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Julian
07-14-2012, 06:17 PM
Hi All,

I actually joined a while back but never posted anything (although lurked while listening to all the excellent podcasts!). I've actually been taking photographs since I was five and a half and followed my father's liking for colour slides. I find the digital age exciting and really enjoyable (although it makes you extremely 'trigger happy') and find that it's getting better all the time.

Julian

theantiquetiger
07-14-2012, 06:39 PM
Welcome Julian!!! So you are from University of Kentuckey, Go Wildcats!!!

Just kidding!!!

I am a member of several photo forums, but I find this one is the best due to it's smaller member size. There are no super-pro photographers pounding their chest in victory here, going on about their next great shot.

Post some images for us to see. I am work tonight for the next 11 hours, so I need something to do.

Julian
07-14-2012, 06:45 PM
ha ha! You have no idea how close you were! I am from the county of Kent in England (originally - before my father moved all over the place).

Just before I go to sleep - how about a picture of the London Eye from an alternative angle?

Julian
07-14-2012, 06:49 PM
Well - maybe a couple of pictures seeing as it sounds like my grandson is going to be keeping us all awake tonight! (Bless him).

Julian
07-14-2012, 06:54 PM
15643


I also dropped a picture into the level two assignment.

theantiquetiger
07-14-2012, 07:05 PM
From the two images you have posted so far, you appear lightyears ahead of me in the art of photography. The sky is amazing in this image and I feel it is almost too strong, pulling my view from the wheel. I would love to see the color version of this image.

theantiquetiger
07-14-2012, 07:11 PM
The Olympics start in two weeks, you must be busting at the seams!!! I lived in Atlanta during the summer of the 96 Olympics. I wish I was into photography back then. Are you going to any events, going to shoot anything?

Julian
07-14-2012, 07:13 PM
You are right about the sky - I have too much fondness for the yellow filter and creating a sky that is imposing (or in this case taking your attention :)). When I took the original I had already decided on the black and white version. I am just looking up the colour version now so that you can see how the sky is not even noticeable in that version (well compared to the B&W version. :)

Julian
07-14-2012, 07:16 PM
15644

I have made it smaller so that you don't have to scroll up and down

Julian
07-14-2012, 07:19 PM
As far as the Olympics are concerned - I will be happy to watch it all on TV. There is too much in the way of security, London congestion and unavailability of tickets. In my younger days I would have made more of an effort - but these days I am happy to sit back more.

theantiquetiger
07-14-2012, 07:22 PM
If I could critique one more thing about the image, it looks like the wheel is about to fall over to the left. It looks like it would be hard to level because the wheel and the building on the right are leaning to the left but the light post to the left of the wheel are leaning to the right.

theantiquetiger
07-14-2012, 07:24 PM
As far as the Olympics are concerned - I will be happy to watch it all on TV. There is too much in the way of security, London congestion and unavailability of tickets. In my younger days I would have made more of an effort - but these days I am happy to sit back more.

Shoot the free stuff, marathons, bike races, street vendors/performers, etc.

Julian
07-14-2012, 07:27 PM
Oh - agreed - I could straighten it but I took so many that day that once I had played with B&W I had run out of steam. That said, I'll put up my favourite - and this one really is from an angle you don't see very often.

Julian
07-14-2012, 07:38 PM
There is bridge across the Thames where you can get this shot - so I took full advantage.
15647

Julian
07-14-2012, 07:39 PM
Need to crop it etc. but you get the general idea. :)

theantiquetiger
07-14-2012, 07:44 PM
I like this one more than the first. I wouldn't crop much, maybe just some of the water at the bottom. The sun and Big Ben ("Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament!" quote from movie) help make the image. I love the gold tone of the image. This could go in the opposite thread, old/new

Julian
07-14-2012, 07:48 PM
Yeah - I thought I would lose some of the water at the bottom, which would complete it.

Off to sleep now (that it has all gone quiet elsewhere in the house :)).

theantiquetiger
07-14-2012, 07:54 PM
Goodnight J, it is 1:00am there. Can't wait to see more of your images.

Iguanasan
07-19-2012, 02:26 PM
A belated welcome to the forum, Julian... I see you've met AntiqueTiger already! :) I hope you enjoy your stay with us and I look forward to seeing more of your images. Cheers!

Marko
07-19-2012, 04:30 PM
I like these latest ones as well - nice job!

Julian
07-21-2012, 04:57 PM
Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I have enjoyed reading the posts and viewing all the pictures while listening to every single pod cast (truly fabulous stuff there BTW).

If anyone does visit London and wants to take pictures of the Eye, one thing I can recommend is (if you can) try to avoid using wide angle lenses, as my first picture shows. If you do take a picture of it you will need to do a little post processing. Incredibly, this is also the case even if you are right in front of it. The reason being that its holding mechanism is a cantilever in design, so it has a habit of looking like it is leaning forward or backward when viewed in 2D. I'll post some more pictures to illustrate what I mean (I'll need to dig them out first - so bear with me).

Julian
07-21-2012, 05:03 PM
This is the classic 'Picture Postcard' image you will see - and even this looks like it is leaning back. This is from a visit in 2009 and is a nice easy shot to get (Westminster Bridge with your back to Parliament).
15674

Isa Luna
07-21-2012, 09:56 PM
Great shot - I prefer the B&W .... more dramatic
..... and welcome :)