London @ night - locations??

Tgr141291

Tgr141291

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Tom
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I'm off to London next weekend and will be getting some night shots with my tripod. I want to get shots of HP and BB, the London Eye and Tower Bridge at night.

Seeing as I'm going to have my tripod with me I've been doing a bit of research and it seems quite common that togs are being told to move on in certain areas.

1) For my shot of BB and HP i plan to set up on Westminster Bridge. I have an idea of shooting from the opposite side of the river along the footpath - Is this private land?

2) For the London Eye - I know I cant shoot from the area around the eye due to it being private land - But the Victoria Embankment on the opposite side of the river doesnt look like a good place either because there seem to be loads of jettys that will get in the way. Any ideas???

3) Havent really decided where to shoot Tower Bridge from but would like somewhere where I can get HMS Belfast in shot as well.

Any help is greatly appriceated.

Thanks

Tom
 
Westminster bridge, the police tend to get a little jumpy with the Houses of Parliament in close proximity.

Tower Bridge + HMS Belfast: if you have a longer lens, probably your best bet either is toward the south side of London Bridge or, with a wider lens, just by Hays Galleria

edit: Oh, and the London Eye, I've found Hungerford Bridge to be a useful vantage point. Took this a few years back when I first got my 300D.

CRW_5870.jpg
 
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I'm heading to London tomorrow for 6 days with my GF and taking along my 500D i just bought.

I'll also be taking pictures at these locations on monday day/night and 1 other day.

Sorry to ask such a newbie Q but what does this mean... ''it seems quite common that togs are being told to move on in certain areas''
 
TBPhotoGraphi><™;2897483 said:
Sorry to ask such a newbie Q but what does this mean... ''it seems quite common that togs are being told to move on in certain areas''
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If you're shooting with a tripod on the pavement, the police may ask you politely to desist.

or something like that.
 
TBPhotoGraphi><&#8482;;2897483 said:
Sorry to ask such a newbie Q but what does this mean... ''it seems quite common that togs are being told to move on in certain areas''
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Some amount of London is private property, and photographers can be asked to leave, especially if they're setting up tripods.

So, trespass isn't a criminal offence (unless it's on Crown property.) It's a civil offence and you'd have to cause some sort of damage/loss to be sued for. Essentially, you can safely ignore someone asking you to leave. That said, use common sense. You may be committing some other offence.

A police officer can also arrest/move you on for causing an obstruction.
 
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If memory serves me right Jubilee gardens right next to the eye is a public park, therefore setting up a tripod shouldn't be an issue, I don't know what its like for a view though.
 
I shot bb and parliament from on top of Westminster bridge with no problem. It's a case of getting it done in a reasonable amount of time when are not police right next to you. I did it when it was very busy too.

I got the London Eye from embankment and had a clear view. I prefer the Hungerford Bridge perspective myself.

Many people take a pic of Tower Bridge with the girl and dolphin fountain in the foreground. This is on the south bank and is a bit of a cliche. It's a useful marker for you though.

There is loads of stuff on flickr. Worth looking at find the best vantage points.

A couple of shots are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/therealamir/sets/72157624631267534/ for your reference.

4407630797_a7957d58ae_o.jpg

4407626960_8ec741ca68_o.jpg
 
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dubcat said:
Many people take a pic of Tower Bridge with the girl and dolphin fountain in the foreground. This is on the south bank and is a bit of a cliche.
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Actually, it's on the north side of the river, outside the Tower Hotel ;)

I'll say nothing about the cliché - I've done it myself a couple of times since the 1980s :D
 
Ahh thanks.. As soon as I can find her I'll be joining the club too :)
 
A Google Maps link for you.

I worked at St Katharine's Dock in the 1980s and I work just on the opposite side of the river at Butlers Wharf now.
 
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At least with the old bill keep trying to move you on, you are not going to get your kit robbed. See it as a police escort. Get your shots then move on. Try not to argue with them as this will wind them up and cause you hassle that you dont need.

Stew
 
dubcat said:
Thx :)
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BTW, this might be teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, but if you're planning your day, you'll be better off in the morning for light, probably the earlier the better. By lunch time you'll have the sun right in your face looking south and west toward the bridge. ;)
 
To be honest o hadn't thought about where the sun will be at what times! Good tip!
 
Try and get in to Potters Field, there are good areas to shoot Tower Bridghe, plus you will be right next to the Mayor's building and the London Bridge City development.

Canary Wharf is a must- and you just need to walk down to either London Bridge or Bermondsey Jubilee line tube stations to get along there. Watch your kit when going down Bermondsey way. Like Rob I used to work in the Butlers Wharf area, and crime is still high in the immediate area.

http://www.pottersfields.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Bridge_City_Pier

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermondsey_tube_station
 
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MARK AMIES said:
Watch your kit when going down Bermondsey way. Like Rob I used to work in the Butlers Wharf area, and crime is still high in the immediate area.
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Can't say I've noticed and I'm out and about with my camera often enough at lunch time.

The Metropolitan Police's crime map for the area shows it as 'Average' along Jamaica Road, with the nearest 'High' zones along Tooley Street [includes London Bridge Station and, interestingly More London] and Canada Water [big shopping centre]. That puts it on a par with Chingford, Ruislip or Cheam.

From the MPS stats, the West End is far more dangerous :)
 
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Hmm, well, I admire your conviction on this, however when I workd at Camera press we got broken into several times, and and on one occasion one of the photographers had a press lens knicked out of the back of his car.

There are a number of old GLC estates nearby, I ain't running it down, I actually like the area, just saying that if you fancy walking down Jamaica Road witha load of kit round your neck, best to be careful, have a walk down by the River instead, or better stil walk back down Tooley Street to London Bridge station.

The idea that it is like Ruislip or Chingford is rather laughable , I know both places, which are outer London suburbs, mind I guess Chingford can be a bit choppy , especially on a Friday night.
 
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To make proper use of that site you really want to use the dropdown to select for Personal Robbery. That puts Butler's Wharf at Average, and the estates surrounding it to Above Average. For Violence, Tooley St is Above Average, as are all the estate areas.

I suspect some stats are skewed. I don't know if they're adjusted for population density and I suspect they include some crime that shouldn't be a problem for any street-wise photographer, such as pick-pocketing in Leicester Square.

That said, London changes significantly at night and weekends, especially in specific areas. It's best to have a local's experience than statistics which don't lend themselves to interpretation.
 
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