How to prepare your city trip? Hints and tips / O2 - Canary Wharf - London
Large on black or at 1600 x 600 pixel (fake pano) if you wish.
Brought my D700 to the cleaners, plus quite busy and a bit tired of Flickr - happens sometimes - but I'll be back and catching up! In the meantime...
About this shot
The shot above is almost two years old and actually only a 'vehicle' for some hints and tips I want to share with you for when you're preparing a (city) trip.
I took this shot with my (old and now sold) D90 + Nikon 18-200mm VRII travel lens, shooting from the back of the deck of a speedy moving river bus. It's fantastic travelling by boat in and around London! Glad I wasn't in the rowing boat though. :)
Preparing your city trip
In the 20th century (remember?) when you were sort of planning your trip, you went to a library or bookstore and got yourself a couple of books and/or travelguides from the place you we're going to visit. That's kinda old skool now.
Here's three simple tips to help you out planning your trip, picking spots with dusk/dawn in mind, and how to get inspired - all in 21st century stylee!
Tip number one: Let Flickr be your inspiration
Unless you're preparing a city trip to Atlantis (*blub, blub*), you'll find out that plenty of other excellent photographers have been visiting and shooting your destination. Take advantage of their efforts by browsing through their images, and learn from their spots and angles. You'll see the stuff that's been shot to death, so maybe you want to avoid these. Most likely though the work of others will inspire you to go out there shooting and give it your own 'personal touch/twist'.
I use Flickr search to get an idea about the possibilities of a certain location. It's a good idea to use more than one search keyword. So instead of using 'London' (for example), use 'London Thames barrier' or even better 'London Thames barrier night' to narrow down more specific results.
My personal tip is to use the filter 'Recent' on your search results. This way you'll find out the famous object you were planning to shoot is being renovated, surrounded by scaffolding - saving you the time and effort of going there all excited and end up sobbing.
An example: London Thames Barrier - Recent.
It's also a good idea to check out websites of a special spot you prepare to visit. For example: This way I found out the St. Paul (London) was being renovated and the excellent view over London you can get there is closed in March/April. I'd rather be dissapointed in advance than finding out about this after standing in a cue for 10 minutes or something.
Sometimes you're curious from what spot a photograph is taken, because you like that angle very much. Unfortunately not a lot of Flickr folks add maps to their images. Maybe to avoid that other people will 'copy' their angles? Tsk, tsk. We will find out anyhow! This brings us to my second tip...
Tip number two: Google Earth / Streetview
You'd like to explore the locations you're planning to visit beforehand? That's possible with (for example) the help of a couple of Google web applications.
Google Earth A useful download, especially with 3D elements.
Google Streetview Limited, but nonetheless useful.
While Google Streetview is very useful - it gives an excellent idea of 'being there' while you're still in front of your computer - it's rather limited because in the end it's only what it is: 'street view'. What does your photographic object look like from a boat in the middle of a river? What's a nice angle from that pedestrian bridge? How's the view from that hill? You can only find out with Google Earth. Pinpoint your location and you can check it out from any given angle. Together with the first tip (using Flickr search results) you'll get a pretty good idea if a location is promising and worthwhile enough for you. Plus you most likely will find out if there are any obstacles or unpleasant surprises making it difficult or impossible to take the shot you had in mind. No surprises for you if you prepared yourself using the tips above!
Tip number three: The Photographer's Ephemeris
Every photographer knows this, or should know it. Scott Kelby told me. ;-) There's only two periods in a day you can take shots that make a difference: at dusk and at dawn. No really!
Well, at home you can probably 'dream' where exactly the sun is coming up (east, right? hehe) and where it goes down (west - just a wild guess), which buildings it hits from that specific angle, where it sinks in the sea or where to find that nice view/spot at dusk/dawn. Now you're going to visit a different city you don't know *that* well. You know about the east and west thing and all that, but it won't be enough to be at the right spot at the right time at dusk or dawn! *Panic!*
Where's the sun going down while facing your object of photographic desire? Where's the moon? Do you want to plan a city trip with full moon? You want to prepare an evening or night session but want to know if it's in your view from *that* specific spot? Now what!?
