Yesterday I visited London again with a camera for a photo walkabout. I was more or less an hour away for work so once finished I decided to travel that little bit further and park up in Canary Wharf. I headed on the London Underground and jumped off at Tower Bridge in the centre of London.
After shooting for a while in a modern architectural development of sharp angles and glass, I heard this foreign sounding voice, saying, "Hello, hello, you can't take photographs here." I ignored it and carried on. London is kind of an anonymous place where quite a lot of the time no-one talks to anyone else. And I'm always on my guard for street scammers so this guy could f*ck off! I carried on ignoring the Nigerian voice and continued to shoot. I was trying to capture a person walking by in the right position in the frame and I was in the zone!
Eventually I got a tap on my shoulder from a security guard, again telling me I can't shoot here. I asked why and he replied it was because I wasn't allowed to use a proper camera! You can only use a phone camera! I've had this sort of thing happen before where, in the UK at least, if you're on private property, the owners deem it necessary to employ cheap labour and give them a high viz vest and a badge to go round annoying people.
Not wanting to get arrested for punching him in the face and telling him to f*ck off and get back to his pointless job, I slowly walked away and carried on shooting with my "proper camera."
I got many photos yesterday with both my "proper" camera and my iPhone 14 Pro. For this post, in honour of the Nigerian security guard with his pointless job, I decided to post the images I got with my iPhone!! Have a nice pointless life you high viz scumbadge!!
To RAW or not to RAW
It's a quirky camera on the iPhone 14 Pro. There's a bunch of cameras on these things and I have the option to shoot in RAW format. Whilst RAW is available on all the cameras, 0.5x, 1x, 2x and 3x, when you apply the Portrait Mode to create blurry backgrounds, the RAW option seems to have disappeared!
So here is my favourite capture of the trip, shot in Portrait Mode but not in RAW format....
Compressing Perspectives
This view from Tower Bridge shot with the x3 camera on the iPhone 14 Pro shows the benefit of a longer focal length to compress the perspective. This was also shot in Apple ProRAW format but because it was the x3 camera, the resolution was only 12mp, 3024 x 4032 pixels.
No matter though because once I'd figured out how to get the RAW file off the phone and in to Photoshop, this turned out quite nicely.
Shortly before being asked to leave....
This was shot with the 0.5x ultra wide camera on the iPhone. I believe the focal length equivalent for 35mm format is 13mm which is quite handy to have in my pocket. I've done very little processing to this one and I'm quite impressed how the computational algorithm handles the moody sky.
On the river bank
On this trip, not wanting to carry loads of lenses, I took only one lens for my "proper" camera, a Sony 20mm f1.8 FE prime. I found myself regretting that decision, especially when I kept seeing photos which needed a bit more reach. Note to self, take all the damn lenses next time!
Another shot with the 3x lens on the iPhone:
There's always an Ice Cream Van
I shot this with the 1x camera on the iPhone with the incessant march of tourists stomping by. I find myself quite impressed with the image quality. Zooming in with Photoshop, you can get quite a way in before the image degrades. Probably helps when the resolution is 5098 x 6798 pixels and the light is good.
For the record, I didn't buy an ice cream. I couldn't afford to donate another kidney!
I can't resist a vanishing point prespective shot
I jumped back on London Underground and headed back to Canary Wharf. Travelling on the Underground you get to see quite a lot of cool architecture. I simply can't help myself when I see a vanishing point perspective shot!
Speaking of donating a kidney.....
Once at Canary Wharf, I walked back towards my next shoot location. I walked past an estate agent shop window and nearly fell over in shock when I saw how much it was to rent what is essentially a box with a toilet and a kitchen!!! I haven't won the lottery or robbed a bank so living here is not an option! Not even a glimmer!
Wonky
The one thing that annoys me about shooting with an iPhone or any smartphone for that matter, is how difficult it is to line up a shot. I often use a tripod with my "proper" camera so I can obsess with angles and alignment. Stood there trying not to move shooting vertical and horizontal lines everywhere is pergatory for someone with a dash of OCD!!
It's not me, it's the camera right?
Another shot with lines all over the place. I was convinced it must be distortion on the iPhone lens but it seems it was my fault. Note to self, pay attention to the verticals!!
Struggle
By the time I shot this I was struggling. I'd walked approx 18,000 steps and being built for comfort and not for speed, I decided to call it quits and head back to the car. The iPhone also struggled with this high contrast scene. I didn't have to zoom in too far to notice the pixelation on the people walking by. iPhones still have their limitations but they're getting better every year.
About me:
I usually specialise in shooting lightpainting images but occasionally dabble in urbex and artistic model photography. I'm always on the lookout for someone to collaborate with; please don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like to create art.
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