Shardish
Taken in March 2016 below The Shard near London Bridge in London
Taken in March 2016 below The Shard near London Bridge in London
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Aug, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo near London Bridge Train Station near the base of the Shard. Having embarked on the recovery pathway with photography, I was very much the beginner photographer. At that time, as a sort of mini project, I had decided to wander through London with the intention of capturing all its glorious, architectural uniqueness.Time
I am not exactly sure but I think it may have been in the afternoon. I remember it was a bitterly cold day and the sky was an unrelenting blue steel colour.Lighting
I recall the sky was a sort of an unrelenting blue steel colour peppered with occasional daubs of brightness. This seemed to contrast nicely with the darker, more foreboding blue steel of the Shard itself.Equipment
It was one of those occasions where I was photographing instinctively and spontaneously so, in this case, I used my iPhone 6 which had, as I understand it, a Zeiss lens comprising a focal length of 4.15mm. I believe the F number was F2/2.Inspiration
The Shard is an extraordinary structure. When you stand at the base, you cannot be affected by the scale of its awesome grandeur and how it reaches for the sky itself. Some may find it daunting but I found it to have a majestic quality which inspired me to capture it.Editing
Oh yes! I was endeavouring to make inroads around expanding my knowledge in photography. I realised, specifically regarding post processing, I was playing it safe “creatively”. So, I challenged myself and, being on a budget, installed some open source photographic software called GIMP. It has a variety of excellent features including a series of special effects with which I experimented. I believe I applied the “distortion” effect to the picture in order to give it’s “wobble” hence the title, “Shardish”.In my camera bag
I normally carry my trusty canon eos 1000D plus the usual peripherals like batteries, memory cards, cables, a notepad and a tripod as well as some additional lenses for the canon camera (70-300mm) as well as for the iPhone (fisheye & wide). The legendary baguette was confiscated by some men in hazmat suits so a second hand light gun has taken its place.Feedback
It’s important to be in the “present” and that does require a degree of mindfulness. I say this because it is easy to walk past the extraordinary which is hiding in plain sight. I have found being present makes you aware of your surroundings, more attentive to detail and the very beautiful minutiae of life that is unfolding around you. Seeing the world through this prism makes the act of photography truly a search for and, discovery of unexpected treasure. Don’t worry too much about the kit, if your mind is right, your creativity and inspiration will always shine through.
