March 2012 – UK, Teddington

This was taken at the National Physical Laboratory in a room where they can cancel all phone signals, the scientist in that room was a great guy who was making science fun to listen to :)

March 2012 – UK, Teddington

This was taken at the National Physical Laboratory, in what looked like a very complex and rather big machine. The Scientist next to it did explain what it was but I must admit I don’t remember a thing, I was too busy getting photo of the center of that machine and I had to twist my body in all sort of position to get that shot! :)

March 2012 – UK, Teddington

There are many machines at the National Physical Laboratory, but I like the fact there are still some good old fashion pieces of furniture, like this set of draws.

March 2012 – UK, Teddington

This was taken at the National Physical Laboratory, in the noise cancelling chamber. It was quite an impressive room, but also quite tricky to take photos of as I did not have my flash I had to rely on a good low light sensor and the fact there was a light in that part of the room :)

March 2012 – UK, Teddington

Visiting the National Physical Laboratory on an Open day was great, I liked how reassuring that green light was, especially after you reed the instructions/warnings below the light. I am glad it was Green! :)

March 2012 – UK, London

This is in the park next to the Queen’s palace, it is a memorial for Canada, hence the maple leaf. As the sculpture was in an angle so the water could flow, the idea was for those leaf to appear as if they were floating and falling.

March 2012 – UK, London

This is the monument in front of Buckingham Palace, it was a grey day but the top of that statue was shining so much it was impossible to miss it. I decided to take it slightly off centered partly because it was as far as I wanted to walk in that mass of people and also to make it more interesting.

March 2012 – UK, London

This was a great egg sculpture, the key for the lock was inside that egg shell. I tried to get the two in focus, different angle, etc…. but in the end I just preferred to picture that lock because of the colours.

March 2012 – UK, London

This was my favorite ‘Faberger” Egg sculpture for the Easter London Challenge. Many people were taking photos of it from the other side as the egg was contrasting quite well against the green grass in the background… but as I tried to take a photo from above I noticed the pavement and the different lines as well as the grey color which was softer than the bright grass. In the end it was quite a tricky shot to take, I had no visibility and I wanted the whole egg, the little stones and part of the smooth tarmac… all this while many people were coming and going to take photo of that popular egg. I had to be quick but I also had to try many times and leaving other people to take photo without someone, i.e. me, on top of it with his arms stretched out! :)
In the end, this is exactly the photo I wanted!! well… if I could have had a bit more patience I would have tried maybe to get the reflection off by playing with my polarising lens more. But the background help frame the egg, it contrasts enough so it makes the egg really stand out and while it is not too busy it is still an interesting backdrop. I also would like to congratulate the artist who made that beautiful egg, unfortunately, I did not take a photo of the information panel in front of it…

March 2012 – UK, London

Funny enough, this is probably one of my favorite photo in terms of composition. This is the photo of a chocolate Faberger egg in a shop taken from the street. I tried to remove the window’s reflection as much as I could but in the end the result was not good at all… but then I started noticing in that reflection everyone walking by and looking at the egg… so instead I decided to focus on that window’s reflection, but still wanted to leave a shadow of the egg, enough to see what it was, but not too much so you still need to concentrate to understand what it is. When I was ready I waited for people to walk by and look at the egg… Surely enough no-one was looking at it anymore!! typical!! Or if they did, it just wasn’t right, until those two women walked by and I had the composition I was after… then there was luck, that red London bus is pure luck and add to the composition, first so you can tell it is london and then because of the face in the advertisement on the side of the bus which looks directly at you and at the two women. It helps creating a nice dynamic and a “play” as to who watches what and who. For me, the egg through the face of that man is looking at the two women :)