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Pride of London
1st PlacePride of London
Imagineer


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Landmarks (Advanced Editing II)
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Location: River Thames, by the Tate Modern
Date: Dec 2, 2004
Aperture: f13
ISO: 100
Shutter: 20 secs
Galleries: Cityscape, Architecture
Date Uploaded: Dec 3, 2004

 Sir Christopher Wren's mighty St Pauls Cathedral in dramatic contrast to the Millennium Bridge by Sir Norman Foster. Wren's (not so wobbly) masterpiece survived the Blitz and has embodied the British spirit ever since.

Winston Churchill was quoted as saying:
"At all cost St Pauls must be saved", such was his awareness of its iconic symbolism to the nation.
---
Shot using a 28-105mm lens with a ND filter (if I remember correctly!!).

Edits:
> Hue/sat
> Dodge/burn
> Lab colour > sharpen Lightness
> Gradient Map (for blue hue)
> very mild noise reduction
> crop

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 143
Avg (all users): 7.6538
Avg (commenters): 8.4884
Avg (participants): 7.5263
Avg (non-participants): 7.7611
Views since voting: 17250
Views during voting: 451
Votes: 208
Comments: 110
Favorites: 115 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 10/04/2007 08:41:34 AM
What a wonderful capture! The level of details in this photo are wonderfully sharp & crystal clear and the color tones are rich, deep hues. Love the way the light plays upon the surface of the water - it makes this nighttime scene a bit magical. I like the blues seen in the water and in that lovely night time sky. I love how you composed the shot so that the Millennium Bridge acts as a leading line that draws our eye across the channel to St Pauls Cathedral.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/28/2007 07:36:26 PM
I luv this! Going into my favorites! I really like your work!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/28/2005 07:09:33 PM
Yeah. Big up to my Londoner
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/06/2005 12:19:42 AM
What a beautiful image. The cool blues and grays in the night sky are simply awesome. Stunning view!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/05/2005 10:48:28 PM
I don't know how I missed this shot - HOLY CRAP! I can't believe the sharpness and deepness of the tones. Truly incredible and one of the best images I've seen on this site. Outstanding.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/17/2004 05:48:44 PM
I've just been on my works Christmas party and it was a boat trip down the Thames... I was out on deck taking some photos and I was waiting to see this exact shot go by! You did an awsome job, the long exposure's had a great effect on the water, and the colours are fantastic. Great job (clearly!)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/17/2004 03:43:24 AM
how you calculate the exposure mix of this photo.realy on of my favourite shots that i have ever seen. Congratulation
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2004 07:52:01 PM
... and lurking in the haze just to the right of the Cathedral, is the vague outline of one of the towers of the Barbican Centre: so make that three iconic bits of british architecture. That last, of course, doesn't get quite the plaudits of the others.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2004 03:00:53 PM
This is truly an incredible photo. Very deserving of first place!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2004 12:58:48 PM
Beautiful photo. St Paul's is quite beautiful. I never realized that English Commuter Rail Stations looked so much like American Commuter Rail Stations. I had heard however, Churchill's actual comment was "Mrs Paul's must be shaved."
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2004 08:11:53 AM
Well deserved blue ribbon for technically superior post processing. Of course, you have to have a great image to start with and you have captured that. This image is well composed with good perspective and combines two well known landmarks into one composition, perfect for this particular challenge.

One of my top three picks for this challenge; an obvious choice.

Message edited by author 2004-12-16 08:18:11.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2004 02:01:22 PM
Congratulations! Well executed shot! Blue is just great!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2004 10:44:40 AM
I think I remember your saying you weren't going to win a blue any time soon? ... many congratulations, long overdue my friend.

Edit ... checking your profile, it looks like this was your 100th challenge entry. Some way to celebrate the century Jon.