Here comes the rather excellent Photographer's Ephemeris in handy! This little program is free for PC and Mac, and you will find it here. You pay for the iPhone/iPad/Android versions, but they're well worth it, especially the iPad edition.
You simply pick your spot (wherever!) and the date (of your future visit for example) and you'll get all the info on the whereabouts of the sun (dusk, dawn and everything in between) percentage and position of the moon, everything you'd like to know beforehand about the perfect light conditions.
Excellent stuff! That's the third and final tip, an awesome tool to plan your perfect city trip.
I also recommend Star Walk for iPhone by the way, an excellent app! Tells you everything about sunrise/sunset, the moon and all that. It's not free, but worth the money!
Summing it up and some extra tips
Free inspiration through Flickr, no more time wasting on location finding your way towards your favourite spots, and no surprises finding out the sun is out of range when you thought of catching a brilliant sunset over that stunning city view.
That being said, it's also a pretty smart idea to keep an eye on the weather conditions at all times - huge chance the unpredictable weather's going to be the biggest spoiler of your perfectly planned trip - especially going to the UK - but hey, that's life!
Even when the weather is not really cooperative you should always try to get the most out of your visit, so go out and try some rain shots or even better - when there's plenty of dark clouds floating by - bring your tripod and ND filters to create stunning Long Exposures!
I wish all of you out there a lot of fun with these hints and tips - if you already didn't use them - and happy shooting! Keep looking for that perfect angle, treat it with your personal touch!
My English is not perfect but I hope you can 'catch my drift'! :-)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
View Large [press L] and/or use the arrows on your keyboard to Flick through my images. Ta!
Contact me here | Follow me Zzapback on Twitter
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Taken on May 7, 2010 at 7.31pm CEST
Exif data
Camera Nikon D90
Exposure 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture f/9.0
Focal Length 18 mm (Nikon 18-200mm VRII)
ISO Speed 200
How to prepare your city trip? Hints and tips / O2 - Canary Wharf - London
Large on black or at 1600 x 600 pixel (fake pano) if you wish.
Brought my D700 to the cleaners, plus quite busy and a bit tired of Flickr - happens sometimes - but I'll be back and catching up! In the meantime...
About this shot
The shot above is almost two years old and actually only a 'vehicle' for some hints and tips I want to share with you for when you're preparing a (city) trip.
I took this shot with my (old and now sold) D90 + Nikon 18-200mm VRII travel lens, shooting from the back of the deck of a speedy moving river bus. It's fantastic travelling by boat in and around London! Glad I wasn't in the rowing boat though. :)
Preparing your city trip
In the 20th century (remember?) when you were sort of planning your trip, you went to a library or bookstore and got yourself a couple of books and/or travelguides from the place you we're going to visit. That's kinda old skool now.
Here's three simple tips to help you out planning your trip, picking spots with dusk/dawn in mind, and how to get inspired - all in 21st century stylee!
Tip number one: Let Flickr be your inspiration
Unless you're preparing a city trip to Atlantis (*blub, blub*), you'll find out that plenty of other excellent photographers have been visiting and shooting your destination. Take advantage of their efforts by browsing through their images, and learn from their spots and angles. You'll see the stuff that's been shot to death, so maybe you want to avoid these. Most likely though the work of others will inspire you to go out there shooting and give it your own 'personal touch/twist'.
I use Flickr search to get an idea about the possibilities of a certain location. It's a good idea to use more than one search keyword. So instead of using 'London' (for example), use 'London Thames barrier' or even better 'London Thames barrier night' to narrow down more specific results.
My personal tip is to use the filter 'Recent' on your search results. This way you'll find out the famous object you were planning to shoot is being renovated, surrounded by scaffolding - saving you the time and effort of going there all excited and end up sobbing.
An example: London Thames Barrier - Recent.
