London Icons

London has so many iconic buildings it's a struggle to choose my favourite ones.  There are some that I return to time after time though to try to capture them from the perfect angle with the perfect sky.  I have lost count how many pictures I have of the Gherkin, the London Eye and "Big Ben".  Below are a few of my favourites. 

30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin)

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/9.0

Shutter Speed: 1/160

St Paul's Cathedral and the Millennium Bridge

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/8

Shutter Speed:1/320

The Willis Building and the Lloyds Building

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/10

Shutter Speed:1/200

The London Eye

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 160

Aperture: f/8

Shutter Speed:1/125

Leadenhall Market

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/4.5

Shutter Speed:1/100

The Clock Tower of "Big Ben"

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 200

Aperture: f/9

Shutter Speed:1/640

Cure for the blues...

Well looking out my window at the moment it's pretty gloomy, so to brighten up my mood I just need to flick through my pictures from the Greek Islands.  Guaranteed sunshine, great food and clear waters make it one of my favourite summer destinations.  Croatia is on the itinerary this year, but next year Greece may come a knocking once again.  Here are a few of my favourite pictures from Santorini, Ios and Mykonos.

The blue waters of Mykonos

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/7.1

Shutter Speed:1/400

View of the caldera, Santorini

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

ISO 250

Aperture: f/11

Shutter Speed: 1/400

Traditional house in Chora, Ios

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

ISO 250

Aperture: f/11

Shutter Speed: 1/400

Chora at sunset, Ios

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

ISO 250

Aperture: f/8.0

Shutter Speed: 1/100

Sunset in Oia, Santorini

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

ISO 250

Aperture: f/10

Shutter Speed: 1/250

Twilight in Oia, Santorini

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

ISO 250

Aperture: f/4.0

Shutter Speed: 10 s

The cat's whiskers

So as I said before I am a dog person.  However I do find taking pictures of cats a lot easier than dogs.  Cats tend to be great posers whereas dogs, as I am sure many of you know, tend to run towards you just as you get into position and point the camera in their direction.   Below are a few of my favourite cat pictures I have taken over the past year.

 Double vision, Mykonos

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/6.3

Shutter Speed: 1/320

Momma, Tenerife

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 200

Aperture: f/7.1

Shutter Speed: 1/125

 Beggar, Mykonos

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/4.5

Shutter Speed: 1/80

 Three's company, Tenerife

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 200

Aperture: f/7.1

Shutter Speed: 1/400

 Djibouti, South Africa

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 200

Aperture: f/4.5

Shutter Speed: 1/50

 Doing what cats do best, Mykonos

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/6.3

Shutter Speed: 1/320

Architecture

When I was younger I wanted to be an architect (amongst other things).  I would sit for hours drawing up plans for my future house.  It would have two floors, a swimming pool, a balcony and a huge garden.  I haven't given up on one day living in a house like that although I doubt I will be the one designing it.  I still have a fascination for architecture though and on my travels I try to capture some of the worlds most spectacular structures.  Below are a few that I find awe-inspiring and breathtaking.

 The Reichstag, Berlin

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/10.0

Shutter Speed: 4.0 s

Chrysler Building, New York City

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 Macro DC

ISO 100

Aperture: f/9.0

Shutter Speed: 1/250

 The Colosseum, Rome

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/11.0

Shutter Speed: 15.0 s

30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin), London
Canon EOS30D

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/8.0

Shutter Speed: 1/160

 Louvre Pyramid, Paris

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/8.0

Shutter Speed: 1/250

Eiffel Tower, Paris
Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/5.6

Shutter Speed: 1/640

The Blue Hour

One of my favourite times of day to take pictures is during the twilight or blue hour when the lights start to come on and the sky turns a beautiful blue.  It does take a number of attempts to get the "perfect shot" especially when you have crowds of people around getting in the way of your open shutter.  I have also spent a few evenings in London in the freezing cold to get a shot I am happy with, but despite the frostbite it has been worth it.

 Pantheon in Rome

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/4.0

Shutter Speed: 3.2 s

 Trevi Fountain in Rome

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/11.0

Shutter Speed: 8 s

 Mykonos Town Waterfront

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/4.0

Shutter Speed: 0.4 s

 The London Eye and County Hall

Canon EOS7D

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/10.0

Shutter Speed: 13 s

 Sydney Opera House

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/4.0

Shutter Speed: 5 s

 Amsterdam Canal

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/4.0

Shutter Speed: 8 s

Paris - Mon amour

Who doesn't love Paris?  For me it's one of those cities you can just keep on visiting.  And living in London and having the convenience of the Eurostar makes it all the more appealing.  Last weekend we went to Paris to attend a friend's birthday party and got to see Paris through the eyes of a local.  It's amazing what you notice and what areas you end up exploring.  We spent most of our time in the 4th and 12th arrondissements (Hôtel-de-Ville and Reuilly) and they had so much to offer in the way of food, shopping and exploring.  Below are just a few of the pictures I took in these two areas.

 Street in Le Marais

Canon EOS7D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/7.1

Shutter Speed: 1/400

 Place des Vosges

Canon EOS7D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/5.6

Shutter Speed: 1/250

 Place du Colonel Bourgoin

Canon EOS7D

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/9.0

Shutter Speed: 1/160

 L'Opéra de la Bastille

Canon EOS7D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/10.0

Shutter Speed: 1/400

 Boulangerie and Patisserie in Le Marais

Canon EOS7D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/5.0

Shutter Speed: 1/60

 Macaron in the window of a Patisserie in Le Marais

Canon EOS7D

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 100

Aperture: f/4.0

Shutter Speed: 1/50

To Market

Last weekend I paid a visit to Borough Market in South East London.  It is one of the largest food markets in the world, with a wide variety of products from the UK and Europe.  Unfortunately I don't get there as often as I would like.  I do love taking pictures there, capturing the hustle and bustle of market life as well as all the fresh produce on display.

 Assortment of Vegetables

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

ISO 200

Aperture: f/4.0

Shutter Speed: 1/50

 Assortment of Breads

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

ISO 250

Aperture: f/7.1

Shutter Speed: 1/100

 Assortment of Cheeses

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

ISO 250

Aperture: f/5.0

Shutter Speed: 1/40

 Assortment of Vegetables

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

ISO 200

Aperture: f/4.5

Shutter Speed: 1/60

 Assortment of Mushrooms

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

ISO 250

Aperture: f/6.3

Shutter Speed: 1/80

 Assortment of Vegetables

Canon EOS30D

Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

ISO 250

Aperture: f/5.6

Shutter Speed: 1/30