NikonGear'23

Travelogues => Travel Diaries => Topic started by: armando_m on September 08, 2015, 10:36:56

Title: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 08, 2015, 10:36:56
I'm on business in the UK until sep 25 ...

I'll be sharing images here

Winchester UK
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Frank Fremerey on September 08, 2015, 10:48:41
If you see some pipe organs. Please. You have such a great feel for light and colours. These might be great
additions to our Organ Collection.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 08, 2015, 11:33:51
If you see some pipe organs. Please. You have such a great feel for light and colours. These might be great
additions to our Organ Collection.
Thank you Frank,

The cathedral has an organ, when I saw it , after 24 hr of traveling I only had my mobile phone , at the time I went back with my camera access was not allowed as a service was been held, but had the chance to enjoy the sound of the organ and a chorus
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Anthony on September 08, 2015, 11:57:15
Thanks for posting, Armando, it is always interesting to see one's own country through the eyes of a visitor.

I hope you can get to London and that we can meet up.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Frank Fremerey on September 08, 2015, 13:07:58
PS: I love the huge Dart Board in 4833!
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 08, 2015, 14:16:00
PS: I love the huge Dart Board in 4833!
Frank
that dart board is supposed to be King Arthur's round table , there are signs indicating this a replica
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 08, 2015, 14:17:22
Thanks for posting, Armando, it is always interesting to see one's own country through the eyes of a visitor.

I hope you can get to London and that we can meet up.
Anthony,
I'm definitively planning to go to London and do some shooting, I'm still trying to sort out if it will be this weekend or the next one.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Akira on September 08, 2015, 15:01:16
Armando, I like the last river scenery which reminds me of some Vermeer.

PS: I love the huge Dart Board in 4833!

Frank, if you are planning to go to heaven when the day comes, you'd better refrain from throwing darts to this particular targed.  (oh, I miss that wicked devil emoticon!)
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Frank Fremerey on September 08, 2015, 16:11:22
King Arthur was no saint...

But I would not throw the dart out of an art historian conservationist motivation.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 09, 2015, 01:29:48
Winchester college, tour by an exalumni, free, instead of the advertised 7GBP / Person  :)

place looks like a scene from the harry potter's movies

Afterwards we had dinner at an old pub and tried Horndean Special Bitter for the first time
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Akira on September 09, 2015, 03:13:10
The old pub looks well worth visiting!

Is the corridor pano?
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Akira on September 09, 2015, 03:14:32
King Arthur was no saint...

But I would not throw the dart out of an art historian conservationist motivation.

That would be advisable.  You wouldn't like to be discussed at the round table.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 09, 2015, 15:19:02
The old pub looks well worth visiting!

Is the corridor pano?
Akira, yes a pano of only 2 shots, so I stitched  it by hand , rather than doing it automatically which did a terrible job
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Akira on September 09, 2015, 18:20:06
By hand?  Wow, that's awesome...
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 10, 2015, 01:19:18
old window
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-HMWC4pz/0/O/_DSC4815.jpg)

more from the old pub
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-vZQktp5/0/O/_DSC4938.jpg)

(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-3QdJQTK/0/O/_DSC4937.jpg)

No shooting today, while on my way to a shooting location I was quite happy about how the light was looking, the traffic suddenly stopped with my car still having a few meters to spare, but the car behind me ended smashing on my rear bumper, no injuries to anyone which was surprising considering we stopped from 70mph, just a bunch of glass and antifreeze on the pavement a smashed bonnet and a very upset driver, the police was very helpful, I drove my car to the hotel, stopped at the bar for a glass of whiskey and called the rental company.

Tomorrow will be another day
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Anthony on September 10, 2015, 12:32:35
Sorry about the car incident, what a nasty shock.  This is definitely the fault of the driver behind you for following too close to be able to stop in time.

The car hire company may insist that you pay the amount not covered by the Loss Damage Waiver.  You would have the option to claim this under any policy you have which covers this, or to take action to recover this amount from the guilty driver or his insurance company.  As you are a visitor to the UK, this may prove complicated as you will be back home before there is time to finalise it.

Let me know if you need any legal or other help.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Akira on September 10, 2015, 12:47:10
Armando, I strongly hope that there will be no physical problem emerging later.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 10, 2015, 17:21:13
Anthony and Akira,

I'm fine, thank you !

