Time of Day

I'm beginning to catch up with posting here my pictures taken for the exercises set in my BTEC photoclass. The brief for this one was "Time of Day", and was actually set, photographed and presented in class last October.

It was apparent during the discussion within the class when this assignment was set that one possible outcome - a photographic outcome at least - were photographs of the same place, building, whatever, taken at different different times of the day or night. For example, early morning, midday, afternoon and so. Different lighting, sun light from various directions.

I've had some experience of taking photographs to a theme in a special interest group of my local Photographic Society - it meets monthly and we're asked to bring in 2 photographs on a pre set theme which we all then comment upon. There can be a diverse interpretation of the theme set. So, thought maybe I'd try to do something a little different than the way the discussion was leading, and still perhaps meet the theme.

I haven't worn a wrist watch for several years. I actually have two - both with run down  batteries. There are enough clocks at home - my tuner,VCR, microwave, my PC - so I can see what the time is if I need to know. There's also one in my car and on my mobile phone. And additionally when I'm out and about there are plenty of clocks visible one to all in central London (Big Ben ....) Perhaps I use some of these clocks, at least photographically ?

Here is a (small) selection of my shoot... 

Look at the time in each photograph.

eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock, one o'clock

Passage of time, Time of Day even ?

Not sure if like the images, whatever about meeting the brief of the assignment. Sunny October day, the light was harsher then I'd  like for this time of year.  A few days previously, a different shoot, covering most the same ground, but more pleasing light - and photos - you can my post of it here !

Portfolio in Yellow

I've spent a little time in the last year or so wondering up and down the South Bank in London, sometimes with a camera, sometimes without. There are always exhibitions to visit in Tate Modern (apart from anything else the South Bank provides a convenient short cut from Waterloo) and it's usually full of people going about their activities. But the architecture is pretty drab, 1950's conrete - except for some of the stairwells. One has been painted bright yellow, another blue and a third red. I 've been photographing that yellow stairwell off and on over this time  ... and here is a selection ...

The bright yellow can look stunning against a blue sky, and if the light is right - from the side - the textures  are apparent.

Don't think any 2 of this selection was taken at the same time, and I've got many more. I'm beginning to think in terms of building up a portfolio - possibly in yellow - based around them. Will have to decide whether to include my images of the blue stairwell, or the red stairwell also ......

A Few More Exhibitions

I've visited a few more photographic exhibitions in central London in the last month or so - "Shadow Catchers: Camera-Less Photography" at the V&A, "Take a View" at the National Theatre and "World Press Photo 10" at the Royal Festival Hall. Ironically, of the 3 exhibitions visited, the one I enjoyed least was the only one for which  I had to pay an entry fee - albeit only £5 - which was "Shadow Catchers" exhibition at the V&A, It shows the work - of 5 contemporary photographers - photographic images made without the use of cameras. Good to see contemporary work - and one offs - but they seemed to be too abstract for my liking.

The other 2 exhibitions were both free. Free exhibitions are great for encourging  repeat visits which I had to make to properly view the "Take a View" landscape exhibition. Shame the first time around I was with people who were in a hurry on somewhere else. Their loss, not mine. Having said that, the second visit was almost as bad, as the exhibition space was crowded with a pre theatre audience. Once they'd gone into the performance, I could enjoy the pictures. Liked the large black and whites. Wondered how some of the photographs got into the exhibition - this is supposed to be a Landscape Exhibition , and whilst a section is classified as "Urban View", several of the selections seemed to be more reportage or documentary, or even portaiture.

World Press Photo 10 despite the "10" in the title, featured press photos from 2009. Seeing the exhibition in late 2010,  I had to rely on memory to put a context to the photographs, and if the photo was taken early in 2009 its almost 2 years ... in some cases this isnt a issue, in other cases it is. Good to see several sequences of photographs on show, as well as individual images.       

London Parade - 2011

This year - 2011 - the London New Year's Day Parade had it's 25th Anniversary. Whilst I've not been attending it that long - never mind photographing it - the time has a special significance for me because the parade has been around in London for almost as long as I have. Anyway, the overcast day which was January 1st and the threat of rain here in London didn't put me off bringing in my cameras and trying to get a few photos.
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Like last year the parade began in Piccadilly and wound it's way through central London,  finishing in Parliament Square some hours later - you can read my post (with some photos) of the 2010 event here. I like to go where the performers are setting up, and get in amongst them whilst they get ready for the parade itself and this year was no different for me - I headed for Berkeley Square and Berkeley Street. The first photograph below could almost pass as a self-portrait  (there are no prizes for spotting me !)

One advantage of using a digital camera (it took me quite some time to convert from film) was - on this occasion - was te ability to change ISO and keep shooting. I started the shoot at 200, and as the light became worse, changed to 400, ending on 800, as rain threatened.  

Didn't take as many photos as last time - about 150 rather than almost 400, but on an initial inspection some of them at least (well 1 or 2 maybe) look promising, whilst others are distinctly soft. Perhaps I should have tried 400 or 800 from the start, or brought a flashgun as many of the other photographers who were around at the time. Perhaps I will next time, and maybe I'll try photographing the end of the parade then, not the start ....