London Gets Festive - 56k warning! [Archive]

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30-12-2007, 16:41

I have been feeling just a wee bit Mojo-less for a few weeks now, couldn't be bothered getting the camera out as I couldn't even decide what to take pictures of. Tried a few garden birds, but my very slow zoom lens makes that very difficult when the weather seems to be permanently gloomy, so, in the early hours of this morning, I was wide awake and going stir crazy, so dragged poor Mr LL out from his slumber and headed into the West End armed with the D200, sigma 10-20 and tripod.

All were taken between 2.30 and 4am, and have been heavily processed for reasons I will try and explain.

#1 - This is Carnaby Street, always a source of some fun decorations. Sadly, in order to get the colours more like they really were I had some major noise issues, hence the unreal look from the NR software - I still quite like it though.
http://whitegoldimages.co.uk/general/London/carnabystreet2.jpg

#2 - Covent Garden - as we turned the corner and saw all these lights, they really did glow, hence the processing on this picture, to try and show how magical it looked on first sight.

http://whitegoldimages.co.uk/general/London/coventgarden2.jpg

#3 - Coffee Shop just off Leicester Square, still busy at 3.30am with clubbers.

http://whitegoldimages.co.uk/general/London/morningcoffee.jpg

#4 - Top of Haymarket IIRC, I just liked the phoneboxes :D

http://whitegoldimages.co.uk/general/London/phoneboxes.jpg

#5 - And finally, a gift to you all - The Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square, presented to the People of Britain from Norway...again, slightly unreal as it was a 25 sec exposure, so noise was a problem and therefore NR was used.

http://whitegoldimages.co.uk/general/London/trafalgarsq.jpg

I do feel both the images and the processing is lacking somewhat on my normal stuff, but hoping the new year brings new impetus and inspiration ;)

TFL, LLxx

dazzajl

30-12-2007, 16:47

The first three are really great, no.2 being the pick of the pick I think. Absolutely magical light and atmosphere.

Real credit to you for getting out there and doing it. It's always the hardest part of creating. Even more credit to Mr LL for joining in, getting out of bed and no doubt standing around feeling a bit daft while you shot. :clap::clap:

HanC

30-12-2007, 16:51

The first two are particularly eye catching imo:D
good idea, visiting at such a random time!

30-12-2007, 16:58

Thanks guys, appreicated :thumbs:

I have plenty left to process, but atm, its not happening - pics that looked good on camera are looking less appealing on screen, but I reckon I will just leave them for a month and go back to them - then bore you all with another installment in January! :lol:

EdinburghGary

30-12-2007, 17:02

Are these HDR?

kfridge

30-12-2007, 17:09

nice set...no 2 is my fave!

just a quick newbie question...you say that the last one had a 25 sec. exposure, what kind of aperture would you have to use to make sure everything is exposed properly?

30-12-2007, 17:09

:thinking: Gawd, he wants me to remember what I did to them :lol:

ok, 2 and 3 had a HDR treatment as well as some photoshop afterwards, the rest have been mashed up in photoshop only, #1 was contrast masked as was #5. Several were prime candidates for HDR, but the longer exposures made HDR unuseable due to noise that it produced because they are single exposures, not bracketted, so went back to basics with them. I am thinking of trying some mono conversions too, but later maybe.

30-12-2007, 17:11

nice set...no 2 is my fave!

just a quick newbie question...you say that the last one had a 25 sec. exposure, what kind of aperture would you have to use to make sure everything is exposed properly?

That was on F16 - traf sq is vert dark at that time, all th elights apart from the tree had been turned off, so wanted to get as much of the background in focus as pos, hence th every long shutter time. All the others are around the F8- 10, with 2-4 sec exposures.

f.box

30-12-2007, 17:12

I love the feel of the secind one, its very ethereal and nicely composed.:)

Tattoo

30-12-2007, 17:30

Great set. #2 for me has the WOW factor.

blinkerz

30-12-2007, 17:30

i love the first 3, 2nd edging out as fave, well done, really love that magical glow.

boozybill

30-12-2007, 17:34

#2 for me its got that "wow" factor :thumbs:

Blackstar

30-12-2007, 17:39

I really love number 2 it looks really old fashioned.

