Tower of London's Blue Doors
Jul, 2016Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in the courtyard of The Tower of London. I had thought a lot about what I wanted to shoot that day; the tower, the crown jewels (which is not permitted), the royal guards, etc. I was not anticipating the electric blue doors in the courtyard, which turned out to be my favorite shot of the whole trip to London.Time
This was taken mid-morning. We wanted to get to the tower when it first opened, it is after all an attraction in London. There was no line to buy tickets and we had some time to kill, so my sister and I shared a basket of chips for breakfast. My mother wasn't thrilled.Lighting
I actually walked by the exact spot where I shot this earlier that morning. The walls of the tower are so high that the sun didn't begin to light up the courtyard until mid-morning. We went and saw the royal guard, did the crown jewels exhibit (highly recommended), by that time the sun was up and the shot was ready.Equipment
This was shot on a Nikon D5500, 18-55mm lens. No tripod.Inspiration
This site, in particular, I really wanted to get a couple great shots. Every where we visited in London has centuries of history, but the Tower of London is so iconic, so British. I had some particular ideas of what I was going to shoot. I always try to do whatever research I can before I know I'm going to be shooting a new spot. These doors were a surprise to say the least. London is not exactly known for vibrant colors, so I felt I needed to capture it.Editing
This photo required minimal post-processing. I used a simple sharpening and de-haze tool. I emphasized only the blue, which was a hard choice. The grass in the foreground was perfectly manicured and a vibrant green, almost like a fairway. The emphasis on the blue cause some minor shading in the brick to come through blue. A simple clone stamp corrected it and the image was ready.In my camera bag
I like to keep it simple. I carry a Nikon D5500, stock 18-55mm lens, sometimes a tripod, and an extra battery and memory card. And water.Feedback
Don't be distracted by preconceived intentions. The best shots come together organically. Take the time to look around and be ready when opportunity presents itself.
