Cityscape Photography in LONDON with a TILT-SHIFT Lens
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- Cityscape Photography in London with a Tilt-Shift Lens
I am in London shooting some cityscape photography and use the very special Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II tilt shift lens to capture some images with nice straight lines.
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It has been a been a while since I have a had a decent opportunity to shoot in London. This week I carved out some time so decided to hire the Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II tilt shift lens for the occasion. Tilt shift lenses are perfect for using with landscape photography, especially cityscapes where the shift function corrects the perspective distortion normally suffered by wide angle lenses. This distortion causes buildings, particularly those at the edge of the frame, to angle in towards the centre of the frame.
The Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II tilt shift can also be used to capture some excellent panoramas but that is the theme of next weeks video.
I truly believe that London is one of the greatest cities in the world and provides some great opportunities for landscape photography. The cityscape of London is steeped in history and impressive buildings and skylines exist in every direction, especially down by the river Thames.
I started the day with a very clear vision of the images I wanted to achieve. I aimed to shoot North to South across the river making several iconic structures my subject, including the Shard and Tower Bridge. These have been photographed many times so I was aiming to elevate my images. Firstly by ensuring nice straight lines with the tilt shift lens and second by creating and interesting and ethereal feel using long exposure photography. I purchased a 16 stop ND filter for the occasion to achieve exposure times of around 6 minutes.
I ended the day on the Greenwich peninsula to shoot across the river towards the bank buildings of Canary Wharf. Overall it was a superb day where I got back in touch with London, a city where I lived for ten years and know very well. The day was actually quite emotional for me as I walked around and remembered all the history I have tied up in the place. I was also very happy with the images I captured using the Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II tilt shift and was a nice break from my usually landscape photography shoots in the mountains.
My video photography blogs are designed to entertain and document how I go about capturing my work. If it provides landscape photography tips and inspiration along the way then please share it with your friends so more people can benefit from the content. If you enjoyed this photography vlog I would really appreciate it if you subscribed to the channel so you can come along for the journey.
![Why not to buy a tilt-shift lens [Fuji 30/5.6].Tilt-shift isn't magic, what do the lenses really do](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Zt9DjlaiUHA/mqdefault.jpg)
![Why not to buy a tilt-shift lens [Fuji 30/5.6].Tilt-shift isn't magic, what do the lenses really do](/img/tr.png)
Just finished reading a book.
Nothing particularly unusual about that, except its the first time I've read and finished a book full of hope, hurt, sadness, empathy, humour, and joy.
Then I scanned one of the QR codes which took me to this video.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading "Illumination" Adam. The words resonated with me, almost as much as the good pictures you create.
Thank you for creating!
This comment means a lot. Thanks so much for your support, I am very grateful.
So much work went into creating this weeks vid. Very interesting showing the tilt shift, looking forward to next week.
Thanks Keith. Really appreciate the recognition.
Absolutely excellent!
Thank you kindly!
This was great - tilt-shift lense rocks. Get back to some of this stuff.
This was the best usage of the Tilt Shift Lens I’ve ever seen.
Thank you.
Could tell you really enjoyed yourself. Thanks for getting outside of the box, having fun, and showing us London.
Love the nighttime shot. Glad you enjoyed your time back in London.
Thanks!
A great vlog Adam. Having that emotional connection to an area makes those ’commonplace’ images of a location different and you certainly feel that from your final night time image. Thank you for sharing something special with us all
I lived in London for 12 years and, like you, pined for the mountains. Been back in Wales for about 10 years and don't miss London one bit! Can't see me adding cityscapes to my own channel any time soon - plenty to shoot on Anglesey and around Snowdonia. All that said, great video and really enjoy your enthusiasm.
Super cool Adam. I recently purchased the Canon 5D Mark IV and am loving it. I always look forward to your next videos.
Thanks Kevin. That's a lovely piece of kit you've got there. Enjoy.
Neat photos of my favorite city. Interesting to see you getting use out of such a special purpose lens.
Very glad to discover this particular video! New-ish to photography and learning the tilt shift lens is... not moving along well.
Loved the video Adam. Thank you for the TS overview, and it was completly understandable to see the level of emotion the place holds for you. Thank you for sharing that too.
Excellent video Adam.
Adam great vlog, having spent my first 35 years in London you tend to take I for granted as a place to look round. Now living in the north west we go back to London with friends and show them a places you saw all the time you where living there. visitors tend to see it more for the sights we see it in everyday life.
Really enjoy your videos and your work. Thank you for this!