A work colleague was with me in the car , this morning he was complaining of back ache, he called our  insurance who directed us to a hospital, my colleague spent some time with the doctors, got x-rays done, after a couple of hours we left the hospital with a pat in the back and a box of mild pain killers

After 30+ years traveling internationally, this is the first time I have an incident like this

Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: ColinM on September 10, 2015, 17:38:28
Afterwards we had dinner at an old pub and tried Horndean Special Bitter for the first time
I hope you enjoyed the HSB - I have very fond memories of it
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 11, 2015, 07:05:52
Colin, I certanly did, last night I went back and had another pint, Cheers
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 12, 2015, 07:16:33
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-PTvDTrF/0/O/_DSC4983-Edit.jpg)
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: elsa hoffmann on September 12, 2015, 07:47:26
Armando - what a great series of images. The pano also took my fancy
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Frank Fremerey on September 12, 2015, 20:34:39
The fashionable lady is exactly in the right spot with the right pose...
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Olivier on September 12, 2015, 21:03:12
Hi Armando,
I hope all is well for you and your colleague after this accident.
Not to anyone's surprise, your photography is outstanding. I especially enjoy the warm light in the first pictures, for some reason it corresponds well to the mental image I have of UK...
Keep posting please!
Olivier
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: simato73 on September 12, 2015, 22:45:03
Anthony and Akira,

I'm fine, thank you !

A work colleague was with me in the car , this morning he was complaining of back ache, he called our  insurance who directed us to a hospital, my colleague spent some time with the doctors, got x-rays done, after a couple of hours we left the hospital with a pat in the back and a box of mild pain killers

After 30+ years traveling internationally, this is the first time I have an incident like this

Oh, all the crap that I get from my British colleagues that "the Italians" drive like crazy, not keeping safety distance...
I keep telling them not to be so easy with the stereotypes, there are plenty of drivers like that here too...
Sorry that you met one.

As for the photos, I've ever only passed Winchester in a rush to get in time to the ferry to the Isle of Wight, where my wife's family lives, but you made me want to stop for a visit.
Who knows when this will happen, I always do that journey with my little daughter on board and it is already boring enough for her.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 12, 2015, 23:48:03
Thanks Elsa, Frank , Olivier and Simato for taking the time to comment, appreciate it !

Today I spent a wonderful day visiting London, I met  Anthony and he accompanied me until well after lunch, Thank you ! Great conversation and you made my visit very interesting and easy to do!

Near Picadilly Circus
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-RrVrQGw/0/O/_DSC5110.jpg)

Protests
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-xmDw368/1/O/_DSC5119.jpg)
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: elsa hoffmann on September 13, 2015, 08:22:26
The "refugees welcome" shot is a killer shot
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: John Geerts on September 13, 2015, 09:05:30
Yes! Agree. Impressive with a clear message.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Anthony on September 13, 2015, 09:37:31
Armando, thanks, it was great to meet you and to show you some of my city.  We covered a lot of ground! 

Please post some more.  I will post a few later.  In the meantime, here is proof that we met - a selfie with the X-T1 and the 14 mm near Borough Market.  Not the ideal portrait lens in normal circumstances.

Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Jakov Minić on September 13, 2015, 09:41:18
It's so nice to see photographers getting together.
And lovely images Armando, too!
The welcome refugees photo is like taken from a magazine.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 13, 2015, 22:27:51
Quite a bit Anthony !

I think this a complete list:
south bank walked a bit east of Waterloo station
back west to London eye
crossed on Westminster Bridge
saw the big ben
Checked the price to Westminster Abbey ...
Cavalry museum
The mall
Coffee across Trafalgar square
National gallery of art
St Martins in the Fields
Market at Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
Lunch
Coffee
7 dials
Picadilly circus
Refugees march near Trafalgar square ...
Cross on Jubile Bridge
Shakespeare globe
Sir Francis Drake ship replica
Clink museum
Borough Market

on my own
crossed London bridge
Tower bridge
back to waterloo station

a few more images

(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-PtL7xr7/0/O/_DSC5053.jpg)

Almost got run over by the cavalries
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-wRN2D34/0/O/_DSC5070.jpg)

then came the ones wearing red coats
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-6VSHmH8/0/O/_DSC5077.jpg)

old vs new
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-sqssB4Q/0/O/_DSC5186-Edit.jpg)

the sun kept coming out intermittently
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-4xqfDb2/0/O/_DSC5143.jpg)

chocolate anyone ?
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-rZqJcB8/0/O/_DSC5166.jpg)

(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-cNk45KL/0/O/_DSC5168.jpg)

full series here:https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/ (https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/)
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Anthony on September 14, 2015, 00:09:23
Great shots, also on your website!
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Fons Baerken on September 14, 2015, 10:45:33
Such a wonderful trip with excellent images, Armando
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: David Paterson on September 14, 2015, 16:02:48
Excellent work, as usual, from you - I particularly like the London series.

