This exercise requires me to record the way I shoot a series of images that are 'almost right'. In a location that allows free movement, such as an open area or marketplace. My camera is to be my instrument for viewing, and as the exercise proceeds there will be a stop frame movie of my shoot. The camera was kept to my eye for most of the exercise.
The setting for my shoot was Portobello Road, one of Britain's top tourist attractions and market. A busy colourful and authentic market which after having researched prior to arriving in London, did not disappoint.
Portobello Road was constructed in the Victorian era, before 1850 it was little more than a country lane connecting Portobello Farm with Kensal Green in the north and what is known as Notting Hill today.
Today Portobello Road does not rely on its market, a range of communities inhabiting the street and the district contribute to a cosmopolitan and energetic atmosphere. Architecture plays a part too, with mid to late Victorian terraced houses and shops squeezed into a very tight space adding intimacy to a streetscape.
Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: 18-105mm
ISO: 100
Aperture Priority
Handheld throughout.
Fig: 7 1/1000sec f/6.3 92mm
Allsaints Spitalfields, hoarders of the sewing machine
Variety of views of shop frontage, as I wandered along Portobello Road.
Busy Street Scenes
Vendre
Antiquities
My thoughts on this exercise
There is a selection of photographs here that give a sequence of images that I took on my visit to Portobello Road. From the selection I have chosen, there is a vast emphasis on amount of colour, lines and texture that can be seen. Red and Blue being very dominant colours. Having researched this area before arriving in London I made a list of things I wanted to capture, I am quite uncomfortable taking pictures of people, this possibly stems from living in a Muslim country where it is quite challenging when taking photographs of a figure, particularly females in public places. Took me out of my comfort zone, hence there are images that to me symbolize - Portobello Road.
I have noticed that over half of the images here are taken in the 'portrait' mode, this orientation lent itself to the photographs I took and was happiest with these results.
The setting for my shoot was Portobello Road, one of Britain's top tourist attractions and market. A busy colourful and authentic market which after having researched prior to arriving in London, did not disappoint.
Portobello Road was constructed in the Victorian era, before 1850 it was little more than a country lane connecting Portobello Farm with Kensal Green in the north and what is known as Notting Hill today.
Today Portobello Road does not rely on its market, a range of communities inhabiting the street and the district contribute to a cosmopolitan and energetic atmosphere. Architecture plays a part too, with mid to late Victorian terraced houses and shops squeezed into a very tight space adding intimacy to a streetscape.
Fig: 1
The Portobello Pavement market area was reasonably quiet as it was a very cold Sunday morning in December and most of the larger arcades were closed. There were several market stalls along the street, where it is said ' Anything and everything for everyone' can be found. There were small groups of shoppers and tourists about, which gave me an opportunity to record the variety of images over a three hour period. Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: 18-105mm
ISO: 100
Aperture Priority
Handheld throughout.
Fig: 2 1/250 sec. f/8.0
'Vintage car' for sale as I ventured into Portobello Road, the light reflecting on the front of the bonnet reflects the colour of the terraced house in the background and small signage on dark wall. Simple diagonal lines at the base of the building and in windows and above doors, draw the eye away beyond the pale coloured house.
The warm glow of sunshine on the front of the house, accentuating the bow fronted red door, and the red of the lamps above the bumper.
Fig: 3 1/500sec. f/8.0 70mm
Two residents, one being protected from the cold, the other protected by his owner from the ever increasing tourists that pass No. 24 each day. The reflections on the wall, from trees on pathway.
Colour accent here - red:
door, glove, scarf, number plate and cheeks.
Fig: 4 1/30sec. f/5.6 58mm
Retro clothing, wonderful colours in dress can be seen in scarves tied on rails to right. The round pendants hanging on backdrop, replicated in skirt design and buttons on top. Dress creates triangular form.
Fig: 5 1/5sec. f/5.6 42mm
Jessie Western
For all those budding cowboys, peering through doorway, huge array of colour. Too much going on in this image, focal point is composed with time and effort should have been the head dress against the contrasting yellow wall of which very little could be seen.
Fig: 6 1/4sec f/4.5 21mm
Allsaints Spitalfields, Westbourne Grove London
Disgarded shoe lasts
Allsaints Spitalfields, hoarders of the sewing machine
Fig: 8 1/3sec f/5.0 50mm
Industrial. The conversion to sepia to obtain aged effect, highlights the basic brick wall and light reflected onto machines and staging from above lifts the image. Very prominent diagonal, vertical and curved lines repeated in the image above.
Fig: 9 1/5sec f/4.5 34mm
Strong Diagonal and Vertical lines
Fig: 10 1/100sec f/4.5 34mm
Fig: 11 1/25sec f/4.5 28mm
The blur of the right arm and hammer in this image, shows the movement of this antiquity.
Fig: 12 1/160sec. f/5.6 45mm
101 Portobello Road
The Red Teapot Arcade, specialises in Antiques. If I was able to revisit this I would consider including the arcade frontage, but to me the size and colour of the teapot were the fascination not the arcade frontage which was empty due to being a Sunday. I would also consider standing further away from this to enable more inclusion of the frontage of the arcade where diagonal lines dominate.
Fig: 13 1/320sec f/4.5 34mm
86 Portobello Road. Closed antiques market
Fig: 14 1/80sec f/5.6
Fig: 15 1/200sec f/6.3 40mm
Fig: 16 1/40sec f/4.5 32mm
Fig 17 1.40sec f/4.5 32mm
Slight motion can be seen to the right of this image, where female to edge of image is moving away from scene, other motion in centre of image is frozen.
Vendre
Antiquities
Fig: 18 1/60 f5.0 52mm
Repetition in diagonal lines, and reflective light from sun.
Fig: 19 1/80sec f/4.5 35mm
Texture and diagonal lines
Fig: 20 1/125 f/4.5 25mm
Texture
Fig: 21 1/160 sec f/4.5
Diagonal lines and curves
Sadly I did not capture the boys scooter, if I could have retaken this and with hindsight I would reposition myself to enable me to capture his facial expression and his mode of transport alongside the suspended cycle.
Fig: 22 1/50sec f/5.6 105mm
Strong diagonal lines, curves and vertical lines
Fig: 23 1/160sec f/5.3 80mm
There is a selection of photographs here that give a sequence of images that I took on my visit to Portobello Road. From the selection I have chosen, there is a vast emphasis on amount of colour, lines and texture that can be seen. Red and Blue being very dominant colours. Having researched this area before arriving in London I made a list of things I wanted to capture, I am quite uncomfortable taking pictures of people, this possibly stems from living in a Muslim country where it is quite challenging when taking photographs of a figure, particularly females in public places. Took me out of my comfort zone, hence there are images that to me symbolize - Portobello Road.
I have noticed that over half of the images here are taken in the 'portrait' mode, this orientation lent itself to the photographs I took and was happiest with these results.
- consider these images as a narrative picture exercise.
- favourite capture of the day Fig 22, the young lady securing her cycle, wearing the most wonderful warm headwear.
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