London Marathon 2013

April 30, 2013 by Lou Smith Fine Art | Leave a comment

London Marathon 2013 Gets Off To A Great Start at Blackheath

London Marathon Gets Off To A Great Start From Blackheath

It’s Sunday 21st April and the runners are picking up an amazing pace right at the start of the London Marathon. Crowds pack the pavements, and even some of the runners leave the road to overtake using the pavement. Watch out! Photographer in the way! Bash, bump right into the slingshot on my back. Never mind the shot was great and it’s all part of the excitement at the start of this great London Marathon Event.

London Marathon 2013 – Runners Pick Up A Good Pace At Blackheath

The sun is shining and the crowd is clapping and applauding as the runners pass. It’s awesome to be that fit and run that fast, when there is still 42.195 km (26.219 miles) to go. The guys are picking up a fast pace and it’s all or nothing. The London Marathon is a charity event and this year over £16 million and still counting was raised.

London Marathon 2013 - Sunday 21st April

Runners Run Past As They Jostle For Position, London Marathon 2013

Tens of thousands of runners took part in the London Marathon, many with black ribbons on their vests in honour of the victims of the Boston bombings. Over 700,000 spectators lined the streets as the 36,000 runners set off from Blackheath, where a 30-second silence was held. Three people died and more than 170 were injured by Monday’s blasts, near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

This year the Winners of the London Marathon 2013 are,

Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede wins men’s race
Kenya’s Priscah Jeptoo wins women’s race
Tiki Gelana collides with wheelchair racer
Mo Farah runs half marathon in an hour
GB’s David Weir finishes fifth
Shelly Woods fifth in wheelchair race

The online ballot to enter the London Marathon in 2014 was closed after a few hours as next year’s runners took up the pace again.

Lou Smith is a Fine Art Photographer with over 25 years experience in the visual arts and delivers street photography workshops in London. Check out our photography courses page and learn creative photography with techniques exclusive to Lou Smith Fine Art Photography.

Photographs and content may not be used without permission.

St George’s Day Celebrations London 2013

April 25, 2013 by Lou Smith Fine Art | Leave a comment

The Feast of St George! Live in Trafalgar Square

Expect dragon slaying, entertainers, musicians, stalls and people dressed up having a good time on St George’s Day London 2013. Location Trafalgar Square. Lou Smith, camera in hand was there to capture the liveliness of this annual event.

Street Portrait – Cool Dude Enjoying St George’s Day London 2013

St George’s Day London – Dragon Keeper in Trafalgar Square

Trying to relax during St George’s Day in Trafalgar Square, London

Crowds in Trafalgar Square – St George’s Day Celebrations, London 2013

Photographs and content may not be used without permission.

Posted in London Festivals, Street Photography Tagged london photography, street photography |

London Celebrates the Colourful and Exciting Chinese New Year 2013

February 11, 2013 by Lou Smith Fine Art | Leave a comment

The Year of the Snake

Colourful processions parade through London celebrating the Year of the Snake

The Chinese New Year is a fantastic display of colour. Chinese dragons, dancers, firecrackers and music are all part of this visually rich display. An amazing opportunity to experience this cultural event without even leaving the country! London popped with colour and vibrant display. The procession started in Trafalgar Square and made its way along Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue, skirting the edges of London’s Chinatown. People just packed the route. Not even the wet weather dampened the enthusiasm of the crowd as they cheered as the procession passed. Chinese Dragons just loved the crowds and playfully darted towards the crowd as they lined the streets. The crowds loved this too and playfully roared when the Dragon darted. Fabulous!

When I arrived there was no room at the front! I climbed onto a balustrade and held my camera above my head and fired a few continuous shots and bagged this beauty. The woman is extraordinarily beautiful in her richly embroidered costume of pinks and blues. The face make up is out of this world and she parades for all to see graciously bowing as she moves along.

Two men howl in Chinatown and celebrate the Chinese New Year London 2013

Chinatown was packed and the buzz was amazing. The colour red is everywhere in London’s Chinatown. These 2 guys howled and encouraged everyone to join in. Our howls reverberated through Chinatown. Next year is a must!

