Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens

[d00d]

Welcome ... I will be posting a mix of new and not-so-new shots to begin with, then once the archives have been cleaned out it'll be new only. For those that are interested, each pic has a link to googlemaps.

Five years of regular shooting for weekly themed challenges, and I found I was drawn more and more to this mass of land in the centre of London and now I find myself passing through a number of times a week. I'm a bit like a farmer (well, I was born & raised on a farm) observing changes, wildlife activity on his land. But I'm not a birder out to identify the 200 species to be found there, in fact I'm more interested in snapping nature's harsh realities, or ... 3 birds in a boat!

2016 Archive ... taken HERE

2015 Archive ... taken HERE

2017 Archive ... taken HERE

 

[d00d]

So that's three from the archives, and now a couple from today ... using this new temporary floating sculpture as a backdrop. Info HERE


HPKG1 taken HERE

HPKG2.

 

[dom71]

Love the juxtaposition in the last one.

No.3 makes me want to shed a tear of despair!

 

[d00d]

Love the juxtaposition in the last one.

No.3 makes me want to shed a tear of despair!

Thank you Dominic, my first visitor.

The passing swan family: my idea was to get a row boat or two, and I did, but liked the swans with subtle reflection in the coloured water so much I decided to use it instead.

A tear of despair: I know what you mean.

 

[d00d]

Another from yesterday ... I was a bit out of reach really (200mm on Nikon DX) but with cropping and OTT processing I got an image I like, a bit bookcoverish perhaps.

HPKG3 taken HERE

 

[d00d]

Taken earlier this month and posted on the G7X thread. This is on the traffic island/roundabout they call Marble Arch ... and I do believe it to be within the Park boundaries.

2018 Archive ... taken HERE

 

[d00d]

One from this morning: Queen Anne’s Alcove.

HPKG4 taken HERE

 

[d00d]

... which has prompted me to post my Queen Caroline's Temple shot from a few weeks back. Smallest aperture with focus point on the building.

2018 Archive taken HERE

 

[d00d]

Another from this morning ... fighting the wind on the Serpentine.

HPKG5 taken HERE

 

[Ed Sutton]

I'm liking this idea and the pics. Showing unexpected sides to the familiar is something photography can do very well.

 

[d00d]

unexpected sides .... yes, thanks Dave.

What I'm aiming for is an alternative look at the much-photographed monuments, building, landmarks. Plus some street-type people pics to bring it all alive.

 

[d00d]

Kensington Palace bouncer.

She's charming, welcomes everyone, checks their tickets, points them in the right direction. I asked if I could take a picture, she smiled for the camera, I asked if she could look serious and not at me.

HPKG6 taken HERE

 

[d00d]

Ah the parakeets, such fun.

HPKG7 taken HERE

 

[d00d]

Met a nice couple this morning at The Serpentine. Japanese, I'm guessing, let me photograph their D850 + 800mm lens, then let me take some shots with it! You know what it's like, one Nikonite to another.

Odd colour scheme I thought, and the RAF 100 years sticker. Hmmm ... of course, they must be here for the Flypast next week.

HPKG8 taken HERE

 

[d00d]

RAF Centenary Flypast today. Thought, if I'm lucky, I'll see an air ambulance in Hyde Park or even a RAF chopper doing some sort of backup, I may even catch a glimpse of post-flypast aircraft heading west. This is what I saw from HERE ....

HPKG9 - two pilots

HPKG10 - One of a number of paramedics

HPKG11

HPKG12 - Byeee

 

[Kell]

Met a nice couple this morning at The Serpentine. Japanese, I'm guessing, let me photograph their D850 + 800mm lens, then let me take some shots with it! You know what it's like, one Nikonite to another.

Odd colour scheme I thought, and the RAF 100 years sticker. Hmmm ... of course, they must be here for the Flypast next week.

HPKG8 taken HERE

I've seen this guy standing on the bridge over the past few weeks as I cycle past in the mornings.

 

[d00d]

I've seen this guy standing on the bridge over the past few weeks as I cycle past in the mornings.

Nice bloke, letting me play with his camera, but doesn't speak a word of English, he was with a woman who does the talking. Not seen him before or since last Thursday, but it seems he goes to the park earlier than me.

 

[Kell]

Well, if you ever see a fat, bald bloke bombing past on a bright green Brompton, be sure to give me a wave.

 

[d00d]

Well, if you ever see a fat, bald bloke bombing past on a bright green Brompton, be sure to give me a wave.

 

[d00d]

Some idle bench antics, on the Broadwalk, three from last month ....

 

[d00d]

... and three from today ...

 

[d00d]

The Albert Memorial from a secluded little fenced off garden area I didn't know existed until today...

HPKG19 taken from HERE

 

[Kell]

Taken earlier this month and posted on the G7X thread. This is on the traffic island/roundabout they call Marble Arch ... and I do believe it to be within the Park boundaries.

