Dioptre

Candles

2008-03-03T12:50:00.002Z

Candles, originally uploaded by Pligget.

Took me a while to work out why the in-focus candle was so much darker than the others - then I realised it's because it's not side-lit (on my side) by another candle. Obvious really. The top part is illuminated by the light from its own flame penetrating the translucent wax. Makes for an interesting composition though, with the "subject" candle so different from the others.

Magog Down sunset 28

2008-02-27T23:00:00.002Z

Magog down sunset 28, originally uploaded by Pligget.

The sky colour got more unreal the darker it became. The three other photographers on the same hill top had long gone by this time.

Betjeman statue and TV unit

2008-02-27T22:57:00.001Z

Betjeman statue and TV unit, originally uploaded by Pligget.

This photo is made by the low angle and the guy in the suit spotting me as he was talking.

Chiswick cafe view

2008-02-27T22:55:00.001Z

Chiswick cafe view, originally uploaded by Pligget.

One of the great things about early evening light.

Beach legs

2008-02-27T22:53:00.001Z

Beach legs, originally uploaded by Pligget.

I love these disembodied glimpses.

Cam at night 2

2008-02-27T22:46:00.001Z

Cam at night 2, originally uploaded by Pligget.

Liquid gold.

Magdelene College at night

2008-02-27T22:45:00.001Z

Magdelene College at night, originally uploaded by Pligget.

The punts are a wonderful mix of colour and surface texture, making a really powerful foreground.

Cambridge Market

2008-02-27T22:43:00.001Z

Cambridge Market, originally uploaded by Pligget.

I love the sky and Great St. Mary's church silhouetted. A really atmospheric scene.

Shop 1

2008-02-27T22:40:00.001Z

Shop 1, originally uploaded by Pligget.

Interesting framing - with baubles...

Camera shake abstract 2

2008-02-27T22:38:00.001Z

Camera shake abstract 2, originally uploaded by Pligget.

Some Christmas lights hanging in the escalator well of John Lewis, with a bit of judicious camera-waving. I love the smudged colours of the baubles behind the arcs of the fairy lights.

Greenwich Pier dome

2008-02-27T22:36:00.001Z

Greenwich Pier dome, originally uploaded by Pligget.

I liked the snaking fence.

Greenwich Pier, Canary Wharf

2008-02-27T22:35:00.001Z

Greenwich Pier, Canary Wharf, originally uploaded by Pligget.

Another lighting contrast. I love the gorgeous colours in the water leading down to the stark white of the floodlit ferry pier.

One mercury lamp

2008-02-27T22:32:00.001Z

One mercury lamp, originally uploaded by Pligget.

You'd never guess that the buildings are all the same colour - I love the way the sodium-lit buildings frame the mercury lit part.

Passing ferry lights

2008-02-27T22:28:00.001Z

Passing ferry lights, originally uploaded by Pligget.

More technical thrill than artistic triumph, although the result is satisfying. After a few goes, I managed to time it so that the self-timer opened the shutter just before the ferry entered the shot, and kept it open until it had passed. All you can see of the ferry are the trails of its lights and the reflection off the shiny hull.

In the tavern

2008-02-27T22:16:00.001Z

In the tavern, originally uploaded by Pligget.

I like the gorgeousness of the interior light contrasting with the dull and slightly worn exterior.

Tavern reflected in puddle

2008-02-27T22:11:00.001Z

Tavern reflected in puddle, originally uploaded by Pligget.

I like the way the reflection of the Trafalgar Tavern is sharp, but the cobbles framing it are softer - making it feel like we're looking through a torn hole.

Nelson and Canary Wharf

2008-02-27T22:07:00.001Z

Nelson's Canary, originally uploaded by Pligget.

Probably not what the sculptor had in mind when he had Nelson gazing across the expanse of river at Greenwich.

Change

2008-02-27T22:04:00.001Z

Change, originally uploaded by Pligget.

An exercise in graphic reflections.

Sitting on the grass 2

2008-02-27T22:02:00.001Z

Sitting on the grass 2, originally uploaded by Pligget.

If only every Sunday were like this...

Blue close-up 5

2008-02-27T22:01:00.002Z

Blue Close-up 5, originally uploaded by Pligget.

Sitting in a shaft of sunlight in an otherwise shady corner, this head of tiny flowers was simultaneously delicate and strong.

Tattooed dad

2008-02-27T21:55:00.001Z

Tattooed dad, originally uploaded by Pligget.

A lovely late afternoon domestic scene, as the family pack up to leave the beach. I got lucky that he turned and squinted into the sun like that. The dark grey of the water really accentuates his skin tone.

Odd feet

2008-02-27T21:51:00.001Z

Deck chair and feet, originally uploaded by Pligget.

One of my favourite sightings. The texture of the deckchair and hat make the whole.

Sunset stage 11

2008-02-27T21:48:00.001Z

Sunset stage 11, originally uploaded by Pligget.

This is unusually almost monochrome, and has a pleasing sense of layers.

Tricolour

2008-02-27T21:45:00.002Z

tricolour, originally uploaded by Pligget.

A simple exercise in colour at Luang Prabang's morning market.

waterfall

2008-02-27T21:43:00.001Z

waterfall 3, originally uploaded by Pligget.

A classically pretty shot, with thanks to the camera's VR capability allowing a reasonably long hand-held exposure stay sharp where it mattered.