Making the most of unemployment

[Billo78]

I'm currently in the process of looking for work, after moping around the house for the last week or 2 I decided to get out there and take some shots, what do you think? Time well spent? These were all taken in the last couple of days.

http://lh4.google.com/simon.bills/R68fQRA3SzI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/yPGOCPfkrkY/s800/IMG_9395.jpg


http://lh6.google.com/simon.bills/R7CizhA3S1I/AAAAAAAAFwg/awKB3tjqFz4/s800/IMG_9448.jpg


http://lh4.google.com/simon.bills/R7ImthA3TtI/AAAAAAAAF4o/X5pLY6Cpgp0/s800/IMG_9532-2.jpg


http://lh4.google.com/simon.bills/R7IbxhA3TOI/AAAAAAAAF0c/-NjY8IbM9Cw/s800/IMG_9571.jpg




http://lh5.google.com/simon.bills/R7Ib0xA3TTI/AAAAAAAAF1E/1AawSdTh56A/s800/IMG_9610.jpg







http://lh6.google.com/simon.bills/R7Ib9BA3TfI/AAAAAAAAF2k/llawbMVZx20/s800/IMG_9687.jpg






I think my favourite is that last one. I'd decided to put the camera away and was making my way back to the tube when I saw this guy and the way the light was reflecting off his sword, after waiting a few minutes for the crowds to clear I was able to get a good shot of him, I deliberately underexposed most of the image to give it a dark edge and highlight the sword.

[Jim G]

Love the detail on that.. er.. bird? goose? the black and white thing with feathers :)

I do like that sword in the last shot, nice work :)

[blueM]

Time well spent?

I would say yes. Some very interesting shots

[peatoire]

First and last looking very nice. Too much PP & distortion on the second one for me.
Definitely not a waste of time.

[jeburiah]

Taking photo always is time well spent!

[Billo78]

Thanks for your comments guys.

Jim, it's a close up of a swan, I've cropped it to almost 100% and it's still very sharp, that's the benefit of L series lenses I guess. Peatoire, I see what you mean with the second one, I've not actually done that much PP, it was very vibrant and surreal out of the camera, I've given it more of a punchy feel but I did struggle trying to work out how much was too much.

[Mike-DT6]

A nice set of photos. I like the third one in particular. :-)

Mike

[Tee Why]

Not bad. Not bad at all.

[Marmar]

first one does it for me. very nice

[FlyingPhotog]

First and Last really stand out to me.

Love the very natural smile on the gal in the foreground of #1. Not crazy about the PP on it but I have to smile looking at her.

Nice stark line made by the sword in the last as the lighting on the blade is perfect.

An overall very good series.

[Billo78]

Thanks guys, the girl in that first one is a friend who wanted some shots of her around London landmarks, we started the project one afternoon 8 months ago but the weather turned after half and hour so we retreated to the pub. We managed to complete the project on the weekend with the help of some favourable lighting conditions, managed to get a few nice shots but it wasn't as easy as I'd anticipated.

Here's a few more shots of her that day

http://lh5.google.com/simon.bills/R68eqhA3SCI/AAAAAAAAFpI/qyJiB2egPb0/s800/IMG_9297.jpg

http://lh5.google.com/simon.bills/R68exhA3SUI/AAAAAAAAFrY/-Qu5Y_mvYRk/s800/IMG_9361.jpg

http://lh3.google.com/simon.bills/R68e2BA3SeI/AAAAAAAAFss/NTixK4h5Gv0/s800/IMG_9387.jpg


And here's a couple from the first session 8 months ago....

http://lh4.google.com/simon.bills/RnxBKE3XKuI/AAAAAAAABXY/tpSvbjoREWU/s800/IMG_7684.JPG

http://lh4.google.com/simon.bills/RnxBRE3XKvI/AAAAAAAABXg/Sn6QMhVhWSQ/s800/IMG_7696.JPG

[BenJammin]

I really enjoyed the first set, the lighting and images were very well done. Good Job.

[Wazza]

Nice fun set of shots.
Are you in London for long? Bit different from Australia :p
I'll be back there myself in just over a week.

Check out the South-East UK thread:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=410815

Meet ups likely soon when the weather co-operates ;)
Or even just suggestions on shooting locations, obstacles with security around South Bank etc

[Billo78]

Nice fun set of shots.
Are you in London for long? Bit different from Australia :p

Or even just suggestions on shooting locations, obstacles with security around South Bank etc

Hey, how did you know I was from Australia!!

Yep, been here a couple of years, was in Edinburgh before that, will be here another 1 or 2 more I'd say before the big move home. Can't believe the South Bank tripod police, they're out of control! I'm used to it now but the first couple of time I was incandescent with rage. My suggestion is to just say "oh, sorry, I didn't realise I couldn't use that here" while packing it up, then as soon as they're gone just whip it out again and continue.

[Mike-DT6]

I like the latests shots. The one by the London Eye is good, where you got Big Ben and the moon in as well. I like the post processing ideas, but if the photographs are intended to be one set then maybe one processing style throughout would give a better sense of continuity. :-)

I had to laugh at you being found out as Australian! :lol: Your user name has Australian characteristics and your friend looks particularly Australian, especially in the Big Ben photo. :-)

I don't suppose you live in Earls Court as well do you? :lol:

Mike

[Billo78]

I don't suppose you live in Earls Court as well do you? :lol:



Ha! Nah, over in the Old St area, less Aussies over here, more of an authentic experience!

My friend in the photos is actually German, I'll let her know she look Australian though, she'll like that!

Point well taken about the post processing continuity, at the moment I pretty much go through and mix things up from one photo to the next but I'm well aware that a more standard approach is better in certain circumstances (such as a wedding), still finding my feet in Lightroom. Something I've found though is that certain actions work really well with one photo but when you apply the same action to another one where the light is coming at a different angle, or the subject is in shade or lit up by flash then it doesn't seem to work at all, I guess that's why at the moment my PP is a bit all over the place. Any tips anyone?

[Mike-DT6]

My friend in the photos is actually German, I'll let her know she look Australian though, she'll like that!


:lol: That has put paid to my theory on national identities then! :lol:

Mike

[chestercopperpot]

to me, the man on the park bench picture is your strongest shot by far and away. great contrast of the motionless man vs the people walking past him. him turned away from the camera (to me) adds some interest, and the lighting looks great for the shot. well done.

[greg20d]

I just got the news I may be laid off in 4-6 weeks
I am starting to look

[Billo78]

I just got the news I may be laid off in 4-6 weeks
I am starting to look

Every cloud has a silver lining, you should be able to get out there are capture some great images with your newfound free time, best of luck picking up something else quickly though!