London POTN Meet - the official photo thread (56k beware)

[Big_B]

Move over Kiwis, the Brits are back and this time they're having a photo meet.

Ciqala, GSHodg (Gordon) and I agreed to meet up in Canary Wharf and spent a very enjoyable afternoon taking photos. I took far too many and it will probably take me weeks get around to sorting through them. However, here are a few of my favourites so far.

Pbase is playing up so if you can't see the photos directly, I have put a link below each one.


http://www.pbase.com/sam_blackie/image/53419495

Ciq and I were soon freezing as we hadn't remembered to bring enough warm clothing. Note to self for the future!


http://www.pbase.com/sam_blackie/image/53419496


http://www.pbase.com/sam_blackie/image/53419498




Gordon with Ciqala in the background

http://www.pbase.com/sam_blackie/image/53419499


http://www.pbase.com/sam_blackie/image/53419502

We found a perfect spot right by the Thames for sunset shots of the Millenium Dome. The tide was out and so we decided to go right down to the edge of the mud to try and find some unusual angles. The path was very slippery and I wasn't keen about going too far in case I fell over and broke my camera. The Brits aren't to be daunted by such minor problems and we soon came up with an ingenious solution - Send Gordon. Ciq and I watched from a safe distance, cameras ready to capture the action if he slipped.


http://www.pbase.com/sam_blackie/image/53420459

(he didn't fall by the way. We were very disappointed.)

However it was worth it, as we managed to get some great shots from the ramp

http://www.pbase.com/sam_blackie/image/53419504

As the sun set, we moved higher to get a better angle on the dome and the skyscrapers


http://www.pbase.com/sam_blackie/image/53419505


http://www.pbase.com/sam_blackie/image/53420946


http://www.pbase.com/sam_blackie/image/53419506

It got pretty cold taking those night time photos, so we needed plenty of beer to warm ourselves up afterwards




http://www.pbase.com/sam_blackie/image/53419510

[Ciqala]

i think most of our shots will come out pretty similiar so i'll post some of the more unusual ones i took instead.






i took more but havent been through them all yet. will post more once they're cropped etc.

[EOSAddict]

Looks like a great day out - and perfect weather too!

[BottomBracket]

Wow, some amazing pics here. Nothing like teaming up with a POTN member to get those creative skills going. I gotta ask though, where's the POTN strap? Too bad the pic where all three of you were having a beer is a bit fuzzy. Did you ask a non-POTN member to take it?

[Ciqala]

in regards to the strap question, i have the excuse in that i only signed up to the forum last week

however i believe big_b is a moderator so i'd say its pretty inexcusable for him to not have a potn strap on his camera perhaps he should be demoted until he gets one. hehe

[Big_B]

No excuses about the strap - sorry guys!

Ciq - that second photo is great - it looks like a giant rocket launcher.

[condyk]

That number 6 shot has a certain 'taken short' quality to it. And who are the dudes in the fuzzy beer shot, from left to right ...

Some crackin' shots gents. As in sport the NZ and UK members are peerless .... but the Aussies, where are they?

[Wazza]

Nice shots, looks like you all had fun.

Who took the blurred pub shot?


Seems like a wide lens, Sam..
10-22?

[StevenRaith]

I find shots in the pub are always blurred. Mostly due to being a tad hammered.

Some nice shots in there tho, especially the shot from the ramp.

I took the tube back from the pub last night [nothing to do with this lots little meet up mind] and got off at Euston. I took some pictures of Euston road. Despite being hammered, they actually came out OK. I must have been hammered as I don't recall taking the pictures

Unlike my pub shots [ISO something high, 1/100th shutter IIRC] which were a tad rubbish

[Ciqala]

we asked the barmaid to take the pub photo.

[Stav_98]

Love the second one!...looks like a jolly day out!

I've heard there can be problems with security in that area...is that true?

[Ciqala]

Originally Posted by Stav_98

Love the second one!...looks like a jolly day out!

I've heard there can be problems with security in that area...is that true?

in a nutshell, yes. we got moved on twice during the day. one outside canary wharf by security in the citibank building (we nipped round the corner to the pedestrian/cafe bit outside the station) and once again standing on a walkway running along the side of the thames by a concierge of the hotel whom i assume owned that bit of frontage despite the fact we weren't even taking photos of the hotel, we were taking shots of the dome across the river, eventually we moved along until we found our final spot and even then a police car came into the wharf we were in and had a bit of an ogle at us from their car but they drove off when they see we were harmlessly taking photos of the dome.

its a bit ridiculous i think but theres not much you can really do about it. i guess with an slr you look less like a tourist and more like paparazzi, moreso if you have the white lenses i imagine.

[Ciqala]

Originally Posted by condyk

That number 6 shot has a certain 'taken short' quality to it. And who are the dudes in the fuzzy beer shot, from left to right ...

from left to right: Big_B, GSHodg, Myself

[Big_B]

Originally Posted by Wazza

Seems like a wide lens, Sam..
10-22?

Thanks for all the comments

Wazza, I have the Tokina 12-24, but Gordon has the 10-22.

[DwightMcCann]

With the number of blokes you Brits have on the forums how come the small group? The images are stunning and well worth the hassle. It does seem that the UK has had much more than its share of the terrorism in the Western world and that many feel that photographers are somehow involved I guess ... but not one of the many reports I have ever seen suggests that anyone looking like a photographer has done anything ... I think we are just easy targets for the agressive. Thanks for making all the effort.