London Eye, South Bank river Thames, London.

<img src="Big Ben.jpg" alt="big ben London eye river thames london bridge long exposure lee filters lee ramsden">

Nikon D800 f8 30sec ISO100 24-70mm@28mm

An image of the London Eye. 

The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. Also know as the Millennium Wheel, its office name was originally published as the British Airways London Eye, Then the Merlin Entertainments London Eye, then the EDF Energy London Eye. Since Mid-Jan 2015, it has been known in branding as the Coca-Cola London Eye, following an agreement signed in Sep 2014.

 

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

 

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Big Ben on the river Thames, London

<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

 

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

<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

 

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Unknown photographer

<img src="unknown photographer.jpg" alt="unrise sunset london city moreLondon tower Bridge office building reflection clouds Lee Ramsden">

Nikon D700 f18 1/160 ISO3200 21mm

Another crazy ISO3200 frame from a recent timelapse made in London, with tower bridge in the distance, taken on moreLondon property, dodging the security guards... 

I have no idea who the silhouetted man is, but it was a stunning sky and so why not capture it on your phone on the way to the office. 

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

 

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Tower Bridge at Sunrise.

Tower bridge landmark famous world river Thames sunset sunrise moreLondon orange glow Lee Ramsden

Nikon D800 F8 1/13 ISO200 24-70mm@48mm

Another 3am start to get into London and set up ready for the sunrise. 

Here is a shot of London's tower bridge reflected in a shop window to try and give some symmetry. 

I adore Tower bridge, it is a wonderful looking structure. And is classic iconic London landmark.  As you can see from the below iPhone image, it is easily visible even by plane.

 

iPhone image london river thames iPhone iPhoneography nightscape from a plane lee ramsden

iPhone 4S f2.4 1/15 ISO800

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

 

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London Shard building.

<img src="Shard colour.jpg" alt="the shard view at the shard viewing gallery hotel office building sunset sunrise dusk dawn london greater lee ramsden">

Nikon D700 F18 0.4 ISO3200 21mm

An image of the Shard building in London, taken from moreLondon's shopping area. If you are taking picture from here watch out for security as they will move you on. Even at 5am and not a sole about... 

This was a frame taken from a timelapse video, foolishly i changed the ISO to a ridiculous 3200 and forgot to change back. Luckily the Nikon D700 can handle the high ISO not too bad and so all not lost. 

 

I am fascinated with the Shard, i think it is a stunning looking building. I took the below image from the viewing gallery near the top. Please check out a couple of posts on the Shard, 

The view at the Shard - How to work around using a tripod

And the importance of a polarising filter - When shooting through the glass windows. 

<img src="London.jpg" alt="London view from the Shad viewing gallery London HMS Belfast greater London UK capital dusk Lee Ramsden">

 

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

 

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Canary Wharf on the river Thames, London

<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

 

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Two weeks of London in colour.

Hi, and welcome to the new blog format. 

I thought that id kick things off with over the next two weeks ill be posting an image a day of London. I hope you like them, and please feel free to share these on your social media sites giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com, and add the URL http://leeramsden.com/blog to your RSS readers. 

Many thanks.

 

<img src="London.jpg" alt="London moreLondon tower bridge river Thames long exposure writing office buildings street lighting Lee Ramsden">

Nikon D800 F11 15seconds 24/70mm@24mm

Lytham Time lapse iPhone images.

Kessler crane timer oracle controler control count down timelapse uk england

Here are a few iPhone images taken whilst i was waiting for a time lapse set up to complete.

As you can see from the above image i had 4 and a half hours to kill...

Kessler crane timer oracle controler control count down timelapse uk england cineslider slide

The Kessler Cineslider. So far I'm pretty impressed with this bit of kit. Each time i take a time-lapse it gets tweaked and set up slightly different. Using lighting stands and moveable heads with the aid of a spirit level helps no end in getting the shoot straight from start to finish. 

time lapse rig kessler sun set colours nikon d700 iphone iphonography slider estury sea beach colours golden hour

My old Nikon D700 is now used for the time lapse work.  

Lytham life boat jetty pier esturay beach sea sand black and white
Lytham St Annes Lancashire England windmill sea beach sand grass bright blue sky church spire iphone image iphonography iPhone4s lee ramsden photography

Lytham green and windmill. 

Lytham Timelapse.

The attached Youtube video is my first attempt. (well with usable footage)

and a play with 4K.

On average each sequence was around 4hours of shooting time. Which on a cold January morning, or evening certainly makes the process harder and you have to check and double check everything so not to waste your time by not producing any usable footage. Which happened on more than one occasion.

Below are some stills taken from playing with a time-lapse rig.

This is something that i really like the look of and will be pursuing the opportunities further.

green windmill timelapse Lytham St Annes Lancashire night time

Nikon D700 F8 5.0 ISO800

Lytham green windmill timelapse St Annes Lancashire sunrise

Nikon D700 F8 2.0 ISO800

Lytham green windmill St Annes Lancashire

Nikon D700 F8 1/400th ISO200

Lytham St Annes Lancshire pier wood wooden dog walkers

Nikon D700 F5 1/8000th  ISO200

green windmill timelapse Lytham St Annes Lanacshire setting sun sea reflection

Nikon D700 F5 1/125th ISO200

green windmill timelapse Lytham St Annes Lancashire pier wood wooden setting sun sea reflection

Nikon D700 F5 1.6 ISO800

Helvellyn Composite.

Morning, I thought id share a composite image that i created recently for a bit of fun.

I am still yet to climb Striding edge, but will complete this in the summer.

As i have mentioned in previous posts, i do these type of images as i really enjoy thinking of a concept and then trying to execute the idea, and if nothing else it certainly hones my photoshop skills making me quicker and understand all the tools more in depth.

Thanks

Lee

The Isles of Shetland.

Aberdeen airport flight shetland work business plane airoplane cold morning commute luggage workers construction travel air miles eastern airways flybe, british airways, run way, stand

iPhone 4s 1/15 f.2.4 ISO500

Working in the oil and gas industry I have spent my fair amount of time on the Isles of Shetland.

It has felt like a second home at times, and over the summer of 2014 I was spending more time there than at home.

St Ninians bay Shetland sea gull view landscape beautiful gorgeous rocks mountains tide

iPhone 4s 1/270 f.2.4 ISO50

I feel privileged to have had the chance to spend so much time on such a gorgeous island, even with the brutal weather for 9 months of the year, this does not bring the spirit of the local inhabitants down.

The local people that I encountered and worked with, were amazing, lovely people. They appear to have a different look on life and take things in their stride.

Living in such remoteness they have became resourceful with the weekend evening entertainment, with the party busses which tour round the island villages, visiting the bars on a pub crawl - fancy dress in mandatory!

They sell Puffin poo to tourists....it is a delicacy!!

Puffin poo shetland sweets tourists present gift tasty coconut unwanted lausy all i wanted

They breed miniature horses,

Shetland pony horse miniture little legs mane barbewire fencing sunset flare flair clouds warm windy Shetland home black and white

iPhone 4s 1/1700 f.2.4 ISO50

They dress up as Vikings and after spending a whole year, and thousands of pounds on building the most detailed / intricate wooden boat…. they set fire to it.

uphelia festival shetland Welcome to Shetland vikings Lerwick Festival of light local inhabitant dress history shield axe sword cow hide wings helmet

iPhone 4s 1/300 f2.4 ISO50

The airport of Scatsta was closed for two days, as an employee was getting married and so all the airport personnel attended the wedding.

Shetland Scatsta airport Voe lower runway plane  airoplane oil gas industry workers industrial eastern airways commute passenger flight

iPhone 4s 1/20 f.2.4 ISO160

The island attracts many hill walking enthusiasts and photographers, but it is clear to see why.

With the unique landscapes,

(not a single tree to be seen though as it is too windy and the ground being peat),

migrating puffins, stunning beaches and many different festivals through out the year.

I could happily spend my days later in life, up on a hill, on the Shetland isle away from the problems, hustle and bustle of normal life, enjoying each day as it came.

St Ninians bay Shetland sun set walking photography natural cause way sand beach cold water sea view landscap tourist island swim cold windy visting

Fuji X-PRO1 1/600  f.5 ISO 200 at 14mm

Note - 

At the present moment in time, if you are looking to visit, I personally would recommend the Isle of Lewis or Skye, only because Shetland is currently having a gas plant being built, with another on the cards and so the main towns are bursting with contractors. If you were to hire a little cottage away from the towns then I am sure you wouldn’t even notice.

iPhone 4s images were taken with the standard camera app and so the meta data shown is not controlled by my self. All images edited using the in phone Snapseed app. 

Shetland Voe black white water rain drops path road bad weather window drissle drizzle telegraph pole peat

iPhone 4s 1/120 f2.4 ISO50

Shetland Scalloway cloud wind farm fog golf course road tarmac valleys colourful sky sun rise

iPhone 4s 1/60 f2.4 ISO64

Dale Wilson HSE Petrofac Shetland Lerwick port fog bibby Stockholm accomodation barge workers construction gas plant fencing head lights grey

iPhone 4s 1/540 f2.4 ISO50

Shetland pony close up horse miniture little legs mane barbewire fencing sunset flare flair clouds warm windy

 iPhone 4s 1/2000 f.2.4 ISO50

Shetland pony horse miniture little legs mane barbewire fencing sunset flare flair clouds warm windy Shetland home

iPhone 4s 1/2000 f.2.4 ISO50

Apache two 2 ii ship cable laying vessel docked lerwick technip boat working cable pipe laying sea industry industrial helideck bridge life boat night bad weather

iPhone 4s 1/120 f2.4 ISO3200

Apache two 2 ii bridge captain controls buttons screen directions gps navigation work pilot graph charts steer

 iPhone 4s 1/15 f.2.4 ISO400

Happy New Year.

business gasoline oil fuel petrol action blue colour image consrtuction fields fire flares industrial building ocean oil rigs outdoor seascape

Lumix GF1 1/50 f.8 ISO800

Happy New year every one, and i hope that you have a great 2015. 