Good on you Adam...like you I lived in London for 13 years or so (worked there for 20+) and now love visiting as a occasional change from the countryside...I think one needs to move away from the daily chaos there to appreciate it more..!! glad you're getting your mojo back..I have never met a serious photographer who doesn't go through these phases of self-analysis as we try to improve and self-motivate..great channel...
Thanks Nigel. Really appreciate the comment and the support.
Great video Adam. I could feel your passion and emotion for the place. Some great shots too.
Thanks Gary. I'm glad that came across.
Amazing! 6 minutes exposure seems like forever, but the result is so stunning...
A lot of new construction in London! Thanks Adam for the overview of the tilt lens. I never knew how it worked - now I do. Thanks!
Another belter, love the bridge and city pano.
Cheers mate. Appreciate it.
oh I miss London so much
I love all of your videos Adam and this one was another great one. It was wonderful to learn a bit more about you, get a small lesson about tilt-shift lens, and see how you capture one of my favorite cities in the world. Great job.
Thanks Taylor. Your comment means a lot. I really appreciate it and am very grateful to you for watching.
Top job First Man, London has huge potential as you've proved, cheers.
Very good video. Love the explanation of how the ts lens works. Thanks!!
Aw mate, it must have taken some balls to keep the emotional section in - but it really brings the video home. Hope you're feeling reinvigorated enough to get out and get shooting :) All the best!
Just doing some research and didn't know you had covered the tilt shift lens. The quality of this video compared to your recent uploads are ever so slightly different. Quality of the gear helps! But your philosophy still on par 👌
Ha. Thanks
That tilt-shift is sweet.
I love it.
Really great vlog. The emotional aspect of the memories added to that. Some superb pics too 📸👍
Thanks mate. Really appreciate that comment.
Shot in London a few times you really do have to be careful with your kit. But great shots the tilt shift works great. Maybe do a vlog in the hills to explain how to use one I know nothing about them and why I would need one!!
You were right, this was a nice change from the landscapes. The tilt shift lense makes a huge difference and your demonstation was great. Awesome image of the night time buildings.
Although where you shot it from was creepily deserted for a urban environment. If it was up in the hills and mountians that situation would of been perfect.
Glad you liked the images. It’s funny really I was about 100 meters away from thousands of people in the O2 arena yet it was still so quiet.
Excellent work Adam some wonderful captures. Thanks.
Thanks Alan. Appreciate it.
Stunning Vlog...love the long exposures, I don't have a 16 stop, I use square filters, but never been to London...great video.
Thanks Martin. Appreciate it. Its a Formatt Hitech Firecrest. They make a square version of the same filter.
cfracking vid mate from another northerner (newcastle) i bought the 24mm T/S so its been very informative, very similiar stories met my mrs down here too and lost motivation but now back into it, maybe next time your down here ill see you and buy you a coffee, great video work too
For me, this was a great video. I never fully grasped the advantage of tilt-shift lenses until your demonstration. I had a limited understanding. Great examples of how to use one well. Thanks!!! Happy Holidays!!!
Very good explanation of how the tilt shift lens works for architecture. Nice change from the usual landscape work.
Great to see a different type of photography from you. I can relate to cityscape living in NYC and have done quite a few long exposure shots around the city myself. You really seem to have enjoyed your stay in London and the video relates it.
thanks Adam - very useful and enjoyable. like many people my work keeps me in "the cityscape" mode for much of the time, and so I balance my time between landscapes and city scapes. having access to Sydney harbour means the subject matter is beautiful, but work also takes me to London and major cities in Asia, so I am always looking for inspiration and ideas. I was in the same location as you very recently (it was cold) - would love to see you do more city work - thanks
I really enjoyed that educational video and have learnt a lot thanks so much for doing these videos
Love photographing in london, it has so much opportunity. Love the lens but I bet they cost a bit so might need to save up. Already planning a trip after your did so thank you
Loved this Adam as so different from all the other vlogs
I think more should do a city vlog from time to time.
I definitely intend to do more. Back in a frozen Lake District next week though.
Super vlog Adam. Great information about how to use a tilt shift lens. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Robert. Really glad you enjoyed it.
Great video Adam, really enjoyed it. And you did get some amazing shots.
