First trip to London, the results

[mich8261]

a few months ago, I asked for some recommendations ahead of a trip to London. Now three months later (quick turnaround for me!) I would like to thanks those who provided information on where to go, where to eat, etc. I particularly enjoyed my excursion to Hempstead. The Holly Bush Pub was great. Everyone I spoke to seems to know this place. I am a Newyorker, so I am used to a lot of walking. I thought London was a great city to walk around in, with the added challenge of not being laid out in a grid; it made for some unexpected discoveries (i.e. getting lost). I spent a lot of time just walking around Kensington (where my hotel was) and near the British Museum. Aperture coffee and camera shop was great. Such a wonderful concept.

I loved the subway. So easy to get around such a large city. Several people told me of how unreliable it can be, but in my short stay that wasn't so. Beware of the stairs at the Covent Garden Station - there are 195 steps! And beware that it stops running at about 12:30! Figuring out the routes and times of the overnight buses is a little challenging.

I'll post some pictures below, and I hope to receive some feedback on them. Here's what I learned from this trip. This was the first of two trips where I only traveled with film and rangefinder cameras (M2 and Olympus XA), the goal being to push myself beyond the dSLR with zooms and focus on composition and photojournalism style. My comfort area is landscape photography. First thing I'll say is that I produced far fewer pictures than I thought I would (I shot three rolls; I had brought 10 or 12!) I am absolutely not comfortable shooting people I don't know. I have only three real people shots, two for which I asked if I could take the picture after chatting with the individuals and one kind of from behind. Still, I am happy with the results and enjoyed the trip.

I'll post some of my favourites in a subsequent post. In the mean time this is my Flickr London set and slideshow of the same.

 

[kully]

I'm glad you had a good time Mich.

The good thing about London is (once you get your bearings) that it is quite compact (central London anyway) - Covent Garden to Kensington is just a 30-40 minute walk.

 

[Gumby]

Covent Garden to Kensington is just a 30-40 minute walk.

You must have a longer stride than do I!

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Hello Michel,
I think that you should be delighted with these pictures,they are grand.I really enjoy your 'geometric' view of many of the subjects.I tend to see things in the same way,but I doubt that I could have captured the images so well.
Cheers,
Brian.

 

[kully]

🙂 Ok, 30 minutes is too much, but I've done it in 40 minutes when the tube was down and a job interview depending on it!

 

[NathanJD]

A great set Michel, definately one to be very proud of! it looks like you really enjoyed your trip and used your time here in the UK well. i agree with the geometric comment 🙂

 

[brainwood]

Michael
Nice set of photos on London. I like your geometric take on the city and the use of some london icons is good to - the tube, the red phone box. The old Red Morris Minor van is a rare site even to londoners these days though it certainly brought back memories of the one I used to own.
Its also great to see a city I work in through some unfamiliar eyes and I find your take on it interesting.
Sounds like you had an enjoyable time though your brush with John Malkovic's brother could well have been a lucky escape ??

Chris

 

[Gumby]

I long for another visit to London also! Nice shots.

 

[victoriapio]

Very nice indeed

 

[OurManInTangier]

I really like the shot through the various entrances, really nicely composed.

Did you venture further afield from London in the end, I know you had plenty of suggestions for places like Oxford, Cambridge etc etc - not easy when its your first time somewhere and that time is relatively short.

Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip, thats the most important part!

 

[mich8261]

Simon, I really only had less than 72 hours to myself (before reporting to work) so I stayed close to central London. Hampstead is the furthest I went. I tried not to spread myself too thin and not go for the out and out touristy spots, so much so that when my client arrived on Monday and met me near Westminster Abbey she rattled off all the classics asking if I'd been and when I responded with a series of "no" she asked me what the hell I'd been doing.

 

[OurManInTangier]

Probably a smart move Michel, beyond the usual sights there is so much to do and see that you could spend a month or more there and not get bored or run out of photo opps.

 

[urban_alchemist]

Really glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself - and that you made it up to Hampstead! I've been living in the Middle East for five years now, and am desparately homesick. Next month, though, I'm moving back to Hampstead which means the Hollybush is my local once again! Happy days!

Lovely photos - especially like "John Malkovich's Brother". His story sounds a bit far fetched, although stranger things have happened 'up' there: the number of actors, writers, musicians, artists, directors etc that call it home is staggering...

 

[boy_lah]

Glad you had a good trip. I notice you didn't get that many 'old' London as you had hoped?

 

[zuikologist]

Nice work. A lot of familiar places in your shots. I am glad you enjoyed it. I wish I recorded my own London view of London so well!

 

[mich8261]

Urban,

I don't know if you saw my brief write up in the original thread about Tayyabs, but just in case. It was one of the restaurants you graciously recommended and actually highlighted as being friendly for a party of one. First, I have to say I had a great meal which required many napkins to dry my forehead. Back to the party of one... it seems that Tayyabs is now New Tayyabs with a new address just down the block from the old. When I arrived there was a huge line of people waiting for tables. The line moved pretty quickly until I was the second from the front. The maître d' came by and collected the three parties at the front, a couple in front of me, two guys behind me and me. He then proceeded to sit the 5 of us at a table for 6 with me in the middle! It could have been ackward, but I didn't care. I was there for the food.

And re: Malkovich's brother, there's no way. Perhaps you will make his acquaintance when you return home 😀.

Really glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself - and that you made it up to Hampstead! I've been living in the Middle East for five years now, and am desparately homesick. Next month, though, I'm moving back to Hampstead which means the Hollybush is my local once again! Happy days!

Lovely photos - especially like "John Malkovich's Brother". His story sounds a bit far fetched, although stranger things have happened 'up' there: the number of actors, writers, musicians, artists, directors etc that call it home is staggering...

 

[35mmdelux]

I like London more than I thought I would. Had to get used to the accent, but once I got over that bump the rest was easy. I hope to return soon. BTW, the bullet train to Paris is pretty groovy too.

 

[MPerson]

Glad you enjoyed your visit and I like your view of my town. Pity I missed your original post as this would have given you some fun"

Walk London

 

[mich8261]

Glad you enjoyed your visit and I like your view of my town. Pity I missed your original post as this would have given you some fun"

Walk London

Pity indeed. That's a cool site.

 

[urban_alchemist]

Wow - I'm so sorry to hear that about Tayyebs! I've been there alone quite a few times and although I had to wait, always found myself at a table for one! I really hope the food made up for the awkwardness (and thank god no meal takes more than half an hour)....

I'll keep an eye out for John Malkovich's brother. Never seen him before, but with the amount of time I've been away (visiting far too infrequently), I'm sure a lot of new faces have sprung up the neighbourhood (not that we were ever short of 'eccentrics')...

Urban,

I don't know if you saw my brief write up in the original thread about Tayyabs, but just in case. It was one of the restaurants you graciously recommended and actually highlighted as being friendly for a party of one. First, I have to say I had a great meal which required many napkins to dry my forehead. Back to the party of one... it seems that Tayyabs is now New Tayyabs with a new address just down the block from the old. When I arrived there was a huge line of people waiting for tables. The line moved pretty quickly until I was the second from the front. The maître d' came by and collected the three parties at the front, a couple in front of me, two guys behind me and me. He then proceeded to sit the 5 of us at a table for 6 with me in the middle! It could have been ackward, but I didn't care. I was there for the food.

And re: Malkovich's brother, there's no way. Perhaps you will make his acquaintance when you return home 😀.