While you are all out celebrating christmas and the new year, i have been stuck on a 35 year old gas and oil platform in the north sea. 

Fly home soon though and will be spending some quality time with the family. 

Can... not... wait!!

Here are some images from a cold Ninian South Platform...

 Shetland CNRi CNR north sea oil gas platform industry  location  work
SKN electrical services Aberdeen Azerbaijan rope access IRATA professional work safe no LTI record Blackpool offshore compex inspection

Lumix GF1 1/80 f.1.7 ISO400

Lumix GF1 1/100 f.1.7 ISO800

Figure of eight 8 nine 9 knott IRATA rig rigged rope worker suspension climber climbing north sea oil rig

Lumix GF1 1/100 F.1.7 ISO800

Phil Philip Race Daryll Whitaker Daz Shefield Newcastle Electrical

Lumix GF1 1/60 f.1.7 ISO400

The dream team. Daz and Phil.

Workplace health and safety motivational speaker - Ken Woodward.

Today we had a motivational speaker in work trying to push a poignant message. - Very interesting and what a gent.

http://kenwoodward.co.uk

Motavational speaker Ken Woodward health place safety coca-cola attitude behavioural blind incident accident

In a horrifying workplace accident, Ken Woodward lost his eyesight as well as his sense of taste and smell. It left his family devastated and his colleagues traumatised.

Like all accidents, it could have been prevented. From that moment on he was determined to do all he could to make sure it didn't happen to anyone else.

Motavational speaker Ken Woodward

Since then, his dedication towards creating positive safety cultures and setting new standards has improved the working lives of thousands of people and changed the way hundreds of organisations operate.

Motavational speaker, Ken Woodward health place safety coca-cola attitude behavioural speaker message blind incident accident

Over the last decade he has become a globally recognised figure, providing people with the awareness, mindset and confidence to comfortably approach occupational safety issues with a fresh perspective.

Motavational speaker Ken Woodward health place safety coca cola incident accident left blinded

Astonishingly, in one year alone, he made 112 flights, 19 overseas trips and 285 presentations to stop others being hurt.

I strongly recommend booking him, and watch him help you drive the message to your workforce.

Photography competition winner.

Petrofac picture competition winner global world wide image Battersea power station London

Well that was a nice surprise. I logged into the works email system and found out that i had won their Picture competition.

For those of you who don't know, I'm currently sub contracting to a global oil and gas company called Petrofac, as a health and safety advisor. The project is based on the Shetland Isles, building a gas plant.

Over the internal system a few months ago, a photo competition was announced. So i thought that i would have a punt......

turns out my image of Battersea power station was chosen,  out of the 5000+ images that were submitted - as the overall winner!!

Over the moon!

A nice new iPad air on route to the house. Thanks ever so much.

Petrofac picture, competition winner global intranet

The image was displayed on the intranet home page, and globally sent over email to the 10's of thousands of employees world wide.

If there is a plant manager who wants some professional images of their gas/oil plant, some where warm... please speak up. Ha

Thanks

Lee

Composite with a snow machine in the garden.

lee ramsden, snow, cold, photoshop, composite, ski, snow board, blizzard, professional, advertising, tree, sun, garden, snow machine, fake, frozen

   Nikon D800 f10 1/125th ISO 100

Good morning, hope that you had a good weekend.

This was the set up, pretty straight forward really. Two light sources, both camera left. The elinchrom ranger in a large octa positioned in front of myself, so the light was feathered and soft.

with a bare elinchrom quadra behind back lighting the snow.

With a snow machine you can see on the left of the image.

The image was shot with grey paper background intentionally to aid in the photoshop work afterwards.

Image set up and execution around 45 mins, and all photoshop work an hour and half.

Some times these images can take a lot more, but having the final goal in your mind and through experience you can achieve that goal much quicker and have a nicer final product.

  Nikon D800 f10 1/125th ISO 100

A cold trip to Helvellyn.

Helvellyn Lake District cold morning Nikon D800 Lee Ramsden Cumbria tent camping night

Nikon D800 f8 1.5seconds ISO100 with various flash bursts around the scene.

 

Last week i headed out to try and take some pics up Helvellyn in the lakes. I was losing light as i didn't plan on the amount of weight i carried would slow me down so much, and so i pitched up here rather then planned for the evening. 

I awoke at 3am and the place was covered in snow. At first light there was an absolute white out, and was very thankful for carrying a GPS with me as navigating would of been near on impossible in zero visibility. 

So photo wise it was a failure but a good heavy load carry is a well received for a bit of Phys after the indulgent new year. 

Helvellyn, Lakes, Lake District,  Naked, walking boots, Tent, cold

Nikon D800 f5.6 1/50th ISO800

Brrrrrrr a fresh morning.....

Helvellyn Lake District Cumbria camping breakfast jetboil stove

Nikon D800 f2.8 1/50th ISO5000 Lit with red head light.

Breakfast for a king... 

 Thanks

Lee