30-12-2007, 17:42

Thanks Everyone, looks like #2 is the firm favourite then :D I think its mine too, the the coffee shop [as anyone that has been out togging with me will know and understand] is a pretty close second ;)

kfridge

30-12-2007, 17:43

That was on F16 - traf sq is vert dark at that time, all th elights apart from the tree had been turned off, so wanted to get as much of the background in focus as pos, hence th every long shutter time. All the others are around the F8- 10, with 2-4 sec exposures.

Thanks for that! Will come in useful when I finally manage to get out any play with my new toy...

petemc

30-12-2007, 17:51

#2 is the best, but I feel it needs the highlights tweaking a bit more to really make it pop. 3 and 4 need their horizons fixing.

InaGlo

30-12-2007, 17:54

Im glad its not just me feeling restless at the moment! ;)

2nd and last for me LL.
I agree with above that the 2nd has a magical feel about it, the hdr works nicely here, looks a bit special does that!
Love the last too ... along with the above, I can picture it having 'Merry Christmas from London' written somewhere in a nice traditional script ... next years Chrimbo cards maybe? :thumbs:

30-12-2007, 17:59

#2 is the best, but I feel it needs the highlights tweaking a bit more to really make it pop. 3 and 4 need their horizons fixing.

I have got a more 'poppy' version, but it takes away some of the glow, which was the main idea of the pic, but I know what you mean. 3 is straight... well, the coffee shop sign is anyway which I figured was th eimportant bit visually... :lol: - 4 yes you are probably right, but for that matter, on looking and looking again, #1 is just a tad wonky too :bang:

Glo, great idea! :thumbs: **carefully files away 2 and 5 as possible xmas cards**

I reckjon its the time of year, I am really looking forward to the two early year meets planned, just to get out again with other togs and have some fun, I think its just what the doctored ordered. :D

Dark Star

30-12-2007, 18:05

1, 2, 3 outstanding shots in a great set!

I love the thought of working like that in London at that hour!

Well done!!!

hairy

30-12-2007, 18:10

A great set there. Number 2 wins by a mile for me ***'; brings back some memories :clap:

allie5

30-12-2007, 18:10

Love No2 - really atmospheric and has a rather nice Dickensian Christmas feel.

30-12-2007, 18:24

This was the other version, as mentioned in the answer to Petes post. Normally, I would probably have opted for this sharper more detailed version, but something about the soft, almost ethereal look of the other really appealed for this particular shot.

http://whitegoldimages.co.uk/general/London/coventgarden3.jpg

hairy

30-12-2007, 18:30

bugga, now I can't make up my mind :thinking:

Both! :thumbs:

Chloe

30-12-2007, 18:39

i really like 1 and the second version of 2 :thumbs:

chewyuk

30-12-2007, 20:35

Absolutely magical shot 2 ! Colours and framing are stunning!

minimeeze

30-12-2007, 20:52

Love the 'original' posted shot of #2. It has a real magical fairytale feel to it. The Xmas tree in the last one looks like something from Ann Summers :lol:

spencer

30-12-2007, 20:55

What a superb set of images!:clap:
Love number 2!:thumbs:

Spence

30-12-2007, 20:56

Love the 'original' posted shot of #2. It has a real magical fairytale feel to it. The Xmas tree in the last one looks like something from Ann Summers :lol:

:lol: :lol: the Nordic Glitter Toy :whistling:

maddog.mark

30-12-2007, 21:36

antc

30-12-2007, 21:47

The new editied version of Number 2 for me, love that, it looks really magical and atmospheric.

petemc

30-12-2007, 21:48

Edit of 2 ftw

p3ryg

30-12-2007, 22:03

Stunning really like no1 and no2.

