greater london

Big Ben on the river Thames, London

in
<img src="Big ben colour image.jpg" alt="London Bridge River Thames City of Westminster capital government Lee Ramsden">

Nikon D800 f13 5min ISO100 70-200mm@100mm

Morning, 

Following on from yesterdays post, this image was taken at 05:20am (the official sunrise time.) As you can see it was an overcast murky looking morning. But there is something i like about this print, the colour tones are what we normally see on a day to day basis. 

This sums up what i love about Landscape/cityscape photography, where it is a gamble. I edge my bets by checking weather reports the night before, i turn up at the location at least an hour prior to sunrise, but you just never know how it will turn out. Some mornings fog comes in and you see nothing, or its overcast and the sun doesn't even make an appearance. 

Not all was wasted though as while i am trying to make portfolio pieces, i am also shooting with the intention to create stock images. An image like this has more financial value as stock than an art worked piece with a dramatic sky. 

 

Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower.

The tower is officially known as the Elizabeth Tower, renamed as such to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II (prior to being renamed in 2012 it was known as simply "Clock Tower"). The tower holds the second largest four-faced chiming clock in the world (Minneapolis City Hall being the first). The tower was completed in 1858 and had its 150th anniversary on 31 May 2009, during which celebratory events took place. 

The tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of the United Kingdom and is often in the establishing shot of films set in London.

 

Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com

 

Thanks

London Bridge, Big Ben, Westminster on the River Thames. London

in
<img src="London river Thames.jpg" alt="Big Ben Westminster houses of parliament government Lee Ramsden capital city london bridge clock face">  

Nikon D800 f11 5min ISO100 24-70mm@50mm - taken 04:46hrs

<img src="Big ben.jpg" alt="westminster river Thames London Bridge houses of Parliament reflection long exposure lee ramsden">

Nikon D800 f8 30sec ISO100 24-70mm@50mm - taken 04:33hrs

A couple of images taken from Jubilee bridge in London of Big Ben, westminster and London bridge on the river Thames. The difference to the colouring is not photoshop, it is time. 

From checking the META data to these files there are 13 minutes difference from when they were taken. Its amazing how fast the sky changes and it can dramatically change the feel to your image.

Alarm set at 3am, drove into London and set up for 4am. 0520hrs sunrise time, my fave time to shoot is just before sunrise, and the time on the above files are 0433hrs and 0446hrs. 

For long exposure images like this, i use Lee Filters. Either the big stopper which is a 10 stop filter or the 0.9 Neutral density filter. 

 

Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com

 

Thanks


Canary Wharf on the river Thames, London

in
<img src="Big Ben.jpg" alt="Big ben westminster river Thames London Bridge houses of Parlament reflaction long exposure Lee Ramsden">

Nikon D800 F14 30seconds 24-70mm@24mm ISO100

Image taken of Canary Wharf, London's financial district at 05:00hrs to catch the sunrise. 

Like with all landscape photographs it is a gamble with the weather. 10 minutes after setting up the fog came in and nothing was to be seen. This was the best frame of the shoot and you can see the clouds coming in. 

Feel free to share this post on your social media, with credit given to www.leeramsden.com

 

Thanks