Message edited by author 2004-12-15 16:52:29.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2004 05:08:19 AM
beautiful image - i was actually looking through your work the other day and thinking that with all the beautiful images, you must be due for a ribbon! i especially like the blue tone and how the bridge leads you into the picture. congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2004 02:46:57 AM
Congrats on a beautiful image well deserved I didnt see this in voting but I really like it
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/14/2004 10:44:35 AM
Congratulations Jon,
FINALLY... a well deserved BLUE for you:))
An incredible shot!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/14/2004 08:37:53 AM
Jon, nice to see you up here - yeah, I know where to go:)
Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/14/2004 07:25:13 AM
Thanks again for those latest comments - appreciated!

Anyone wanting to compare the original can do so here.
 12/13/2004 10:23:09 PM
My top pick won. :) Jon this is one outstanding shot and a well deserved first place. A big congratulations to ya. How in the heck could anyone in there right mind give this a 3 or 4? for that matter even a 5?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 09:48:32 PM
A lovely nightshot, congrats on the well deserved blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 09:32:02 PM
Wow! I am left speechless! Congratulations! Incredible!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 06:00:37 PM
An excellent capture, Jon. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 05:38:49 PM
Congratulations on your first blue ribbon with this amazing image! Clearly my favorite in this challenge from the start, good to see it in a well deserved 1st place! Outstanding job all the way around!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 03:38:41 PM
Originally posted by orussell:
Great image. So good it doesn't even look real. It's awe inspiring even. OK, enough cliches. I'd love to see the original.......please.


Yes, could you post the original? Please, pretty pretty please?!?!

Also, what kind of dodging/burning did you do? Burning around the bottom corners?

Stunning image!!! Congrats on the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 02:45:24 PM
Great image. So good it doesn't even look real. It's awe inspiring even. OK, enough cliches. I'd love to see the original.......please.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 02:32:15 PM
this picture is absolutley amazing, a truely stunning piece and probably the best shot ive seen in the competition so far
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 10:44:14 AM
absolutely stunning, Jon! this captures an emotion not usually found in architecture shots. the colors are wonderful, rich without being overly saturated. well done on a beautiful image and congratulations on a well deserved blue ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 09:51:31 AM
Did you use a star filter?
Some of the street lights seem to look like it.
Great picture - colurs look very natural and not saturated.
The lights on the water are really lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 09:46:02 AM
This is just stunning ! I love everything about it. Congrats on your well deserved win !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 09:36:59 AM
This was my only 10 of the challenge -- very well earned! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 09:09:18 AM
Wow! Amazing picture man!
you would have gotten a 10 from me if I had voted
Congrats on the ribbon Very well deserved!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 08:16:48 AM
I have become extremely moist viewing these comments. I do thank each and every one of you who has spent the time to do so.
: )

Thanks especially to those who made me laugh aloud: Bod, Gordon ("geewhy"), Manic.

And samtrundle - you forsaw the future!

Edit: forgot to mention how chuffed I was too, considering the quality of the rest of the field.

Message edited by author 2004-12-13 08:19:01.
 12/13/2004 08:09:43 AM
Well would you look at that. I was right for once. I'm quite chuffed about that. Hey, if you can't win a ribbon you can at least predict who will. Just to try and drag you down from the tall pedestal, this was only my second favourite image of the challenge :P.

Brilliant work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 07:25:36 AM
This is great. Love the colour.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 06:39:36 AM
Fantastic work john. You should have gotten this ribbon so many times before for all your other great shots. Congratulations for this remarkable shot and hopefully many more blue ribbons will continue to follow.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 06:09:20 AM
Whooo John, you beat me to the first blue ribbon - well done great shot.

Like the kind of gritty feel this has, usualy this is shot all perfect and clean but the bridge has a gritty rusty element here which you do not usualy see. Nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 05:46:49 AM
Long time coming ! congrats on the blue
Love the shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 05:30:15 AM
The only thing missing from this shot is Manic swearing at you from the bridge : )

Well done Jon, this was long overdue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 05:07:21 AM
I shoulda know that your shot would do this well, you lucky lucky git :o) Seriously, congrats on a great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 05:01:28 AM
A worthy winner congratulations !!!! Sorry I didn't vote you higher at the time. This is a standout !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 04:49:16 AM
I should have tried to put you off the 20D !!!!

