Cityscape London Cityscapes

Ray Hines · 09-01-2018, 03:48 AM - **1 Like**

Hi All

It's been a while since I've been here and I'd forgotten how good it was. I must try harder in future.

I'm showing 3 images as they were all taken the same evening and have had very similar pp in LR and PS. I've been playing for a week now and I think I have finally got the best from each shot. I have also included links to full size Flickr images.

The first image, The Invisible Bus, was taken on Westminster Bridge and is the best of a bad bunch. Crowds and traffic didn't really work that evening.
The second image, The City, was taken from the South Bank.
The third image, The Millennium Bridge, was the one I wanted and I originally intended to use my Sigma 10-20 lens but decided against it.

PP includes a crop to 20 x 10 with a border and drop shadow. All images had a slight exposure adjustment and also Highlights, Shadows and Clarity adjustments depending on need.

Be as critical as you like as this is the first time I have taken any images like this and the pp gave me so many options to consider that I got a headache.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts, ideas and suggestions.

I know it's not proper critique but I would love it if everyone who looks said at least one thing, like "To dark", "To light", "Just right" or even "It's blurred"'

Thanks

Ray

Westminster Bridge | After a week of changing this that and ? | Flickr

City of London | After a week of changing this that and ever? | Flickr

Millennium Bridge | After a week of changing this that and e? | Flickr

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

View Picture EXIF

Last edited by Ray Hines; 09-01-2018 at 01:16 PM.

**RobA_Oz** · 09-01-2018, 03:53 AM

Nice work. The K-5 and 18-135 used to be my regular combination when I was travelling.

Ray Hines · 09-01-2018, 01:18 PM

Originally posted by RobA_Oz

Nice work. The K-5 and 18-135 used to be my regular combination when I was travelling.

Thanks Rob, it's a great combo even now.

**RobA_Oz** · 09-01-2018, 02:48 PM

Originally posted by Ray Hines

Thanks Rob, it's a great combo even now.

I agree. One of my daughters has mine, now, but I’ve yet to see anything come out of my gift.

**othar** · 09-02-2018, 08:01 PM

I think you should pull back the whites a little in the first image, because the clock is a little too blown out for my taste.
Same in the third picture, the edges of St. Paul's Cathedral are a little too bright for me.
I am not sure about the compositon of the Westminster Bridge, I think shooting from a higher point or a point further to the right would have been better (assuming it is possible to go there, the last time I was in London was ~20 years ago

).
I like the second image most (City of London). The composition is perfect, so is the ship and I also like the pp especially in the lower half, the only things I have to criticize are the red lights on the buildings and cranes (the pallid area around those lights) and there is something weird going on with that cloud.

Ray Hines · 09-03-2018, 12:58 PM

Originally posted by othar

I think you should pull back the whites a little in the first image, because the clock is a little too blown out for my taste.
Same in the third picture, the edges of St. Paul's Cathedral are a little too bright for me.
I am not sure about the compositon of the Westminster Bridge, I think shooting from a higher point or a point further to the right would have been better (assuming it is possible to go there, the last time I was in London was ~20 years ago

).
I like the second image most (City of London). The composition is perfect, so is the ship and I also like the pp especially in the lower half, the only things I have to criticize are the red lights on the buildings and cranes (the pallid area around those lights) and there is something weird going on with that cloud.

Thank you Othar your thoughts are much appreciated. Due to the crowds that evening that was the best I could do at Westminster Bridge

**Schraubstock** · 09-04-2018, 04:52 AM

Some good stuff here.
A few observations, Please correct falling lines they are always so annoying and they are so easily corrected. You have the software to do it very quickly. Westminster Bridge pic looks so much better with vertical building lines.

You have shot this in RAW format I guess. In AdobeRAW, if you move the highlight slider all the way to the left the bright illuminated windows and the big clock will have less glare and you will recover some detail. Maybe not a lot, but some. This will improve the pic to no end.

Next time try to capture this shot during the blue hour for some stunning sky.

Last edited by Schraubstock; 10-27-2018 at 10:52 PM.

Ray Hines · 09-05-2018, 01:48 AM

Originally posted by Schraubstock

Some good stuff here.
A few observations, Please correct falling lines they are always so annoying and they are so easily corrected. You have the software to do it very quickly. Westminster Bridge pic looks so much better with vertical building lines.

You have shot this in RAW format I guess. In AdobeRAW, if you move the highlight slider all the way to the left the bright illuminated windows and the big clock will have less glare and you will recover some detail. Maybe not a lot, but some. This will improve the pic to no end.

Next time try to capture this shot during the blue hour for some stunning sky.

Please correct falling lines they are always so annoying and they are so easily corrected.

I had done that but must have gone back to an earlier version and my brain just didn't notice at it knew I'd already done it. :-D

if you move the highlight slider all the way to the left the bright illuminated windows and the big clock will have less glare and you will recover some detail.

I did play with the Highlights but I don't think I've ever gone all the way left so I'll give it a try, thanks.

Next time try to capture this shot during the blue hour for some stunning sky.

I did but my brother in law was driving so I missed it. It was just as slow going home again. :-( lol

Mike L · 09-06-2018, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by Ray Hines

The third image, The Millennium Bridge, was the one I wanted and I originally intended to use my Sigma 10-20 lens but decided against it.

The Millennium Bridge leading to St Paul's is a nice composition, I'd only suggest pulling the highlights back to see if you can recover any detail where the spotlights are shining on the dome.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Light polution filter for nocturnal cityscapes - any pointers for WB, PP, etc.?	Madaboutpix	General Photography	17	07-23-2018 08:34 AM
Cityscape Lisbon Cityscapes	barbosas	Post Your Photos!	3	05-27-2013 08:11 AM
Cityscapes - studying the angles	gawan	Post Your Photos!	8	07-23-2009 11:28 AM
Pentax user in London please join my new pentax DSLR London users group	m42geo	Photographic Technique	3	01-31-2009 05:32 PM
Hallow Helena (night cityscapes)	HowLowCanYaGo	Post Your Photos!	3	11-04-2007 12:02 PM

09-01-2018, 03:53 AM	#2
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Nice work. The K-5 and 18-135 used to be my regular combination when I was travelling.

09-01-2018, 01:18 PM	#3
Ray Hines Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Devon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 154 Original Poster	Originally posted by RobA_Oz Nice work. The K-5 and 18-135 used to be my regular combination when I was travelling. Thanks Rob, it's a great combo even now.

09-01-2018, 02:48 PM	#4
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Originally posted by Ray Hines Thanks Rob, it's a great combo even now. I agree. One of my daughters has mine, now, but I’ve yet to see anything come out of my gift.

09-02-2018, 08:01 PM	#5
othar Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Linz Photos: Albums Posts: 3,098	I think you should pull back the whites a little in the first image, because the clock is a little too blown out for my taste. Same in the third picture, the edges of St. Paul's Cathedral are a little too bright for me. I am not sure about the compositon of the Westminster Bridge, I think shooting from a higher point or a point further to the right would have been better (assuming it is possible to go there, the last time I was in London was ~20 years ago ). I like the second image most (City of London). The composition is perfect, so is the ship and I also like the pp especially in the lower half, the only things I have to criticize are the red lights on the buildings and cranes (the pallid area around those lights) and there is something weird going on with that cloud.

09-03-2018, 12:58 PM	#6
Ray Hines Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Devon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 154 Original Poster	Originally posted by othar I think you should pull back the whites a little in the first image, because the clock is a little too blown out for my taste. Same in the third picture, the edges of St. Paul's Cathedral are a little too bright for me. I am not sure about the compositon of the Westminster Bridge, I think shooting from a higher point or a point further to the right would have been better (assuming it is possible to go there, the last time I was in London was ~20 years ago ). I like the second image most (City of London). The composition is perfect, so is the ship and I also like the pp especially in the lower half, the only things I have to criticize are the red lights on the buildings and cranes (the pallid area around those lights) and there is something weird going on with that cloud. Thank you Othar your thoughts are much appreciated. Due to the crowds that evening that was the best I could do at Westminster Bridge

09-04-2018, 04:52 AM	#7
Schraubstock Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,386	Some good stuff here. A few observations, Please correct falling lines they are always so annoying and they are so easily corrected. You have the software to do it very quickly. Westminster Bridge pic looks so much better with vertical building lines. You have shot this in RAW format I guess. In AdobeRAW, if you move the highlight slider all the way to the left the bright illuminated windows and the big clock will have less glare and you will recover some detail. Maybe not a lot, but some. This will improve the pic to no end. Next time try to capture this shot during the blue hour for some stunning sky. Last edited by Schraubstock; 10-27-2018 at 10:52 PM.

09-05-2018, 01:48 AM	#8
Ray Hines Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Devon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 154 Original Poster	Originally posted by Schraubstock Some good stuff here. A few observations, Please correct falling lines they are always so annoying and they are so easily corrected. You have the software to do it very quickly. Westminster Bridge pic looks so much better with vertical building lines. You have shot this in RAW format I guess. In AdobeRAW, if you move the highlight slider all the way to the left the bright illuminated windows and the big clock will have less glare and you will recover some detail. Maybe not a lot, but some. This will improve the pic to no end. Next time try to capture this shot during the blue hour for some stunning sky. Please correct falling lines they are always so annoying and they are so easily corrected. I had done that but must have gone back to an earlier version and my brain just didn't notice at it knew I'd already done it. :-D if you move the highlight slider all the way to the left the bright illuminated windows and the big clock will have less glare and you will recover some detail. I did play with the Highlights but I don't think I've ever gone all the way left so I'll give it a try, thanks. Next time try to capture this shot during the blue hour for some stunning sky. I did but my brother in law was driving so I missed it. It was just as slow going home again. :-( lol

09-06-2018, 05:28 PM	#9
Mike L Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,472	Originally posted by Ray Hines The third image, The Millennium Bridge, was the one I wanted and I originally intended to use my Sigma 10-20 lens but decided against it. The Millennium Bridge leading to St Paul's is a nice composition, I'd only suggest pulling the highlights back to see if you can recover any detail where the spotlights are shining on the dome.