The Shard

[Kaye Leggett]

Took a trip up the highest building in Europe last weekend - I now want to go again as the photo opportunities were tremendous. We had a very dull weather day and by the time we left the viewing platform the top was covered in mist itself with the viewing distance short of a mile. So some of the photos lent themselves to thinking 'black and white conversion'. Here a couple I've processed, more to do - C&C appreciated to help the process along.

With thanks to the unsuspecting lady who stood and admired the view



I couldn't decide which upright was the true vertical here





A little detail

[TonyW]

I like the composition of these images and they give a good idea of the architectural details. The mist stops the background from being too distracting. Well done.

I haven't seen the building but I have seen the Pompidou Centre in Paris by the same architect. It is also mainly glass and steel but quite different in style.

[IzzieK]

I like the treatment in #1 as it tells a story...nice series.

[Mike Buckley]

Great concept especially well executed in the second one. I would like it even more if it were cropped on the right to eliminate everything on that side that is displayed from the top of the frame to the bottom.

In that image, the "truest vertical" is one of the center pieces though it's possible that none of the vertical pieces is truly vertical. That's because you were pointing the camera upward, which resulted in perspective distortion. Unless you correct the distortion in your post-processing software, you're almost always better off making a vertical piece in the center straight and letting everything on both sides of it "lean inward." Even so, I would get the image straight before correcting the distortion.

In this particular case, you're fortunate to have strong horizontal lines. You're far better off making them "true horizontal" and letting all of the verticals fall where they may.

[shreds]

I suppose I will do it one day, and have already found a few interesting and unusual takes on it from all over London at ground level. Plus have been up the glass floored CNN Tower in Toronto, Eiffel Tower in Paris, Empire State in NYC, BT Tower (in the days you were allowed up it) in London, and a couple of private roof visits to 190m ish towers in Frankfurt, one of which was incomplete with no walls and the only way up and down was by contractors lift on the outside!

But they all pale into insignificance compared to the Shard, unless you plan on visiting the Petronos Towers or Tapei 101 etc.

I sort of wish they had finished the Shard off properly, instead of leaving all those sharp bits of glass and fresh air around it……you just can't get the quality of builders these days can you?

[Shadowman]

Nice.

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks to you al for the comments.

Ian - yes it is pricey but worth the visit and on reflection a dull day is ideal and less crowded and once up there you can stay as long a you like. Might try it at night too. I also need to try the shots from around London but its already difficult getting that 'different' one.

Mike thanks for the ideas - hadn't thought about the horizon....that' a good tip. I don't think I can crop it very much - maybe I'll try cloning out the right side - at that part of the building its becoming a pyramid in architectural terms so the angles are narrow.

[shreds]

Kaye,

I find that distant vistas of it from places like Crystal Palace, Tulse Hill/Herne Hill, along the River or from the Essex side seem to work well, dependent upon the light. Obviously very early morning or evening seem to work best, particularly if you can catch the light reflecting off it. Sometimes the further away the better, although some interesting contrasts to be had even in the streets around London Bridge and Guys Hospital/Bermondsey.

I wasn't aware it was open at night….that does sound interesting, I take it they don't let you take tripods up there? A Gecko or Gorillapod might work at night though?

(There were some night pics floating around the internet before it was open/finished, from some urban explorers, who had evaded security and climbed to the top. Scary!)

http://www.silentuk.com/?p=3782

[Kaye Leggett]

Really scary...........

I've just checked the T&C's and tripods and monopods are not allowed. We didn't try but may be worth a punt ?

[Wavelength]

Excellent images; great perspectives; well done

[shreds]

Really scary...........

I've just checked the T&C's and tripods and monopods are not allowed. We didn't try but may be worth a punt ?

Absolutely no way.

I even tried writing in advance of a visit, (that didn't eventually happen), that was met with an absolute and resolute NO. That why I suggested maybe a pocketable contraption might work, but even with that I am not sure if there is a security scanner before going up? British Paranoia.

In Germany, I encountered the absolute opposite….yes sure go ahead and take as many pictures as you like. And that was airside, as a guest on the tarmac at the airport, (although advised one particular airline were paranoid over anyone photographing their planes). But Lufthansa and the rest, fine!