"London for Photographers"

One of the best experiences in London, is to walk through Green Park to Buckingham Palace, to see the changing of the guard.....Impressive.

I also walked from Leicester Square down to Trafalger Square, to see what political movement might be holding a rally....and the picture possibilities are endless.

Quick Tips:

If you go to Trafalger Square, do not stand on the east side of the square to watch the goings on.....you'll be standing under the few trees that the pidgeons roost on. Sooner or later you will get a present in your hair or jacket, but if you do, although the first instinct is to wipe it off, allow it do dry....it will flake off very easily....

Best Way To Get Around:

One of the fastest ways to to take the 'Tube' or Underground....although look on a map before desending to the trains, you might find that the stop you might need is only a few blocks away...and the tube seems easier, is sometimes not, so try walking. This city is best seen on foot, experience the sights and smells and the wonderful city streets at a personal level.

You'll agree, London is wonderful. Any time of year.

Single spartan dorm room style accomodations, bath and toilets in the hall, but always available on a tourist''s time schedule...and at a great price 25-30 pounds. With an English ''all you can eat'' breakfast...Right near the British Museum......Very nice.

This has got to be one of the best places in London to get really extraordinary pictures with very little effort and not a lot of travel within the area. Coming up out of the tube stop you are immediately hit with all of the activity. There are quite a few places in this area to grab a quick bite, if the light isn't quite right when you arrive...North of Piccadilly, there is a Mcdonalds on Shaftsbury, right across from the Rainforest cafe, and a Burger King right on the roundabouts. And if you are planning on walking through to Leicester Square later, there are quite a few choices there as well.

Ok, as for the best places and photo tips, if you stand across the street from the massive neon display, in front of Lillywhites, you can get the famous pic of the neon with a little, or alot of the surrounding area, to give it scale. There is plenty of room here to be able to set up a mini lightweight tripod, if you've brought one. A favorite shot of mine, is to wait till a few of the red double decker buses get caught in traffic at this intersection. If you time it right, you can get a great wide angle shot that will include the buses and the neon as well. If you are patient enough, and the light is just right, usually at dusk, with the sky illuminating a little, try and use a wide angle at about a 30th or at a 60th, to get the bus while it is moving, and with the still of the neon, the bus will show great movement within the frame, this is a very cool shot....you may have to bracket to get as many opportunities to get this shot....you will know the wait was worth it when you get your pictures back.

Another great pic that I don't see many people trying to get, is the Underground sign in the foreground and the massive neon in the background. Everyone who has seen this picture thinks it is a postcard, hey maybe I'll try and sell it to postcard companies as well.

Here's how you get this shot. Go to the Underground entrance in front of the Rock Circus. With a little planning, stand on the top of the steps and bend down just a touch and look straight up UNDER the Underground sign, and there is your shot.... the problem here is that there may be alot of people coming up from the Underground at various times, and the top of the steps can be dangerous. If you are traveling with someone, have them stand three or four steps down the up side of the steps....if you are using a tripod, this shot will be very, very easy, just make sure you bracket your shots here as well the effort will be well paid when you see the pictures.