Congratulations Jon..so pleased you have a long overdue Blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 04:17:55 AM
Lovely. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 04:13:08 AM
What a great shot, congrats! (what lens did you use?)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 04:07:07 AM
....and about bloody time Lucas!!

Mike
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 04:04:00 AM
A worthy blue ribbon winner shot. Excellent capture Imagineer! Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 03:58:37 AM
I guess I was wrong about straightening the horizon :-)
Congrats on your win.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 03:05:41 AM
Congratulations on your first blue. Stunning photo
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 02:16:48 AM
Congrats Jon on your first blue for this beautiful composition. Well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 02:00:31 AM
that is an awesome display of photography
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 01:28:26 AM
Congratulations on your first blue!
Awesome pic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:45:49 AM
Hey Jon, what's going on? I guess your excellent photography is just catching up with you!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:22:18 AM
Home Sweet Home. good victory deserved blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:13:50 AM
Its an awesome photo, and a well deserved win.

Congrats Jon....very cool shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:11:35 AM
Well all right! justice is being paid to a great talent. This image is haunting and cool. Congratulations on your well earned blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:09:05 AM
Congrats on a wonderful shot...Your image was the 3rd one I saw when I started voting and I knew it was going to be tough competition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:08:09 AM
This is a great photograph. There can be no question of it deserving the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:07:28 AM
Congrats Jon!! A well deserved blue!

sue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:06:22 AM
Congratulations on a deserved blue ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:06:00 AM
Amazing photograph, well deserving of first place! Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:05:27 AM
stunning! the colors on the water and the sharpness of the buildings is wondeerful. a terrific composition. congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:02:26 AM
CONGRATS i knew this one would be in the top 3
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:01:26 AM
Congrats. Excellent.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2004 12:00:35 AM
Called it. This shot made the challenge a race for second place. Congrats! Gotta mark this as a favorite.

Message edited by author 2004-12-13 00:04:18.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
12/12/2004 11:54:12 PM
Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/12/2004 11:52:07 PM
Outstanding capture. Great DOF, Intriguing point of view. My favorite of the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/12/2004 11:13:35 PM
returning for comments -- I love this shot. Great composition and great angle chosen here. The lighting and colors works so well -- bumping up.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/12/2004 10:07:06 PM
Excellent lighting/exposure.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/12/2004 08:01:06 PM
I have returned to this image several times and still can't stop staring. Stunning result. The tones of the sky alone are breathtaking. I bow before your talent.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/12/2004 05:18:22 AM
Stunning .. the light is just great 10/10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/12/2004 02:13:15 AM
This is an outstanding photo. I can only hope that with time and practice I too will be able to take photos of this calibre. This is definitely a winner in my book. I have revisited this photo a countless number of times and never cease to be amazed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/12/2004 12:16:53 AM
Amazing detail, nice colors. Very nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/11/2004 08:58:55 PM
I really like the composition, great exposure and colors too...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/11/2004 04:25:16 PM
if only I could give this one more than 10 points.... it is stunning!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/11/2004 01:27:43 PM
returning for comments:
Will make a great poster. Tones are soothing and almost magical with great definition of subject matter. Bumping up.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/11/2004 08:29:33 AM
excellent night scene - leading lines make a strong composition - one of my ribbon picks this challenge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/11/2004 04:29:07 AM
You should have straightened the horizon. It distracts from what whould have been a winner..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2004 05:19:05 PM
excellent exposure. the lights give atmosphere without washing anything out. good work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2004 10:22:04 AM
I think you hit the exposure on this shot perfectly. This is simply elegant. The levels on the bridge, water, sky, and buildings are all very well balanced. So clear, sharp, and focused.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2004 09:38:47 AM
What a beautiful clear shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2004 07:19:53 AM
Love it....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2004 03:53:26 AM
great night shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2004 06:05:05 PM
Woah, as the photographer of 'Saint Pauls', I think I recognise this location ;) Interesting choice of colours, esp the B&W cathedral, and the long(ish) exposure helps soften that water nicely. Good to see such good photos of London in this challenge :)