It's also a good idea to check out websites of a special spot you prepare to visit. For example: This way I found out the St. Paul (London) was being renovated and the excellent view over London you can get there is closed in March/April. I'd rather be dissapointed in advance than finding out about this after standing in a cue for 10 minutes or something.
Sometimes you're curious from what spot a photograph is taken, because you like that angle very much. Unfortunately not a lot of Flickr folks add maps to their images. Maybe to avoid that other people will 'copy' their angles? Tsk, tsk. We will find out anyhow! This brings us to my second tip...
Tip number two: Google Earth / Streetview
You'd like to explore the locations you're planning to visit beforehand? That's possible with (for example) the help of a couple of Google web applications.
Google Earth A useful download, especially with 3D elements.
Google Streetview Limited, but nonetheless useful.
While Google Streetview is very useful - it gives an excellent idea of 'being there' while you're still in front of your computer - it's rather limited because in the end it's only what it is: 'street view'. What does your photographic object look like from a boat in the middle of a river? What's a nice angle from that pedestrian bridge? How's the view from that hill? You can only find out with Google Earth. Pinpoint your location and you can check it out from any given angle. Together with the first tip (using Flickr search results) you'll get a pretty good idea if a location is promising and worthwhile enough for you. Plus you most likely will find out if there are any obstacles or unpleasant surprises making it difficult or impossible to take the shot you had in mind. No surprises for you if you prepared yourself using the tips above!
Tip number three: The Photographer's Ephemeris
Every photographer knows this, or should know it. Scott Kelby told me. ;-) There's only two periods in a day you can take shots that make a difference: at dusk and at dawn. No really!
Well, at home you can probably 'dream' where exactly the sun is coming up (east, right? hehe) and where it goes down (west - just a wild guess), which buildings it hits from that specific angle, where it sinks in the sea or where to find that nice view/spot at dusk/dawn. Now you're going to visit a different city you don't know *that* well. You know about the east and west thing and all that, but it won't be enough to be at the right spot at the right time at dusk or dawn! *Panic!*
Where's the sun going down while facing your object of photographic desire? Where's the moon? Do you want to plan a city trip with full moon? You want to prepare an evening or night session but want to know if it's in your view from *that* specific spot? Now what!?
Here comes the rather excellent Photographer's Ephemeris in handy! This little program is free for PC and Mac, and you will find it here. You pay for the iPhone/iPad/Android versions, but they're well worth it, especially the iPad edition.
You simply pick your spot (wherever!) and the date (of your future visit for example) and you'll get all the info on the whereabouts of the sun (dusk, dawn and everything in between) percentage and position of the moon, everything you'd like to know beforehand about the perfect light conditions.
Excellent stuff! That's the third and final tip, an awesome tool to plan your perfect city trip.
I also recommend Star Walk for iPhone by the way, an excellent app! Tells you everything about sunrise/sunset, the moon and all that. It's not free, but worth the money!
Summing it up and some extra tips
Free inspiration through Flickr, no more time wasting on location finding your way towards your favourite spots, and no surprises finding out the sun is out of range when you thought of catching a brilliant sunset over that stunning city view.
That being said, it's also a pretty smart idea to keep an eye on the weather conditions at all times - huge chance the unpredictable weather's going to be the biggest spoiler of your perfectly planned trip - especially going to the UK - but hey, that's life!
Even when the weather is not really cooperative you should always try to get the most out of your visit, so go out and try some rain shots or even better - when there's plenty of dark clouds floating by - bring your tripod and ND filters to create stunning Long Exposures!
I wish all of you out there a lot of fun with these hints and tips - if you already didn't use them - and happy shooting! Keep looking for that perfect angle, treat it with your personal touch!
My English is not perfect but I hope you can 'catch my drift'! :-)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
View Large [press L] and/or use the arrows on your keyboard to Flick through my images. Ta!
Contact me here | Follow me Zzapback on Twitter
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Taken on May 7, 2010 at 7.31pm CEST
Exif data
Camera Nikon D90
Exposure 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture f/9.0
Focal Length 18 mm (Nikon 18-200mm VRII)
ISO Speed 200