Ahh London town. Winding my way down to Baker Street on the London underground, I came across this high-key shot.
I love London sometimes, especially the London Underground and especially in Black and White. There's a really magical air to London Underground pictures, perhaps because the London Underground has low light but you can't take in your tripod. The tube is a busy, bustling, unique environment to take creative pictures. And every Underground station in London is different, with its own subtle twists and turns from the traditional tourist Underground Station like Baker Street underground station, through to the wild modernism of Canary Wharf underground station.
London set See my Most Interesting l Faves l On Black l Explore My Stream
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How I took this photography
There are so many great locations to photograph in London. My favourites include the London Underground system (although be careful to adhere to the Transport For London rules on where and when you can take photographs). Its seems that the key is no tripods on the Underground, no loitering and don't cause any obstruction. As long as you are taking your pictures whilst "passing through", the London Underground staff should he happy to let you continue.
This particular photograph took a couple of trial runs. I wanted to get the combination of a London Underground sign, a moving tube train and some human movement. I was lucky to stumble upon this London business man. I also managed to slip in a Sherlock Holmes pattern on the Tube wall - can you spot him and his pipe?
Alternative places in London to consider is anywhere around the South Bank, which gives you access to the London Eye, County Hall, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Plus, of course, the London River Thames, and various Tube stations, including Waterloo, Embankment and Westminster. Yes, I know they have all been photographed to death - but part of the challenge for every photographer is to find a new angle. These London locations are really perfect subjects for anyone to try out their creativity.
This picture was taken with my new Canon EOS 550d (also known as the Rebel T2i and KISS X4). Whilst underground on the London tube, the 550d allowed me to use Live View to see the exposure as I selected it manually, rather than having to guess as I did with my 400d. This function on the Canon 550d is an absolute godsend for getting pictures in low light like the London Underground. The Canon 550d was even more helpful because I was able to take a big rapid burst of shots every time a tube train was pulling in to Baker Street station. This allowed me to catch the perfect movement of the tube, but also choose between different passers by - hoping to get a moving business man, which is what you see here.
I was very torn between a high key black and white for this London Underground picture or full blown saturated colour. The iconic red, white and blue colour of the Baker Street underground was tantalising. Hopefully the choice of black and white balanced up the tube sign with the business man. Perhaps I should have used selective colour.
I've taken a number of London pictures, both of the main sites like Baker Street, but also of some lesser known backwaters. You can my London Set here. Feel free to drop in a comment and let me know what you think.
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Here's some key facts about the London Underground
- Number of miles/km travelled by each Tube train each year: 76,800 miles/123,600km
- Number of passengers carried on the Tube each year: 1,073 million
- Number of individual passengers carried on the Tube each year: 28 million
For more facts about the London Underground, visit Transport for London - for London Underground facts"
London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It is the UK's largest and most populous metropolitan area and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures.
Sourced through the London entry on Wikipedia;
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and neighbouring areas of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the UK. With its first section opening in 1863, it was the first underground railway system in the world. In 1890 London Underground became the first to operate electric trains. Despite the name, about 55% of the network is above ground. It is usually referred to officially as 'the Underground' and colloquially as the Tube, although the latter term originally applied only to the deep-level bored lines, along which run slightly lower, narrower trains along standard-gauge track, to distinguish them from the sub-surface "cut and cover" lines that were built first. More recently this distinction has been lost and the whole system is now referred to as 'the Tube', even in recent years by its operator in official publicity. London is proud to have the Tube as the arteries running through the city.
Sourced at the London Underground Wikipedia
Windin' your way down on Baker Street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Well another crazy day
You'll drink the night away
And forget about everything
This city desert makes you feel so cold.
It's got so many people but it's got no soul
And it's taking you so long
To find out you were wrong
When you thought it had everything
For the full lyrics to Gerry Rafferty's classic Baker Street, all about this part of London visit the Lyrics to Baker Street"
You can find the latest news and updates about the London Underground and Baker street here - News about the London Underground
God bless London. Or as they say in London itself - Gaah up the apples and pears to Laaandan (London).
