Glasgow Night Photography

It's been a while since my last post, and this one is not going to be a huge one. I just wanted to share some shots, that I recently took at night. It's been taken from the roof of Glasgow Metropolitan College, which has great views all aound Glasgow city centre. It was all generally long exposures - about 10 seconds each at about f/11. And here is what you can see from just above George Square...

Remember, remember the 5th of November

"Remember, remember the fifth of November
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot
I know of no reason,
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot... "

Just a couple shots from the last Bonefire night in Glasgow. It was a cold night, but at least weather was good as it decided to stop raining. And as every year there is plenty going on in Glasgow Green, including great fireworks. Credit crunch cut them short, but they're still great to watch!

Anyway all of them is a long exposure - about 2-3 seconds at around f/11 on a tripod.

Studio still life photography

Here are some pictures that I wanted to share with you. I have shot them all during photography classes that I enrolled to couple of weeks ago. It's called Basic Studio Photography and is run by Metropolitan College of Glasgow. It started with portrait photography and now we moved into still life. I learned a great deal about using studio equipment and manipulating light. I will post some of the portrait shots later, but it's the still life that shows really what you have learned.

Why use flash?

In my photography so far I was always trying to use only available light for my pictures. But there is a time in every photographer’s life when you feel you need more control over what is going on in your pictures light-wise. You begin to choose time of day, angle towards the light source more carefully (at this point it would probably be sunlight). You may try to use reflectors, gobos or shade to change light. And as you move forward in your photography you will do these things more and more intentionally. This leads directly to using artificial light sources to help you achieve the effect that you've been after.

Some time ago I began to wonder, if I can do anything to my pictures, to have some more control over light. I started my research from the internet and stumbled upon a site called Strobist and a number other similar photography blogs. Their common thought was "don't let the light ruin your picture". So true ...

Anyway I decided that I need something more that the sun, to light my photographs. Following the guidance of David Hobby from the Strobist I went for old and cheap manual speedlights (the kind that you would normally mount on your camera). I have recently bought almost everything that I will need to start bending the light to my needs.

In this post you can see some of my early experiments with one strobe and a glass. I must admit I like it, and for me the glass is half full. I should finish gathering my One-Light-Set and will get on with shooting some more still life and portraits.

I've been using flash the wrong way!

For the last couple of weeks I have been exploring previously unknown to me type of photography. I have always been using available light, maybe with some simple reflectors, or occasionaly fill in flash. I have never felt the need to use something different that what I had. Until some time ago I came across a website, that I think every photographer should know - Strobist. Created by David Hobby for anyone interested in creative lighting techniques. You may be under impression, that this is a site for people, that use some pretty strange equipment, and that have no idea, how to use a flash in their photographs. You can't be more wrong! It is absolute MUST for every photographer, who wants to understand the light.

One September Afternoon...

There are about 362 rainy days in Scotland a year. The 3 remaining days are summer. A sunny day in the end of September is a real treat and we couldn't miss it. We decided to tackle one of the best viewpoints on the east coast of Loch Lommond - Conic Hill. At 381 meters in height it can hardly be called a hill, but it's slopes give an hour of quite a steep climb. Becouse of it's position it gives fantastic views over Trossachs National Park and Loch Lommonds islands and therefore is one of the most popular hills in this part of Scotland.

Nature on our doorstep

Just a couple of photos from Sunday leisure time, that we had yesterday. And who would have thought that there are places, like the one recommended to us by our friends, just on the outskirts of Glasgow. This Nature Reserve is just between Milngavie and Strathblane - about 25min drive from our home. Just a glimpse at what you can expect if you'll bother to look.