Thanks buddy. Appreciate it.
wonderful... I love shooting in London ..amazing pictures
Really enjoyed this video - very inspirational. I lived in London for 30 years and did not use the opportunity to photograph the amazing cityscapes. When seeing images of the Docklands now I always think back to how it was when I first saw it back in the 1980's and of course the Jean Michelle Jarre Destination Docklands concert in 1988 which was incredible. It has changed! This is the first time I have seen a Tilt-Shift lens being used, so would be very interested to see a full review of the lens. Thanks once again Adam.
Great shots. I love seeing when people have passion for what they do. It's very inspiring to see that side of you. Thanks for sharing Adam!
Adam, well done !
Great shots with the perspective control lens.
Thanks buddy.
Great job Adam, enjoyed it very much. Nice change.
Thanks Brad. Glad you liked it.
Great video and images Adam. It was a nice change from the mountains. You've made me want to get there myself.
Really interesting video Adam, very pleased for you to have had good conditions at such a personally significant place . Lovely night shot, very interested to see more tilt shift photography.
Thanks mate. More tilt shift stuff next week.
Shots across the Swan River are somewhat similar. I've found a TS-E 90, I might have used an extender, gives a different view of Perth.
You got some good images and again your passion came through.
Thanks Howard.
I went to London recently and it was wonderful. Planning a return trip next year. Final image worked really well. Cheers.
Inspiring - thank you
A superb vlog Adam and great pictures. I think you are a city boy at heart nice to see you mixing it up. Keep up the good work 👍
Thanks Ian. I think I'm probably both. Equally comfortable mixing it up in the city as I am alone up a mountain. As long as I'm outside, I'm happy.
A great vlogg I learn so much from you Adam and thanks for you help. Think of buying a ts -e 24mm myself but would be secondhand 😀
Fab, I'd go back in a heartbeat but it's too risky right now ... have to get a cheaper one (Samyang) & practice. Love the architecture
Thanks for the shift demonstration! Never looked into the method before, since T/S lenses have always been a little too expensive.
Yeah they can be expensive. Good to hire though.
Great job again, Adam.
My daughter lives in London on I don’t remember her her saying that she is wearing her winter gear however they seem to have rain daily
I never used a tilt and shift lens before, but when you tilt your camera up to photograph the top of a building, the building will look tilted back. And if you use a wide angle lens, this is exaggerated even more. But even a one story building can look distorted. compressed in the back, and extended up in the front.
Thanks for giving us this video Adam. Lovely night shots. Having lived there you would know the area well. A person strange to London might feel anxious about their safety in the city.
It’s a pretty safe city really.
Really nice shots with the long exposure! TS lens is a nice thing - but quite expansive and very specific usage.
Thank you so much ... absolutely beautiful
Thanks. Much appreciated.
Great vlog and images
Thanks Paul.
Great episode Adam, great shots too 👍🏼
Hi Adam - Great video and great to see that your mojo is back. Please do count me in for a London workshop..
Thanks mate. Appreciate your comment. You'll be the first to know when I get it organised.
Wonderful shots, your videos are always educational as well as interesting - I should comment more because I always watch and enjoy so thank you.
Great images Adam I specially like the night scene.
A really nice video I can see that you put a lot of work into it I've never thought of a tilt lens but that might be something for the futur thank you again can't wait for the next video
Thanks Ian. Appreciate it.
Well done! Great informative video and lot of info!
Jim
Cheers Jim, glad you liked it.
A very good video - you are on my patch this time. I felt the passion in your voice! On those very long exposures - 6 minutes or so - do you find that without grad filters there was any trouble with balancing light? I presume you wouldn't bracket at such very long times.
Hi Adam, as you mention the day was pretty sunny with low color contrast so I think your daytime cityscape would have worked better in BW wit a bit of contrast boost. Tilt-shift lens indeed seems very useful for this kind of photography. Regards
I went into the day with a vision of the shots I wanted to capture. I love black and white but that's not what I wanted today. I always enjoy the challenge too!
loved your London video
Thanks. Really glad you liked it.
You did very well Adam. As I am doing mostly cityscapes here where I live (never without my trusty TS-E lenses, especially the 24mm II and a bunch of ND filters), as traditional landscapes are further away, I know the difficulties of tight spaces and clotty looking compositions due to the abundance of activities in crowded spaces. Not saying you don't have this in landscapes, but I guess, for architectural work, it is one of the main hindrances.
And yes, you are right, even if photos are literally at your feet, you have to go out and shoot them. For the everday world one seems to have this attitude. ;-)
Another masterpiece, starting to look into long exposures myself, as always you so inspire us beginners. Thank-you
Great photos Adam.
Love the night time shot of London. If you ever get to Manchester, have a look at Media city in Salford. It's stunning at night.
