It was a very bracing zero degrees centigrade in central London last night, but that didn’t stop me from getting out with the camera and tripod to take night-time shots of some of London’s most well-known river views. I hope you enjoy these – the remainder are here. There’s more interesting architecture coming later in the week…
February 1, 2012 at 1:43 pm
These photos are just stunning and the river looks so still, it looks like there was a sheet of ice over it!
Emm recently posted..The BT Tower, London
February 1, 2012 at 2:30 pm
That’s the effect of a long exposure – in contrast, long exposures of the sea turn into a bubbling mist because of all of the water droplets constantly being thrown into the air.
February 1, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Ooooohhhhh, right! I’m going on a camera settings workshop in Feb, maybe I’ll learn something helpful.
February 1, 2012 at 3:26 pm
All you need to achieve this effect is a sturdy tripod or, failing that, a flat surface you can place the camera on where it won’t be disturbed for however long the exposure takes. You also need some way of releasing the shutter without actually touching the camera, so a cable release or remote control is needed – my camera has a remote that’s about the size of a stick of gum.
February 3, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Thank you for the advice! My knowledge of photography was such that I hadn’t even heard of remote or cable releases before. I shall add them to my wish list!
Emm recently posted..The BT Tower, London
February 1, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Hi Pete, these photos are absolutely stunning. It’s always so difficult to take decent night shots. Thanks for posting them and greetings from the far side of the world`
Giselle recently posted..A Tour of Wellington (New Zealand) aboard ‘The English Rose’ Double-Decker Bus
February 1, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Well patience is your best asset with this type of photography – it just involves making sure that your focus is correct, your ISO is as low as it can go, and then standing around while the camera’s shutter is open and it does its thing
February 2, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Great pictures, make me long to London. Thanks!
February 2, 2012 at 11:46 pm
Well it felt almost as cold as Sweden on Tuesday night – my fingers were freezing as I took those photos, and had a very cold, very heavy steel tripod with me – it was worth it though I think