A November Sunday in London brought a wind that crept up surreptitiously to freeze anything it could gain contact with. But it was partnered with perfect light and a cloudy sky that showed off the City at its best.
Millennium Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral, London, November 2017
I went for a short walk looping around on the south and north banks of the Thames, between Blackfriars and Tower Bridge. The morning was dedicated to long exposure photography, which takes time as the name suggests, so my step count was low but the views were tremendous.
…over to the north for a view of the Shard…
…and a peep through the greenery…
…look to your left and there’s Tower Bridge…
…cross back to the south for another view of Tower Bridge…
By now my toes were numb and I was trying to position me and my tripod behind any available shelter.
…and closer still…
Time to head for some indoor warmth – but the walk was definitely worth the risk of frost bite.
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Copyright Debbie Smyth, 13 November 2017
Posted as part of Monday Walks
The walk was part of an advanced photography course with wonderful Annie at Learn Digital Photo.
Travel with Intent 
Awesome blog post, maybe I’d suggest an intervalometer – save the fingers! I’ve just started my own site and blog, my first one was also on LE. Do you have any useful tips?
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I’ve never tried an intervalometer but was reading about that yesterday!
I’ll pop over to look at your blog
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Ah, the joys of photography when the fingers (and nose) are freezing! Love the slow motion photos Debbie, I have tried this but come to realise that you have to have a ND filter for it to work. Still, you have inspired me to give it another try.
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To get really long exposures you’re right, you do need an ND filter. Worth getting a 10 stop filter for whatever camera/lens you would use for a landscape shot. Don’t buy one of the variable level filters – in theory they allow you to vary the number of ND stops but any I have tried just leave lines on your images.
However, even without a filter, you could go fairly long exposure on a day like today – it is so grey anyway that the weather combined with your lowest ISO and a small aperture will give you some fun. And night light is good too of course.
Thick gloves are probably more important than ND!!
Happy experimenting Jude!
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Thanks for that Debbie. I already have the gloves! My daughter bought me some fingerless ones last Christmas 🙂
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These are stunning, surprised though you didn’t get frostbite!!
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Stunning photos. Thank you for sharing.
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I feel like I was on this walk with you. The photos are beautiful, but I love how you brought it to life with your story. Nice!
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Thank you. I’m glad I brought it to life for you
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Such good photos of one of my favorite places. Thank you!
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One of mine too – always a good walk
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Dramatically beautiful shots, Debbie.
janet
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Fabulous views Debs! Nice to see that good old London can hold it’s own with some of the best. Thanks so much for sharing xx
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It certainly does – I would find it hard to live too far from UK because I would miss London. So Australia is off my list!
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You take so many remarkable shots but these are truly remarkable – my home ground and yet I never capture it like this – please reveal your camera settings
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They vary slightly, but the one with the blurred boat was ISO50, F16, 205 seconds (using a Big Stopper ND filter) I hope that helps you
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thank you Debbie -points me in the right direction
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Amazing views over the Thames, the perfect light 🙂 Congratulations!
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Young woman, you need to come in from the cold! But glad you first shared the amazing photos!
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It was a great morning. Though I had 3 camera batteries die on me in the first hour because of the cold
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😧
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They’re really beautiful images, Debbie – did you use an ND filter at all, or just a slow shutter speed on a dull day? I’ve never really got the hand of long exposures, but you’ve inspired me to try again! 🙂
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Yes ND filter – a 10 stop filter, a low ISO and F16 or smaller. Great fun, but it’s a slow process, and even slower when your fingers stop working from the cold!
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Love the result, worth getting cold for! 🙂
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Stunning shots.
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Lovely hazy views – and the lack of people make it all seem like such a calm morning!
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Such delightful views for the eyes and mind these are Debbie. Very lovely captures 🙂
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Thanks Hammad. Looking at normal images seems quite harsh when your eye gets used to this gentle haze.
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Wonderful 🙂
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Amazing views. Loved all pics, brilliant clicks.
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