London, Mid summer.

[dave_bass5]

I took these as test shots with my new lens's during Aug.
Was looking forward to getting some nice blue skys but ended up with these.
http://davepearce.smugmug.com/photos/87119422-L.jpg

http://davepearce.smugmug.com/photos/87861555-L.jpg

http://davepearce.smugmug.com/photos/91849531-L.jpg

[Pete]

Some very nice shots there. Which lens was it?

[dave_bass5]

Thanks Pete
The first two were taken with my Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and the last one with my Canon 24-105L
I live near the river so when i get a new lens i tend to go down there and re shoot the same things and see what difference the new lens makes.
there are more here if you are intrested
http://davepearce.smugmug.com/gallery/538070

[Pete]

Great shots there. I just took a look back at the pictures I took of the wheel when I first got my camera. My PP work sucked back then!!

I work really close to st Paul's by the way. Always awestruck when I walk past it on the way to Cheapside sometimes.

[dave_bass5]

Thanks again
Funny that, the first wekend i had mine i went and shot the wheel as well. it was a lovley day then. we actually went up in it (that was the main reason i got my 350D that week), only had the kit lens and my PP was not great then either.
I work in Hatton Garden and live next to the Barbican estate so quite close to where you work.

[Pete]

Ah.. very close then, I work on Aldersgate St!

[dave_bass5]

Ah.. very close then, I work on Aldersgate St!

I know it well

[Pete]

Ahhh.. The Hogshead is my local. So if you ever fancy an POTN EC1 mini-meet, just ask...

[penfolduk]

I work fairly close as well, well when I say close I work on Whitehall.

Phil

Nice pics by the way!

[panasonic]

Can I join in? I used to work near Whitehall (Admiralty Arch to be exact). I've not been back to London for a long time now. I especially like the first and third shots - brings back some good memories. I've never seen the building in the second picture "live". Must make the effort to visit London again sometime.

[-nathan]

I've been to 2 out of 3 of those places for sure, those would be really good for postcards, nice and sharp (I mean that as a compliment).

[dave_bass5]

Thanks all.
Pete, i know The Hogshead but never been in it. If we can get something organised im up for a "quick" drink. maybe we can rope some others in. it will have to be in a month or so as my Girlfriend is on lates so i pick our son up from nursery after work.

Nathan, thanks oforthe comments. shame about the clouds those days though.

Panasonic, The "Gerkin" is a strange building but i find it looks its best from a distance.

[woodsie]

I wouldn't worry about the lack of blue skies. I often look for a bit of cloud in the sky, I think it gives a more dramatic look than a plain blue sky. Your third shot in this series demonstrates this perfectly. But it works well in the first two, with the clouds appearing to wrap around the bridge tower in the first, and the second giving the effect that the gerkin is holding the sky up.

In my PP I will often pump up the highlight contrast to bring out the texture in the clouds.

[Pete]

Hi Dave. Yep, I'd be up for a quick drink somtime. Just let me know when you're free. Once we sort out a date, I'll post up something in the activity thread in case anyone else wants to drop in. I anticipate it just being a "social" and not a photog trip (I don't particularly like the idea of carting £2K worth of cameras into London if I can avoid it!!)

[dave_bass5]

Woodsie
I meant i was looking forward to a nice sunny day rather than a cloudy one;-)
I agree clouds make a nice dramatic sky though.
I love how this came out
http://davepearce.smugmug.com/photos/87235042-M.jpg
These shots havent been into PSCS2 but i also would have bumped up the highlight contrast as well. i have a pluggin called Lightmachine and its very good at seperating the shadows and highlights so you can work on one without effecting the other.
The third shot i dont like. it seems too busy and flat. i was just trying to see how sharp the 24-105L was hand held on distances and so shot it at f/13 to get it all sharp.

[dave_bass5]

Pete
Yeah, ive taken my 350D out to the pub before and almost dropped it so lets just make it a social one as you say.