And well done at being there at that time of the morning!!!!

hypnotic

30-12-2007, 22:16

Great shots Y.

Can't believe you got up even earlier than when we went last time ... :bonk:

30-12-2007, 22:20

Well done for getting out there, I've spent very little time with the camera recently, for the first time since I got the photography habit. :(

I like the set and for me the second version of 2 is the best:thumbs:. The lights on the first version didn't quite look right to my eye.

What NR software are you using? I'd like to apply this to some of my noiser high iso stuff

Noiseware by imagenomic [I think, but just a google search of Noiseware will find it for you] - its not perfect, can leave jpg artefacts if you push it too far, but for free software, its pretty damn good when used well. Not that I always do... :bonk:

And as for 'getting up' thats for wusses...NOT GOING TO BED is the way to go :lol:

maddog.mark

30-12-2007, 22:26

Thanks LL, off to google that now:thumbs:

Jade

30-12-2007, 22:39

i love shot 2 lovely colours only thing im not keen on is the little bit of light thats making it hard to see the last letters of the banner
only my opinion mind

great set

Jade

englandshottest2

31-12-2007, 00:19

luv the first 2 especially! They are true stunners imo that is. Hmmm... I think I need to set my alarm for 2 or 3am sometime... lol!

31-12-2007, 00:25

Thanks again everyone, the comments are appreciated. I now expect lots of 3am pictures from you all over the next few weeks :naughty: :lol:

Le Chant

01-01-2008, 11:10

Version 1 of the market for me. I love the ethereal feel to it too. It really is subjective, this photography lark isn't it? Well done, great set!

Janice

01-01-2008, 11:24

Looks fantastic there. No.2 for me (1st version) like you said... all soft and glowing! :D

Forbiddenbiker

01-01-2008, 11:24

grumpybadger

01-01-2008, 11:28

Number 2 is stunning. I prefer the original softer version I have to say. But I am not always a fan of the "pop" factor that seems to be dominating digital photography...

BRASH

01-01-2008, 11:29

I think they are all great pics The thing that stands out for me is you've managed to reflect and express your sombre mood in them. I love irony in life and there's bags of it in these pics. For these reasons I love them.

Yeh, some people may comment on technical issues but for me the emotion behind them speaks volumes. For that, Total Respect!!!!

Geordi69

01-01-2008, 11:39

Nowt wrong with them at all in my eyes.
I love that covent garden one :thumbs:

Susane

01-01-2008, 11:45

If this is you being mojo-less then I can't wait for the mojo'd pics! :)
A suberb set LadyL, and I like both edits of No2.:clap:

photostar_1

01-01-2008, 12:50

I've re loaded this page 3 times now, and still can't see any images! Help!!:bang:

Forbiddenbiker

01-01-2008, 14:16

Maybe just leave the page open for a bit ...

well worth it. :)

02-01-2008, 05:47

Fabulous set Yv, I was down there last night with the boys... you didn't see the semi-naked , mono cycling, chain saw juggler earlier did you, lol, my boys thought he was hysterically briliant.

Covent garden decorations are stunning aren't they... Possibly the most beautiful I've ever seen it, quite magical I thought.

Mojos back then Yv, congratas, super set.. :clap::clap: :thumbs:

Agreed. We were quite disappointed when there was no tree this year [CG normally has a monster christmas tree], but when we saw the lights, the reason was clear, it would just have been totally overwhelmed by them. Didnt see the semi naked mono cyclist [sadly], but have seen some of the very best street performaers in the Garden over the last 3 years, and like you Ad, my kids have loved them :thumbs:

Many thanks again peeps, definately feeling inspired again now, in a large part due to the positive comments here, thankyou all. :clap:

Joel

02-01-2008, 06:20

Number 2 is amazing. Great work.