ROFL, thanks for the comment ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2004 11:59:37 AM
What a load of old rubbish...I could do better with my Instamatic !!!
Then again..could my opinion be influenced by the fact that I know who took this :)
Seriously good work Jon...I haven`t been through all the images yet, but if this isn`t among the ribbons, there will be questions asked.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2004 11:39:08 AM
Well Done! Great shadows of the lights in the water
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2004 07:41:09 AM
super sharp image, almost surreal - 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2004 06:03:24 AM
nice composition and lighting, 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2004 09:58:19 PM
Love the colors in this. A top pick for me. Good luck.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2004 08:33:41 PM
Very stately, love the blue hues.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2004 05:53:28 PM
MOST...BEAUTIFUL...PICTURE...EVER!!! I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!

no seriously...it's a really good picture :D
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2004 04:36:08 PM
Great night shot, sharp, very cool
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2004 12:29:25 PM
Stunning image! Probably a ribbon. The only thing I would do with this photo is...uh, celebrate? 10
EDIT- Congrats on your POTD, Jon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2004 07:26:14 AM
Awesome photograph. What camera/filters did you use?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2004 07:06:02 AM
Excellent photo, the use of time to blur the water works very well here. The colors are super.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2004 04:47:58 AM
Beautifully executed, well composed. I've tried this shot myself, and never found a really happy composition - I think this is possibly the best available, but it somehow never quite feels a strong as one would want it - I think it's because the balance of the bridge and the cathedral don't quite sit as comfortably in frame as one would like; to my eye, the brdige always feels relegated somehow. This is by far the best attempt I've seen at it though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2004 01:09:56 AM
Very cool looking
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2004 12:11:28 AM
Absolutely beautiful night shot and perfect for the landmark challenge. Really great photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 10:32:34 PM
I love the blue / silver tones to this shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 08:51:58 PM
This HAS to ribbon. It is technically perfect, meets the challenge, and is simply breathtaking. This could sell a million in my opinion.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 08:47:49 PM
10 good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 08:32:36 PM
One of my top choices for this contest. not sure if your plan was to focus on the building or bridge. Regardless, great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 08:09:44 PM
Beautifully taken. Great composition. Light and focus are perfect. 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 07:30:16 PM
Personally I think this one of St. Pauls just shades it over the over one. I like the colouring of the sky.

Good Luck
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 06:32:55 PM
Beautiful lighting. Great composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 05:33:11 PM
WOW very nice the angel, i like the softness of the water too. lighting is great. good job and good compistion.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 04:56:56 PM
wow, thats clarity! Beautiful job capturing color and light composed to make a stunning image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 04:39:12 PM
Like this a lot... half desaturation make it real interesting. Would like such on my wall. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 09:23:00 AM
Beautiful shot well composed. Great detail. Even the thumbnail looks terrific. Really eye-catching. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 07:05:50 AM
cor, a few of you blokes went down to the Tate last week, didn't you? this is a marvellous image of Wrens finest - the lovely blues go very well for the selective desat - which itself works well and has been employed effectively. though, it's so convincing i can't be 100% sure if it was desatted. the bridge, the cathedral, the river and surrounding buildings all work together and forms a wonderful composition - would not look out of place framed and for sale on some tourist friendly stall. excellent job - 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 05:46:05 AM
this is a brilliant photo. I have been looking at it for about 6 mins and have only just realized that it is the river thames and not a rain covered courtyard with a modern sculpture on it...the more I look the more I see. I love the overall coloring and the detail in the bridge support not to mention the main subject, the composition is perfect
have added it to my favs.. a well deserved 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2004 12:13:10 AM
Well it's way too early to be making this call (I have viewed all of ten pics... but I think someone just won this challenge). Stunning night shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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