2018 Archive ... taken HERE

The physical entity that is Marble Arch, used to be the gate to Buckingham Palace - and was originally designed to much grander.

And even while it was moved, the road between it and Hyde Park never used to be there, so it was the north east border of the park. Think the road was put in early 1900s.

As part of your project, I thought you might be interested in these:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceE2pXgKXSo

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipAYUpqDVNI


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxERjvNd34E

 

[d00d]

Hi Kell

Thanks for that, most interesting.

I'm now posting a shot from a couple of weeks ago, taken from the traffic island of people crossing the top of Park Lane northbound carriageway.

... and I've been googling, and it seems before the marble arch was there the NE park entrance was Cumberland Gate HERE'S SOMETHING

And it explains how there was a road within the park, parallel to Park Lane (originally Tyburn Lane, as in the tree!), which became Park Lane northbound.

 

[Kell]

Yeah, the Tyburn Tree was on the triangular traffic island at the junction of Oxford Street and Edgware Road (I remember that from an open bus tour). I think there might be a plaque there.

 

[Kell]

Well, I say it was on the traffic island. More that the traffic island is now on the site of the old Tyburn Tree.

 

[d00d]

Tyburn was a village there, bottom of the Edgware Road in Doomsday book times, little of the Tyburn name is left, the era of mass public executions is best forgotten(?). But there's a Tyburn Way ... where the buses park up on the island.

I read some crime fiction recently: The Hanging Club by Tony Parsons ... says there was actually more than one "tree" gallows over a 500 year period, and the precise location is vague.

 

[Allan.H]

The series of bench pictures work very well some of the others I think need a little more context such as the swans in front of the sculpture, maybe a wider shot of the sculpture and then the closer ones would work same with the bouncer I only say this as I am not familiar with the park. Will be interested in how you would edit them down to a book say when you have a lot more to choose from, interesting idea though keep it going I’m sure it will elvolve

 

[d00d]

Allan!! ..............

The series of bench pictures work very well

Thanks .... didn't think that was your thing.

some of the others I think need a little more context such as the swans in front of the sculpture, maybe a wider shot of the sculpture and then the closer ones

I know what you mean, but I'm aiming to post the unusual, new & different. And therefore posted a link to a site explaining all about the sculpture.

I only say this as I am not familiar with the park

Yes. the whole thread would have more meaning to someone familiar with the place.

Will be interested in how you would edit them down to a book say when you have a lot more to choose from, interesting idea though keep it going I’m sure it will elvolve

Thanks. Yes, it may lack direction, some of it is just things I stumbled across on the day. Neverending really. I am looking forward to trying a few landscapes in the fog, ghosts too.

Do call again.

 

[Cunobelin]

[/QUOTE]

I'm guessing no-one has invented an iphone holder for rowing boat oars!...... yet!

 

[d00d]

I'm guessing no-one has invented an iphone holder for rowing boat oars!...... yet!

 

[d00d]

The parakeets ... kids love them, and so do I.

 

[Kell]

It's odd - I've been working in the same office in Knightsbridge for 12 years and walk/cycle through the park daily from Marylebone.

Until two weeks' ago, I'd never seen a parakeet there.

 

[d00d]

It's odd - I've been working in the same office in Knightsbridge for 12 years and walk/cycle through the park daily from Marylebone.

Until two weeks' ago, I'd never seen a parakeet there.

So this thread serves a purpose.

THIS is the spot where you are guaranteed to witness their antics.

 

[susiejb]

Hi d00d ...you really have been busy, what an excellent and interesting set of photos, those swans against the floating sculpture ...I love it ...that has the wow factor for me, also the contrast one with the grass. Love the old film clip ...ohhh how genteel life seems then, and those ladies look so smart strolling along....and not a phone in sight
The parakeets ...wish we had some of those here and they look quite tame, I loved my trips to London to see the Grandaughter and we often walked through the parks, it all seems so far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
I really need to get my head around using my camera again regularly .... Ill give myself a good talking to but meanwhile I've put you on the watch list and will definitely be hopping by.

 

[d00d]

Susie, so good to see you.

And so pleased you like the swans, the parakeets and more.

I'm now looking forward to seeing you finally get your act together and start your own TP Personal Project. What's it going to be called?

 

[susiejb]

I'm now looking forward to seeing you finally get your act together and start your own TP Personal Project. What's it going to be called?

It may take while

 

[d00d]

It may take while

"It may take while" ... Excellent ... sounds kinda cryptic, I like it.

 

[d00d]

Too hot in the park so here's a couple from the archives ... people panned on bikes ...
1

2

 

[SsSsSsSsSnake]

Well, if you ever see a fat, bald bloke bombing past on a bright green Brompton, be sure to give me a wave.

will you be waeing your Bat suit?