Photographs and content may not be used without permission.

Posted in London Festivals Tagged chinatown london, london photography, street photography, urban |

The Edge of Chinatown

December 11, 2012 by Lou Smith Fine Art | Leave a comment

The Edge of Chinatown

Chinatown is a heady place for photographers as it is bustling with activity and everything seems to happen at once. Sounds, voices, people, textures, colours, shop fronts, lanterns and amazing shaped foods and smells all rush at you. It is a real squeeze on the senses. In locations like this I usually look for elements which are isolated from the main burst of activity. In The Edge of Chinatown a young women looks out from a shop window, waiting to go home. It’s only 3.00 pm and the shop closes at 4.00 am – long way to go.

In this shot I used my 50mm lens, which is just great in the low light of Winter. No problems here as its nice and fast, quick to focus and click the shutter – job done. The shot is complete. I give the woman the thumbs up and she smiles as I walk away.

Looking at Me in Chinatown

Getting close again with the 50mm lens I want my subjects to look right into the camera lens. Looking at Me in Chinatown is a street portrait in which the subject challenges the viewer with her stare. I am only a few feet away and I know she sees me. This is exactly what I want in this series of street photography shots, direct visual contact with the subject.

Another day is over in Chinatown.

Photographs and content may not be used without permission.

Posted in Photography Courses London, Portraits, Street Photography Tagged chinatown london, london photography, photo tours, photography courses, photography tours, street photography, urban |

Street Vibe with Lou Smith

December 8, 2012 by Lou Smith Fine Art | Leave a comment

Street Photography as Stalls Sizzle and Buzz with Christmas Vibe

As London gears up for Christmas Street Photography is at its best. Stalls sizzle, pop and burn as smoke fills the air. Revellers come in close to the stalls to warm and fill themselves with Christmas cheer. It’s getting cold in London and the icy North wind just blows in. The cold blow never stops Christmas – it just makes it even more awsesome to take in the London Street Vibe. Here a touch of tinsel is the icing on the cake!

Lou Smith is a Fine Art Photographer with over 25 years experience in the visual arts and teaches street photography in London. Check out our photography courses page.

See you soon…

Photographs and content may not be used without permission.

Posted in Street Photography Tagged london photography, photography courses, photography tours, South Bank, street photography, urban |

William Klein | Great Photographer and Filmaker

December 6, 2012 by Lou Smith Fine Art | Leave a comment

William Klein: Creator of Iconic Images

‘I was an outsider, following my instincts’

An exclusive interview with photographer William Klein and a first-ever glimpse behind the scenes at his Paris studio.

Klein’s work is featured in the exhibition William Klein + Daido Moriyama at Tate Modern, 10 October 2012–20 January 2013.

This exhibition documents the creative energy of an photographer driven in the pursuit of his personal vision, changing the look of street photography forever. Visit this exhibition and then get in closer with your own street images.

Lou Smith is a Fine Art Photographer with over 25 years experience in the visual arts and teaches street photography in London. Check out our photography courses page.

Posted in Street Photography Tagged street photography, urban |

Wild is the Wind through Dartmoor Trees

November 12, 2012 by Lou Smith Fine Art | Leave a comment

Wild is the Wind Through Dartmoor Trees

I love Dartmoor. This landscape is fully of mystery, colour, shapes and textures. These trees bend and sway as wind moves and spirals around their branches. They are tall trees and bend as the wind howls through the leaves. Autumn creates this soft illuminated light which saturates the oranges in the fall leaves. Setting a cloudy white balance for the jpg. preview pumps up the warmth of the colours and motivates the colour painter within me to look for more oranges, reds and yellows to contrast against the sky. These Dartmoor Trees are tall and extremely elegant. Their beauty is all mine to see and capture. This time of year is just the best. Where else could I be?

Lou Smith is a Fine Art Photographer with over 25 years experience in the visual arts and teaches photography in London. Check out our photography courses page.