But no Scotland?    :-[ :-[ ;D
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 14, 2015, 22:59:04
Thanks Anthony, Fons, David

More of winchester cathedral

(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-FkjVQQm/0/X3/_DSC5228-Edit-X3.jpg)
<click up>



Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Frank Fremerey on September 15, 2015, 09:43:34
What a fascinating sophisticated building
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: elsa hoffmann on September 15, 2015, 10:21:40
wow Armando - that is a great image!
love the lighting.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Akira on September 16, 2015, 14:11:07
It is growing into a fun travelogue!  Thanks for sharing, Armando!
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Jacques Pochoy on September 16, 2015, 14:26:42
Great shots... :-) The westminster one is fantastic... :-)
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 17, 2015, 00:40:05
sunny - I have since cleaned the camera sensor ...
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-DMnKx36/0/X2/_DSC4971-Edit-X2.jpg)

not sunny - slow exposure while holding an umbrella ... missed focus on the near red flowers
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-bFckgrS/0/O/_DSC5251-Edit-2.jpg)

Thanks for the comments !
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: pluton on September 17, 2015, 06:56:46
I recommend Sir John Soanes' Museum.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Soane%27s_Museum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Soane%27s_Museum)
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 17, 2015, 09:55:12
I recommend Sir John Soanes' Museum.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Soane%27s_Museum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Soane%27s_Museum)

Thank you

There is much to see , and only have 1 weekend left
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Erik Lund on September 17, 2015, 10:29:25
The 'More of winchester cathedral' has a fantastic framing and light, also the people are rendred nicely! Super capture!

How did you pull that off, I mean gear wise, tripod?
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 17, 2015, 10:39:16
The 'More of winchester cathedral' has a fantastic framing and light, also the people are rendred nicely! Super capture!

How did you pull that off, I mean gear wise, tripod?

Thank Eric,

The shot is handheld, I brought the 24-85 zoom, and this shot is with VR on, which you can see does a remarkable job if you give it time to do it's thing.
D800 1/20 f5.6 iso 1600

Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Erik Lund on September 17, 2015, 10:44:52
Indeed! 5.6 ;) Sharp. Crisp. You must be at a zoom setting without distortion to pull this off, around 35-50mm?
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 17, 2015, 11:15:54
Indeed! 5.6 ;) Sharp. Crisp. You must be at a zoom setting without distortion to pull this off, around 35-50mm?
Went  into LR to check what I did

The zoom was at 28mm

In lens correction / manual / Vertical  at -18 , constrain crop checked
Lens profile correction was left unchecked
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Erik Lund on September 17, 2015, 12:05:40
OK Thanks, turned out perfectly!
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: rosko on September 17, 2015, 13:23:17
.

I just discovering your thread as I was fishing in a mountainous area without internet connection.

Very nice series, Armando !

Nice to see some pics of Winchester.

It is so shame I am in France while you are in England ! We could meet as I leave only 11 miles away from winchester... :-[

Are you still there after the 24th of September when I come back ?

Thanks to let me know, Francis.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Anirban Halder on September 17, 2015, 13:37:01
"More of winchester cathedral" shot is mind-blowing Armando. The lighting of this shot is just your signature.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 17, 2015, 14:00:43
.

I just discovering your thread as I was fishing in a mountainous area without internet connection.

Very nice series, Armando !

Nice to see some pics of Winchester.

It is so shame I am in France while you are in England ! We could meet as I leave only 11 miles away from winchester... :-[

Are you still there after the 24th of September when I come back ?

Thanks to let me know, Francis.
Thanks Rosco , I fly back on the 26

I'm not sure what my agenda will look like on the 25th, we can touch base next week
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: rosko on September 17, 2015, 17:13:04
.

Ok, Armando !

I wait for more news. ;)

By the way, have you had a look in the crypt of the cathedral of Winchester ?

According the rate of humidity (due to the weather) , the floor is flooded and so is the bottom of a statue in the middle of the crypt.

Francis.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 19, 2015, 08:36:03
Last night's wanderings

(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-DbJkCRH/0/O/_DSC5262-Edit.jpg)
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: elsa hoffmann on September 19, 2015, 08:53:12
nicely executed - I like it a lot Armando. Quite suitable for a very large print
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 19, 2015, 09:37:40
nicely executed - I like it a lot Armando. Quite suitable for a very large print
Thank you Ma'am

and it is a 10 photos pano ...   8)
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: HCS on September 19, 2015, 13:35:28
Armando,

All of them are nice, but the 1st one in post #39 is really outstanding!

This last one, the 10 photo pano, you could fill a wall with that, really nice.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Anthony on September 19, 2015, 21:35:48
Hi, Armando glad you made it to Stonehenge, and lovely image.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 20, 2015, 09:19:21
Thanks Anthony and HCS !

Bristish museum, photo at the Ancient Greece section
Marble statues of Aphrodite and Apollo
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-7TGN8sT/0/O/_DSC5355-2.jpg)
I was fascinated to learn the Apollo sculpture  was found in 122 pieces and reconstructed in the museum
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 20, 2015, 11:37:42
London  street shooting ...

Interesting trio at The Strand
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-LK4Kcjq/0/O/_DSC5473.jpg)

Stopped on the Thames south bank to see people walk by , he looked right back at me when I lifted the camera
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-TpdVXK2/0/O/_DSC5498.jpg)

I found this photographer/model shooting in the middle of Waterloo bridge, camera on a tripod as tall as the photographer, people walking around them, they seem oblivious to comments, laughs, and people shooting at them with their mobile phones, Canon 50mm f1.8 lens, with that microphone on top of the camera maybe he was doing video ... no crew, no light modifiers, just him and the girl

(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-ShsCBZj/0/O/_DSC5483.jpg)
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: rosko on September 24, 2015, 13:37:14
Last night's wanderings

Congrats for this one, Armando !

So difficult to avoid the crowd...
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: ColinM on September 25, 2015, 15:43:32
Great travelogue Armando, hope your journey back is uneventful.

You captured some great images. I managed a few when I was up last weekend, but only on my mobile.

How was your visit to Grays of Westminster? Do you have any extra shiny glass in your bag to take back?!
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on September 28, 2015, 20:30:09
Great travelogue Armando, hope your journey back is uneventful.

You captured some great images. I managed a few when I was up last weekend, but only on my mobile.

How was your visit to Grays of Westminster? Do you have any extra shiny glass in your bag to take back?!
Thanks Colin, made it back home safely

I didn't go to Grays, I ended up leaving Winchester much later than I had originally planned and didn't bother to try to get there before they closed


on friday night before my flight back, I booked in a hotel near Heathrow, and went to the city at night

 a quick hdr image ... I'll like to rework this one, I forgot to turn off VR and there are miss alignments that affect sharpness of the image when seen bigger, also the colors still look  cartoonish
(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-3GTqh7m/0/X3/_DSC5535-Edit-X3.jpg)

Congrats for this one, Armando !

So difficult to avoid the crowd...
Thanks Rosko, the crowd was behind me , I got as close as possible and shot a few images which I later stitched, there were still a few people captured, but way in the distance and were easily cloned

It was a wonderful trip, with many people that made me feel welcome, although it is nice to be home with my family enjoying driving on wide streets and from the side I'm more used to ;)
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Anthony on September 28, 2015, 20:49:31
Super shot.

London is hypnotic, is it not?

Glad you are safe at home with your family.
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: Fons Baerken on September 28, 2015, 21:21:49
that final image is a killer Armando
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: ColinM on September 29, 2015, 09:18:25
I love your picture of Big Ben and the Thames. When we were up we sat a little up river from here and ate lunch. It was interesting to see how big the houses of parliament are - plus the many bits being repaired and the several bits with gold paint on them.

There must have been a big tide that day as the Thames was running really fast, plus you could see much more of the 'shore'.

Using my mobile:
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: elsa hoffmann on September 29, 2015, 12:20:49
Super image Armando!
Title: Re: UK trip
Post by: armando_m on December 20, 2015, 18:16:51
I'll be processing a few more ...

(https://armando-m.smugmug.com/Travel/England/i-JdLJd5q/0/O/_DSC5544_DxO.jpg)