Tag Archives: Urban

Nocturnal Streets

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Nocturnal streets offer a different face to the daytime version – a busy, central area now quiet, almost no people, little traffic, all but deserted

Nocturnal Streets 01

Nocturnal Streets 02

All the same buildings are there, the traffic lights wink and change in their pattern, regardless of the lack of vehicles passing, but it is all just somewhat different, while still being the same place. I think that’s one of the reasons I like taking long exposure shots at night, it just reveals a version of the city your eye can’t see.

Nocturnal Streets 03

Nocturnal Streets 04

Nocturnal Streets 05

These were all improvised shots – I was coming home late from the cinema, and so no tripod with me. I had ten minutes to wait for a bus, so I set the timer and sat the camera on bollards, ledges and posts to steady it for a few shots while I waited, and this is what I got, all around Edinburgh Quay, the modern buildings around where the Union Canal now ends (although originally it continued on over the main road to an inland port nearby).

Nocturnal Streets 06

Reflections On The Tyne

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I had a few days off this week, and on a whim I decided to take the train down to Newcastle. I have passed through the city so many times on the train to London or York, but never actually visited the city itself. On those train trips I would look out of the window as the train traversed the High Level Bridge over the River Tyne, and see the lovely, old Swing Bridge and the iconic, steel arch of the Tyne Bridge (now a symbol of the city), and think I’d love to get some photos of this spot. So this week I did…

Tyne Bridge, Blue Hour

I spent the afternoon walking around town, exploring and taking many photos (as always). By late afternoon I was badly in need of a rest and some food and drink, so found a nice bar on the Quayside, right by the river, and by the time I finished eating, dusk had settled across the city, so I got a couple of Blue Hour shots of the bridges, reflecting in the dark waters of the Tyne. As ever, click on the pics to see the much larger versions on my Flickr.

Night Crossing

The Twilight Zone

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Dusk Fades Softly Into Night 01

Walking home along the Union Canal at Fountainbridge – as March moves on the sunset is a little later each evening, so as I have been heading home from work I’ve caught the extended dusk, the tail end of Blue Hour, when the streetlights have come on, the eastern sky is already darkening, but the western sky still holds some pale blue light and hints of reds and purples from the sun that has just dipped below the horizon.

Dusk Fades Softly Into Night 03

Evening Classes

I took these using the little mini-tripod, the type with the bendy legs. It’s only 3 inches high, and obviously doesn’t give the scope my main tripod can, but unlike that one, this fits into my satchel! Handy when I want to catch low-light or night shots but not have to carry the big tripod around town. Being to tiny I have to use other things to try and raise the height on it, so sitting it on the side of the bridge, or on a bench by the canal. It doesn’t replace my big tripod, but it is a very handy wee addition.

Ghosts Pass Under The Bridge Of Night

I always love the “ghost” effect caused by moving people when making a long exposure!

Colourful Dusk

This last one wasn’t taken with the main camera and the mini tripod – this was actually taken with my phone camera, as I walked home. I didn’t really expect it to come out, but thought I would try – I set the timer mode, and then steadied it as best I could, sitting the phone on the edge of the bridge. Quite suprised by the result.