See you soon…

Photographs and content may not be used without permission.

Posted in Dartmoor, Landscape Photography

Autumn in Dartmoor – The Beauty of Light

November 6, 2012 by Lou Smith Fine Art | Leave a comment

The Beauty of Autumn Light in Dartmoor National Park, Devon

The Old Pump House in Autumn

Dartmoor is a landscape of outstanding beauty, visually vibrant at all times. The weather is ever-changing and from day to day one can be bathed in sunshine, rain or mists. An extreme range of weather conditions to experience and photograph. This is one of many visits to photograph the rugged landscape of Dartmoor. However this is my first visit in Autumn to capture the amazing oranges, reds and yellows of Autumn. Here the Old Pump House is illuminated in warm Autumnal light – the grasses are orange too! The sky is a deep misty blue. Complimentary colour contrasts intensify this surreal landscape.

This photograph is taken around 16.30 when the light is at it’s softest illumination a couple of hours before sunset. I used a polarising filter to maximise the blue sky, deepen shadows and minimise glare from the Pump House. I love Dartmoor and this photo is one of the reasons why I photograph the Dartmoor landscape regularly. It is wild, rugged and beautiful. Just what I like!

Lou Smith is a Fine Art Photographer with over 25 years experience in the visual arts and teaches photography in London. Check out our photography courses page.

See you soon…

Photographs and content may not be used without permission.

Posted in Dartmoor, Landscape Photography Tagged Dartmoor Ponies |

Standing in the Shadows – Street Photography

October 9, 2012 by Lou Smith Fine Art | Leave a comment

Dramatic Lighting Creates Intense Street Photography

This photograph combines elements of Creative Seeing in the composition – abstraction of forms, textures, exploring rich tonal contrasts and utilizing light and shade. The waiting figure adds the Street photography element. A sense of what is happening, what is going on, what is about to happen? is created.

The visiblilty of the figure emerges slowly from within the shadows which creates an evocative sense of mystery. It’s not always necessary to see everything crisply in a photograph. The angle of view, looking down adds another intense element to the photograph. A moment later the man has gone and the scene has changed! Street photography is fast and you have to be quick to capture the shot as the moment is elusive and everchanging.

“There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture. Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera. That is the moment the photographer is creative. Oop! The Moment! Once you miss it, it is gone forever.”- Henri Cartier-Bresson

For more information about photography courses contact Lou Smith. London Street Photography workshops with Lou Smith Fine Art Photography are a creative and inspirational experience.

See you soon…

Lou Smith is a Fine Art Photographer with over 25 years experience in the visual arts.

Photographs and content may not be used without permission.

Posted in Photography Courses London, Street Photography, Urban Photography Tagged photography courses, street photography, urban |

Chasing Light in Photography Whatever The Weather !

September 24, 2012 by Lou Smith Fine Art | Leave a comment

The Spirit of London as Crowds Make Their Way Home in the Rain

The never ending preoccupation with the weather is a feature of living in the UK. We talk about it all the time. We are either too hot, cold or wet! Whatever the weather, my photographer’s eye looks for light. The aftermath of rain creates amazing lighting conditions. Cast your mind back to the Thames River Pageant during the Diamond Jubilee and remember the weather – Yep! it did rain. In this photograph crowds make their way home in the pouring rain. This shot was taken as the crowd passed under a bridge which created pockets of light and shade. This gives an illuminated quality to parts of the crowd, while other areas are partially lit. The crowd slows and patiently moves forward to queue for the tube station. Perfect! Light and shadows creating a filmic quality to the scene.

Lou Smith is a Fine Art Photographer with over 25 years experience in the visual arts.

Photographs and content may not be used without permission.

Posted in Street Photography, Urban Photography Tagged Diamond Jubilee 2012, london photography, street photography, urban |

Lou Smith Fine Art

London Marathon 2013

London Marathon 2013 Gets Off To A Great Start at Blackheath

St George’s Day Celebrations London 2013

The Feast of St George! Live in Trafalgar Square