Starbucks by the Docks (HDR)

This is one of my earlier works that I decided to go over again in HDR. I used photomatix for the tone-mapping process and touched it up using GIMP.

"Starbucks by the Dock" is located in St. Katharine's Dock, which is just past the tower of London (just east). Well worth a visit!

I never wrote about the original uploaded work in this blog, so if you're interested, take a look at the original here.

I'm sure you'll agree with me, the new HDR version looks better! (well, I thing so anyway!)

Until next time...

Related posts

• St. Katharine's Dock

Abandoned (HDR)

Loyal readers of this blog will recognise the above photograph as I've commented on this picture before.

I've basically decided to rework my earlier artwork in HDR tone-mapping via photomatix. This is the final result. The funny thing with this particular piece is that initially I didn't like it when I finished it. But, a day later, I'm starting to warm to it. One thing I do like about it, is the depth it seems to have; it almost turns the trains and the buildings 3-D.

On the whole, I personally think that this is a huge improvement from the original image.

See my original blog post about this photograph here.

If you like it, please view or purchase via my redbubble account.

Until next time.....

Commercial Street

Taken at some point in 2010 last year.

Commercial Street has special historical character. One of the pubs Jack the Ripper is said to frequent is on this road and his second victim was said to have died just off the Road in Buxton Street.

On a lighter note, Uptown Spitalfields market (built in 1887—and a poorer market back then) is also off this Road.

I chose to focus on this building because this building is a typical Victorian building built in the 1840’s. I really love history and I love to focus on the buildings that remain standing to this day. Thankfully, this whole area is much as it was back in the Victorian era, with whole streets left unchanged.
Well worth a visit if you’re in London!

The area is home to a vibrant Asian community and this adds a distinct character of it’s own! one of my favourite spots in London.

Available for purchase via redbubble.

Until next time....

Victoria Park

This was taken early in September of last year. It is an unedited photograph of Victoria Park (Tower Hamlets, East London) with the view toward the West.


You may view and purchase this photograph via my redbubble account.

Until next time....

Off the Rails!

This is a different angle from my other picture called "Abandoned."

A shot taken earlier in 2010 of a couple of Tube trains placed on the roof of a building in Shoreditch, East London (just up the road from Bishopsgate, City of London).

This picture hasn't been edited except for some sharpening. A very unusual sight in London.

Available for sale via my Redbubble account.

Until next time......

Abandoned

Unfortunately, I was unable to post anything yesterday due to a very busy day.
Today, I want to make it up to you by posting two posts.

Here is one of my favourite shots. I took this back in August 2010 in Shoreditch, East London. As you can see, the sky was a perfect blue! not a cloud in sight.

I call this photograph "Abandoned" as a tube train certainly does not belong on top of a building! also, abandoned seems to fit this old train in another way. from my vantage point on the ground, it seems like the inside was gutted and turned into offices! (zoom in closer and you'll see what I mean -- you'll have to click on the frame to see a larger version).

This is certainly one of the more unusual sights in London. I have to say at this point, that the photograph WAS NOT edited! (apart from a little sharpening, honest!)

To see this for yourself, travel to Shoreditch High Street station, and it's located around the corner (look out for the drunken monkey pub -- it's located on the road before it).

As always, if you like this, you can purchase it here.

There is also another angle of the same shot which is also uploaded for sale. Look out for another post in the very near future when I share this picture with you.
Well, that's it for now. Check back later today for the second post!

Until later...

Keeping the Thames clean!

This was taken in Wapping in the London borough of Tower Hamlets. The river Thames is in the background and one of Tower Hamlet's many litter bins is in the foreground.

I took this and completed the editing of this picture a few months back; but I've only just uploaded it for sale as I came up with a few versions of this picture. It was difficult deciding which one to upload.
I finally decided on this picture but I will upload the other versions to this blog in due course for your comments and reviews. I haven't as yet decided to sell the others, but may decide after getting your viewpoints.

Stay tuned.

Unfortunately, due to the low pixel size of this image, I can only sell this picture as a greeting card, a postcard, or a matted print.

Check it out here.

Until next time...

Miniature London

Its been a while since I made a blog post, but that doesn't mean I wasn't having fun taking pictures, editing them and posting them for sale!

Let me reinvigorate my blogging with one of my recent work. I have called this "Miniature London."
In actual fact, this is my shot of a sculptured work (the artist's name escapes me, but I will go back to check again) in Spitalfields, East London.

I've edited it to make it appear that it was done in blue oil paint. Im quite fond of the outcome.
If you like this, please purchase.

Until next time....

"Down the Alley"

Hi everyone, To kick-start this blog, I thought i'd start with a framed picture of "Down the Alley."

This picture was taken in the daylight (about 3 pm) in Wapping. The picture was converted via Gimp and made with a fog / smog effect. I wanted to create the impression of smog travelling through the arches.

As Wapping was one of the old Victorian backstreet haunts and has a strong maritime tradition, I really wanted to recreate the atmosphere one would associate with that time. More pieces in and around Wapping can be found at my website: Richard Ray --- Art and Photography. Please take a look.

You can buy this picture from me by following this link.