say "you should be ok" !

Stay in well lit places, go in a crowd, take a bodyguard.....
 
JSER said:
I like the way you say "you should be ok" !

Stay in well lit places, go in a crowd, take a bodyguard.....
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You can't say anyone will be safe in any situation. My point was, that generally Central London is safe, but you should still take care. I'm 5' 8" and leaner than a broom handle, but I don't feel threatened going into London at night, because I try to be aware of where I am and what's going on, and not get into a dodgy situation. You don't need a bodyguard, just some common sense.
 
iron maiden said:
yea thats what i worry about is me with a nice camera and a group of people who want my camera,
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I know it sounds odd, but every other person walking around London at night seems to have a camera, and every 5th person a dslr. You will be fine.

The only place I felt threatened was on Westminster bridge, with large groups of gypsies approaching me, some begging. Let's just say I had my tripod ready in the free hand.
 
rampanthamster said:
hi dale - did you get any grief using your tripod on the north bank near tower bridge (right near where that fountain that you took a shot of is)? I was there yesterday morning and was told by a security guard that tripods were not allowed...
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Unless that was private property, then I think you will find that the security guard was speaking out of his anus.
 
As someone who once worked for the company that owned it, I should say I'm pretty sure that would be part of St Katharine Docks and private property.

Plenty of people do seem to get away with using tripods there, though.
 
it was private property according to a sign a saw. Loads of people taking pictures, but i think i was the only tripod user.
 
What can you do but shrug and bear it then I guess...
 
rampanthamster said:
hi dale - did you get any grief using your tripod on the north bank near tower bridge (right near where that fountain that you took a shot of is)? I was there yesterday morning and was told by a security guard that tripods were not allowed...
Click to expand...

Not long after that photo was taken I got moved on, in a polite way :-)

JSER - I walked around for 6 hours, past drunk people, groups and never felt worried or concerned.
 
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