Less obvious subjects in London

[iMacfan]

Hello everyone,

I don't know if any of you remember me - I used to post fairly often about six months ago but have tailed off recently. To be honest, so has my photography, but I'm determined to change this.

So, I'd like to go and take some pics this weekend, here in London where I live. I've been here for about 4 years now, so have done most of the main sites, e.g. the Houses of parliament, Tate modern etc. So, do any of you have any ideas where I could go and get rich pickings, even if the weather is so-so?

Thanks for any help,

David

 

[RML]

Welcome back, David!

How about your backyard? No kidding! Perhaps you don't have a garden than at least roam the neighbourhood. The local fish-n-chips, the local park, the local pub, all make good shooting grounds.

 

[Paul T.]

I think Brick Lane on Sunday morning is a great location. Interesting-looking people, bolshy market-traders, shabby buildings. Round the corner at spitalfieds is classic early georgian architecture.
A couple of days ago I was at Stoke Newington High St, and it seemed to have the energy of brixton a decade ago. Very vibrant, multiracial community, fascinating ethnic shops - definitely one for colour, I think.

 

[vincentbenoit]

So, do any of you have any ideas where I could go and get rich pickings, even if the weather is so-so?

Well, if you're a bit adventurous I would suggest you follow the Thames Path from the Cutty Sark in Greenwich to the Millenium Dome. Plenty of opportunities for gritty, moody urban imagery there - disused factories, wrecked boats, outcast people, construction works... I was there only last Saturday, shot a few rolls of Tri-X (exposed at 1600 iso for grain), can't wait to develop the negs. Another part of London I like to photograph on grainy B&W film is the Docklands, especially on rainy days.
Cheers
Vincent

 

[peter_n]

Well, this is another obvious one, but have you tried Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park yet? The place is crawling with photogs but there is a reason why. There used to be a bloke over in the Leica forum on PN and it seemed most of his pics were taken at Speaker's Corner, he went there every weekend. His pics were good too.

 

[principe azul]

Those great Victorian cemeteries

Some, like the great Highgate Cemetery, have a new part which is free to get into, and an older, more photogenic part which you have to book to get into. I don't know what the photo ops are like on a guided tour, but I'd like to go some day.

 

[iMacfan]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions: I like the idea of the Thames path - does anyone know if I can cycle down it, and just to check that it is safe enough?

Thanks,

David

 

[aizan]

write a list of everything a tourist would photograph, then avoid them. 😀

 

[nksyoon]

Here are some photos from Highgate Cemetery (non-RF AND digital!!!) taken in the public section:

Highgate Cemetery


Cheers,
Nick

 

[vincentbenoit]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions: I like the idea of the Thames path - does anyone know if I can cycle down it, and just to check that it is safe enough?

David,
Yes, you can easily cycle down that part of the Thames path. The area certainly looks dodgy, but I don't think it's particularly unsafe during daytime. I wouldn't hang around there at night, though. 😉
Cheers
Vincent

 

[Paula]

Hi David,

I'd second all the suggestions above and encourage you to get a bus pass and hop on and off buses to explore the unknown - that's what's so fantastic about London. And as an East Londoner myself I'd recommend heading east. E.g. Brick Lane area, Spitalfields Market and catch the new developments vs. the old georgian buildings, then wander over to Columbia Road flower market on a Sunday...

And if it's cycling you want then there is a river route you can do from the thames heading north up the Limehouse Cut which meets the River Lee and along towards Temple Mills, up towards Leyton then Walthamstow Marshes...and beyond it's fantastically diverse because you have the posh river side apartments with the dingy industrial warehouses and then the wild expanses of the marshes at Walthamstow (which is part of the Lee Valley Park -
http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk) All of the route is along the river (except a little bit where you have to cross a road nr Temple Mills)

And for more on cycling around London see www.lcc.org.uk

Hope that's useful- let us know where you end up and if you spot any good locations do share (though I don't do South-of-the-River mate!)

Paula

 

[iMacfan]

Dear everyone,

Thanks once again for all the suggestions - the Thames path east of Greenwich won! It really is a wonderful mix of river views, the defunct Dome and maritime and industrial detritus. A cycle of about 40 miles return did leave me feeling totally knackered and a bit guilty that I haven't made it to church this morning.

As for photography, I actually didn't take a real rangefinder, but I think I can be forgiven as I used a Bessa L with a CV 21/4 and a Ricoh GR1v, but as this has a 28mm lens, I was sometimes left wanting a normal or tele. As its so long since I'd done any photography at all, a modest 40 or so frames were taken, and only one film is ready for development, so don't hold your breath for any stunning pics yet. I'll be sure to post any decent ones to this thread when I have the chance.

Thanks,

David