06 Январь 2010, 00:03 gato-gato-gato I like the motion-blur of the guy on the left. Very nice.
06 Январь 2010, 20:20 monica_meeneghan Amazing shot. Takes me back to the old days! I like the curve theme.
06 Январь 2010, 23:03 monica_meeneghan
**Over the Excellence**
From the **OVER-THE-EXCELLENCEGroup
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07 Январь 2010, 17:08 Naseer Ommer | www.naseerommer.com Good shot
08 Январь 2010, 11:57 davies.thom good shot.
08 Январь 2010, 20:24 StevenBrisson Love the tube (and Gerry Rafferty)--and you've captured the melodic mood and luster of both.
08 Январь 2010, 20:45 urtaur Hi, I'm an admin for a group called (Des)enfoqu
09 Январь 2010, 02:42 _Pek_ ...another amazing shot! Love the movement and the choice of B&W...
09 Январь 2010, 21:56 ~Lianne~ Fantastic capture !
09 Январь 2010, 22:17 suchitra prints Great shot , wonderful!!!
10 Январь 2010, 15:53 Heniusia A wonderful,interesting photo......!
11 Январь 2010, 14:33 Ospreywatcher Excellent composition!
12 Январь 2010, 08:27 gary8345 Excellent picutre. I really like the post processing. Good work.
13 Январь 2010, 03:38 Marcus P. Great shot!
14 Январь 2010, 00:24 Pameliz uhh genial
14 Январь 2010, 13:50 mishmishiya Baker Street ... is that why these people look irregular?
15 Январь 2010, 12:56 * mateja * {on and off} Great pov, excellent capture.
15 Январь 2010, 17:09 *ian* Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Eclectic Gallery (post 1, comment any 1), and we'd love to have this added to the group!Fantastic! Love the composition and the movement of both the train and the passenger!
16 Январь 2010, 05:12
Nice capture. FP well deserved!
Congratulations!!
All your FP are here.
16 Январь 2010, 12:46 bernat...
Congratulations!!! your photo reach Explore
Front Page
You can download the capture in lab.bernatcasero.com/flickr/frontpagecapture?
user=2946833...
16 Январь 2010, 19:48 DRB Photography.co.uk Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Just Great Photo's, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
16 Январь 2010, 22:32 [.M.] So good !Seen and commented on GetExplored
17 Январь 2010, 04:16 Iwan Lindeboom Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Amsterdam Blogging Workshop - Post 1 Comment 2, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
18 Январь 2010, 02:31 curlsdiva Should be poster size on the wall opposite the sign, London Underground take note![ via flickriver explore --curlsdiva ]
18 Январь 2010, 04:32 VaDeM Really cool! Great BW!
18 Январь 2010, 06:27 bruisedlee I'm diggin' this. A lot. Should I say it's a bit unlike you? But I love this venture into street photography!
18 Январь 2010, 10:30 doug88888 bruisedlee Variety is the spice of life - don't worry, there was a stream of flowers and animals before I took this one yesterday!Thanks for commenting on my London picture.
19 Январь 2010, 01:17 nasos zovo great
19 Январь 2010, 05:31 HORIA STANICEL
This is 1 MILLION DOLLARS PICTURE ! ! ! Great
SHOOT here!
When you have time,you can see my pictures
and become more inspired. Thank you very
much!
I'm an admin for a group called artdesign, and we'd love to have this added to the
group!
19 Январь 2010, 06:36 cjLEWIS55 Nice shot!
Теги: EF28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM baker street london underground tube rebel t2i kiss x4 canon 550d aperture man landscape business high key black white grey lines train movement blur person sherlock holmes work late angle acute transport for england united kingdom explore front page eos dslr 2ti wallpaper doug88888 gerry rafferty london underground baker street Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Canon EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM