Villiers Street, WC2
Walking home to catch the underground at Embankment and the interior light of this bistro caught my attention because of it’s warm and cosy hue. I noticed the waitress in a white blouse and black skirt, the traditional French outfit, clearing a table and managed to capture three shots of her. Two were blurred due to the slow shutter speed, and this was the sharpest.
Wimbledon Common
Affection, vandalised, by Herman Cawthore, 1963, Bishops Park, Fulham
11 November – World War I ended. At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Great War ended.
Just got back from testing the Rhianna Digital Diana from Cyclops LoFi Cameras. As some of you might know, I’m giving away one of these little babies to the most Liked photograph of the Colour Street Photo Challenge Thingy on Facebook after December 7th.
Apologies for the date imprint on the images, as I had not been able to work out the Menu Settings functions so far. Shooting with this little plastic wonder is truly mind-freeing. I can’t remember having this kind of fun in photography since way back in the 70s with Instamatic cameras.
A bit about the capture sizes and quality. There are several settings you can shoot at : 3648 x 2048, 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 1760 x 1760, ..and so on, with Superfine, Fine and Normal. Several Filter Effects one can also choose, from the standard Black&White, Sepia, Blue, Green Red filters, as well as Cool, Warm, IR, Binary, Vivid, Dog Eye, Aibao(?), Gothic, and the special Rhianna, Lomo styles.
Overall, the Digital Diana is a fun little camera, and kudos to Greg Dash of Cyclops Cameras for successfully raising the necessary funds on Indiegogo to realise this camera. It can create generally good images and with the special effects filters, satisfy the Instagrammers and Hipsters alike. Personally, I really like the Gothic and Aibao filters.
A brilliant fireworks display lit up the skies last weekend, across the river from our flat. Each year the Brits hold Guy Fawkes Night fireworks and bonfires across the nation on the 5th November. This year, the Hurlingham Club did it early as a joint Halloween / Fireworks party for its members. We just had a free show.
Round Pond, Kensington Gardens, London
Walking the doggie at dusk today, I chanced upon some of nature’s most graceful birds gliding silently on the edge of the pond. I had earlier missed the golden hour, as was slightly annoyed at myself for not getting out earlier to photograph the gorgeous orange and yellow autumnal colours in the park. The sun had set about 30 minutes ago, and it was getting darker by the second. I had to photograph something and these playful swans glided right up to greet us, although Kipper was slightly agitated by them. I fired off about 20 frames, and not many were sharp due to the slow shutter speeds. This one stood out the clearest, and the composition works for me.
Store window, Regent Street, W1
Store window, Golborne Road W10
Once in a while I stroll down Golborne Road in North Kensington, and go window browsing along this ‘Bohemian’ part of town. The street is mainly dotted with Lebanese and Morrocan grocery stores and restaurants, and also the renown Cafe Lisboa, a favourite Portuguese cafe selling amazing nata cakes and milky lattes. This was a lucky shot of a window display from a second hand antiques and interior store selling some truly amazing recycled, found and vintage furniture.
explorenation.net ~ photography posts, workshops, writings and thoughts by Steven V-L Lee 
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