Cheers Rob. I don't know Manchester particularly well so I will definitely check that out. Thanks.
Fantastic video Adam and a brilliant variance from the usual type of landscape shot. You’ve no idea how much I was rooting for you with the 11 minute shot. All the images were amazing and I'm so glad you enjoyed it so much. I’ve thought about buying a tilt shift lens but I’m not sure how much I would use it as I shoot with Zorki 4K in urban environments. I know Paul G Johnson uses his with landscapes and of course they’ve got value there, but I’m not sure that it would be worth such a big investment for me. Perhaps I should rent one, but I’ve never rented a lens in my life and I’m incredibly clumsy because of my upper body difficulties. An absolutely brilliant uplifting video, I have another bad infection at the moment and you’ve really cheered me up, thank you.
Hi mate. Glad the video gave you a little boost and I'm glad you like the images. In terms of the tilt shift I would definitely rent one. I've hired one a good few times now and always been happy. This might be the tipping point where I take the plunge myself now though. Next week I use it to capture some nice landscape panoramas.
First Man Photography Looking forward to next week already. I think you’re right, for me renting is the answer for the time being.
Hey Adam, nice, emotional video. I really want to see more about the tilt/shift-lens and maybe a comparison with/without using that features. Nice, clean cityscape!
Yeah. I’m working on a video like that. The Guided Upright feature in Lightroom is very helpful.
Cool, looking forward to see. P.S. Lightroom? I am a darktable user! Peace. ;)
Love it. Awesome frames
Great video, have a nice Christmas
Thanks buddy. Same to you.
Beautiful!
I love London. Always excites me going there. And as you say it’s never easy to photograph! Nice images mate. Loved your emotion too! It’s great to have a place that’s special to you! 😊👍🏻 have a great 2018 buddy ❤️
You too. Thanks Gareth. Appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Have a great Christmas budd hope you get a pair of gaiters to encourage you with your landscape photography 😀
Hmmm!
Very nice
great shots love them all Time u came up to Scotland for some more great shotsTom G Scotland
Definitely mate. Its in the diary for January.
Nice photos & enjoyable video.
Cracking video mate, cinematics are spot on 👌🏻
Great job adam, lovely shots👍🏻 brave boy getting all that gear out in London lol
Great work Adam. I can see the production values in your videos going up. I used to live in the highlands of Scotland, but I wasn't really a photographer at the time, so know what you mean about returning to a location to photograph it after you've left. Do you ever use your tilt-shift lens for landscape work? would be interested to see you put it to use to maximise DoF. Keep up the good work. :-)
Great shots, I can't afford a Tilt-Shift lens, but I'm going to try the technique with the ND filter.
Renting is a good option to he able to try out a tilt shift lens. Glad you liked the shots. Appreciate the comment.
Don’t forget to checkout the Samyang tilt/shift offering, considerably cheaper although I think they only do a 24mm
Yeah I’ve not tried that one. 24mm is where I want to be though.
Enjoyed the video very much, been getting to grips with my 24mm TS-E for some time, I'm fairly confident using the shift function but still not quite so sure with the tilt setting, would you consider doing a follow up video on the tilt aspect?
Adam great vlog, love the emotion and honesty also great go to see you take some lovely photos in my hometown. I wish more accomplished landscape photographers would go into the city, any city and apply their skills on video there. Makes me think I may need to consider upgrading my variable ND filter to a filter system, once I've mastered long exposure shots.
joyed that one very much. How about a city night time trip out?. Russ
Definitely intending to do more city stuff in the future. Would be interesting at night.
London is my favourite city 🇬🇧💂🏻♂️🫖⚓👍🏻
Great tutorial, thank you. What camera/trigger are you using for the long exposures?
6min 30sec picture... you were very lucky no boat passed your camera during that time. Very nice result
That's the beauty of long exposure. During the exposure 3-4 boats moved through the scene but because they were only there for a few seconds they do not appear in the final image. Its a brilliant effect for shooting a street scene when you want to remove all the people or a busy landmark that people keep moving through.
There really were boats, and they don't show up at all? Well that is very interesting and good to hear. Thanks Adam for your amazing work, hope you will be able to continue making videos for a long time.
Great vlog, but I am sitting on the fence whether to buy TS lens. Previously I have used Photoshop to correct converging verticals. My question is. What are the advantages in spending a lot of money on a TS lens compared to post production in Photoshop?
reckon it’s the sort of lens worth hiring before you buy.