A Free Afternoon... (Comments Appreciated)

I

iMacfan

Established
Local time
3:34 PM
Joined
Apr 4, 2004
Messages
156
Location
London, UK
View My Gallery
Hi everyone,

I've found this forum over the past few months to be very entertaining and helpful. However, the one thing I do very little of is actually shooting any film, which I hope to change. I'm a student, and have just finished some exams. So, last week, when I was at screaming point with revision (I have a low threshold for these things), I took out my R3a and Bessa L with 50mm Summicron and VC 21/4 respectively round London and ended up at the Tate Modern. For those of you who haven't been to London, it's a massive modern art gallery on the south bank of the Thames, in what used to be the Bankside Power station.

Here are a few snaps taken around the place. I'm new to film scanning and this is only the second roll from the Summicron, so I'd appreciate any comments, especially because of the immense quality of much of the work in the galleries. I'm not sure what you all think of the scans, but from the enprints, this lens is sharp enough to be an offensive weapon. I just can't believe that it's 35 years old! I've still a few shots left of the XP-2 from the L, so that'll be coming in a few days.

David
 
Another couple of shots. I do want to ask a couple of questions. What do people think of the bokeh in the blue pic? It's because I'm not so fond of it here, and from what I've seen, it seems to be dictated more by the subject than the lens, but people keep on about the bokeh of different lenses. Also, the shot of the chimney looks a bit blurred. As I've seen how good the lens is closer up, I'd think that this is just haze in the city as opposed to any equipment problem - would you think so?

Thanks for any comments,

David
 
imacfan,
Great shots, I like them, esp. the one with the drab looking building contrasted by the bright colors of blue.
The bokeh shot, it looks like your softness might have been vandalized by your scanner, happens to alot of mine. The 50 'cron has great bokeh the closer you get to your subject, try it close up on a portrait wide open at f2-f4 and youll see what I mean. If you are shooting XP2 and the 50 'cron, have your lab scan it on disc and you'll see what I mean. Welcome to film!

Todd
 
Good work! I esp like the Steps photo. The chimney shot looks pretty sharp in the foreground, maybe you focused closer than you intended? I do like it though the chimney is a bit soft. If you were at infinity then perhaps it is the haze in London.
Rob
 
The second nightshot is special.

I tried to get satisfiying images of the tate for several times now but still haven't found the right angles, the thing is big. Will be back in London in four weeks I hope.
 
Thanks everyone for the kind remarks. The night shots are actually inside the great turbine hall, used for big special installations. Currently, it's pretty bare as the installation is a sound one from Bruce Nauman. I'm often impressed with his work, but this time I kept my iPod on! These giant light boxes surround the windows for the different levels of galleries which look out on the great hall.

On the subject of the hazy distance shots I include a final colour shot, definitely focused to infinity. It's from the CD from the processors, so is pretty grainy, but I think it shows that it's haze/smog instead of the lens, but what do the more experienced members of the forum think?

Thanks,

David
 
I like very much the combination of simple architectural detalis with the blue wall and those color notes, and congrats on finishing your exams ! I know that feeling 🙂 Keep them coming ! (the pics, not the exams...)
 
oh man i want to go back to london now... yer lucky to be there 🙂

i like the blue shot with the window above, and the tate modern shot.

do they still have the mirror outhouse near the tate modern? I looked for it when I went but couldn't find it. I was there about a year ago. plus that sunrise mirror thing that was there right when you walked in was awesome!

here's a pic from my trip... this was by the king albert statue near hyde park? ( i think )

33795243.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom