A bit of food and the last chance saloon...

I was out in town today, doing some shopping taking a few photos when I could and resting in between to get some food and rest.

We happened across a nice Greek restaurant/bar called Ergon where I chose to have a (fantastic) omelette and fries, as below.

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/2, 1/125s, ISO100

A few shops later we needed another break.
It looked like this guy needed a break too.

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/2, 1/100s, ISO100

Beach huts and a captain

When it comes to the British coastline, I don't expect white, sandy beaches but instead look forward to colourful beach huts.

I've seen them in West Wittering and more recently in Whitstable.
This was one of the first outings where I felt more at home with the 20mm f/3.5 AIS Nikon lens. Although I love wide-angles, perhaps I'm more used to the ultra-wide 14mm or the not-so-wide 24mm...and so it took a while for me to become accustomed to the middle-of-the-pack 20mm.

Nikon Df, 20mm, f/5.6, 1/640s, ISO50

Nikon Df, 20mm, f/5.6 1/320s, ISO50

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/3.2, 1/1250s, ISO50

Around the East End

I joined another MeetUp group based on a Jack the Ripper theme last weekend and again, it was fun to be out there with other photographers.

The Df definitely helps to be more discreet, as the shutter noise is much quieter than on the D700.

Nikon Df, 20mm, f/3.5, 1/60s, ISO100

Nikon Df, 20mm, f/3.5, 1/320s, ISO100

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/2.2, 1/2000s, ISO100

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/2.2, 1/400s, ISO100

Nikon Df, 50mm,, f/2.0, 1/800s, ISO100

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/2.5, 1/100s, ISO100

A photo meetup

A few weeks ago, I was struck by the realisation that I enjoy being busy at work. It gives me a purpose. When I'm not occupied, I become frustrated an edgy. You don't want to be around me when I'm like that.
However when I'm busy at work...you've guess it, I'm not taking photos!
So I decided that the cure might be to try joining some photo meetups...and so I did.

As I had already planned to be out on the Friday night, my final decision to attend (on Saturday) was very last minute.
I was also unsure whether the combination of the night before and a problematic weekend Jubilee line service might stifle my feeble efforts to get anywhere.
So I applied, waited for the email with instructions, then met the bunch at Tate Modern.
Our "guide" was Zara...and she gave us assignments! I was right at home.

We had four.

1. Isolating one or two people in/around the Tate Modern.
2. Taking photos of people without showing their faces.
3. Using the continuous shooting modes to vertically "pan" the camera in an effort to capture a candid.
4. Using the escalator to snap away at other upwardly/downwardly mobile people.

I think I passed on 2 out of 3, although I got a bit lost with 3, which I found difficult and unnecessary.

It was also refreshing to have tasks/projects, as well as other like-minded people doing similar things.

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/2.0, 1/500s, ISO100

As one of the group pointed out, the first one is an "interesting" (I read "different) composition.

It's not what I might do usually but I was limited by the desire to stay dry as well as the hope of not being spotted.

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/2.8, 1/50s, ISO320

In this photo I was attracted by the girl's bronze hair.

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/2.8, 1/320s

These days photographers (even those I was with) seem to be reluctant taking photos of kids. I generally agree that I wouldn't take many photos up close...but at a distance?

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/2.0, 1/500s

Contemplation.

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/3.2, 1/160s, ISO2800

Caught out.

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/1.8, 1/160s

Reflection.

A brief reunion with friends

On Saturday, I met with Cristian and Tom after a long while.
Cristian is in the middle of his RTW trip whilst Tom is about to depart on his holidays. Briefly the sun and moon aligned and we were able to meet :-)

So we started off at our usual meeting point - the Camera Cafe. Getting through a few coffees and camera conversation, before heading for a walkabout armed with 2 Ricoh GRs and a Nikon Df.

Although the Df is (for the moment) my perfect camera, it still gets some ridicule from smaller-camera aficionados. I can fit it into a small messenger bag together with a 50mm and a spare lens. What more is needed?!
Granted the Sony RX1 and A7R are smaller but the Df is small and light for a full frame camera.

Anyway...

The first photo is an almost OOC jpeg. I wanted to show how a slightly underexposed RAW can still rescue shadows that can't easily be done from the jpeg (which I haven't really shown here).

Here I was trying out my recent eBay acquisition: a Nikon 20mm f/3.5 AI-S.

Nikon Df, 20mm, f/3.5, 1/400s, ISO100 (OOC jpeg resized in Photoshop)

Strictly speaking, I don't know if this would have been an OOC jpeg if I had selected both RAW + jpeg. Since I wanted to show what the jpeg would have looked like, I created a jpeg file from the RAW in-camera.

Below is a RAW where I've brought some shadow detail (Tom) back into the photo. I've also added a touch of exposure to Cristian's face. It may not look as natural but I wanted to show some of the detail still available in the RAW.

Nikon Df, 20mm, f/3.5, 1/400s, ISO100 (RAW)

We also passed the Southbank. Although I could have attempted an action shot, I was somehow more compelled to take a photo of this kid, waiting for his turn.

Nikon Df, 50mm f/1.8, 1/50s, ISO160 (RAW)

I was challenged to use my Df for some street photography, so here was one of my better results. For some reason I'm lately a little bolder than I used to be. Although I try to respect people's desire for privacy, ultimately it's "them against me" and if people have an issue with their photo being taken, I don't see why they can't come to discuss it.

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/1.8, 1/125s, ISO100 (RAW)

Having said that, I'm not sure I'd like to be a passenger on one of his buses.
I only got one shot off before he moved away. Luckily the Df managed to focus and I was able to get an interesting photo.

We then had a nice lunch at a pub before walking about some more, finally settling at the Mulberry Bush for a few drinks.

Nikon Df, 50mm, f/1.8, 1/50s, ISO2800 (RAW)

After the zombie apocalypse...

Well, that's how I imagined this place.
In reality it was a closed-off section of an outdoor venue that I could stick my camera through to grab a slightly unusual photo.

I'm yet to find the calm, creative mood on work days. I seem to have 2 modes: work and non-work.

The work mode seems to make me reasonably efficient but uncreative. The non-work mode leaves me quite lazy and unproductive but creative.

Anyway...I endeavour to continue to keep persisting ;-)

Tommi's Bar: Nikon Df, 24mm, f/1.6, 1/250s, ISO100

A Black and White day

Yesterday (Saturday), I went to Bethnal Green (again) to see more of the area. It's definitely still an up-and-coming place...a bit rough around the edges with corners, bridge underpasses and alleyways that you don't want to hang around too late after sunset - well at least not when I'm about with my see-in-the-dark Df...

It leads somewhere: Nikon Df, 24mm, f4.5, 1/160s, ISO100

Behind the Tree: Nikon Df, 24mm, f/2.0, 1/800s, ISO100