Uploads from Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)

From High

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:29:43 -0700

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

Continuing my short study of the Selfridges building in Birmingham. This was taken from high up from the car park opposite.

For those wondering what the reference to 'Henry' was in the last shot - its thanks to my wife - as soon as she saw it she said it looked like Henry - our vacuum cleaner.

Thanks for all the previous comments and fav's - very much appreciated

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 @ 200mm
f8
30 seconds
ISO 200

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'henry'

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:55:29 -0700

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

Another shot of the Selfridges building in Birmingham, this time showing the bridge that connects it to the car park on the other side of the road.

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Nikon 16-35 @16mm
f8
31 seconds
ISO 200

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Spheres of Confusion

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 23:00:00 -0700

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

The second in a short series of shots from Selfridges in Birmingham. This iconic building designed by Future Systems was built in 2003 - and its believed to be largely responsible for the rejuvenation of the centre of Birmingham.

I'd like to thank everyone who commented and fav'd my previous shot of the same building - thanks very much all - really do appreciate it.

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Nikon 50mm 1.8
f11
1/6 second
ISO 200

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Selfridges

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 01:00:00 -0700

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

Its a very long time since I've visited the bullring - 1992 was the last time I was there, I'd been to a James concert in Manchester and we were travelling back on a National Express coach back home to Greenwich. It was around this time of year and the weather turned - in fact turned so much that the police shut the M6 - all the coaches got diverted to Birmingham bus station where we spent much of the day - actually we found a pub just round the corner from the bullring. The roads didn't open and we spent the night sleeping under a table in city hall with red cross food parcels and fine bone china !!! It was an experience for sure. Its difficult to remember what the bullring was like then - it was cold, the big round building was there - but the rest of it shabby to say the least.

Today's a different story though - Birmingham's gone up market. I've been wanting to visit birmingham for ages - of course Selfridges was a big draw - but surely there must be something else there too - so I decided to take a trip up and have an explore. I'm afraid there's potentially a few of this facade - I know its been taken a million times - but it really is rather striking.

The day was cold and seriously overcast - by 9am (having arrived at 7am) I could have called it a day - seriously chilled to the bone, but I grabbed a coffee warmed up and went exploring a bit more. In the end I quite enjoyed my day there - there's a couple of shots I wasn't able to get so I'll be back at some point. For now a mini series follows.

Oh - and I've been playing at the higher end of the histogram. I see lots of dark black architecture images - I'm guilty of that too - and some of them do look stunning but I'm keen to explore the other end - the end that we usually get in the UK and taking shots with completely overcast skies.

Quick question - is the reflection of the cathedral distracting? I quite liked it I thought it added a sense of reality perhaps - but I have one where this is not there - would be interested in your views.

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Nikon 16-35 @22mm
f8
31 seconds
ISO 200

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Fishing Tours

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:55:02 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

A few weeks ago I popped down to Dungeness for the fist time with Noel Clegg, Paul Weeler and Julian Carcano. It was cold and bleak and pretty much how I'd expected Dungeness. It was a Sunday and we arrived early for sunrise - and I just fell in love with the place pretty much immediately - it was like my part of the coast in Suffolk but on a much grander scale - but and it was big but, the place was heaving - well relatively speaking there were so many fishermen there and whilst the place itself was how I imagined it - the atmosphere was far from it. I'd taken the following day off and I thought I'd do a bit of a tour around Kent - but the weather looked good so I went back - wow what a transformation - the place was empty not a sole around - this is how I'd imagined Dungeness.

This is 4 shot panorama with a house - probably familiar to most but it really captivated me. I've no idea if anyone lives here - it doesn't matter I just loved the ramshackle feel which summed up much of Dungeness.

I have a feeling this will not be my last visit.

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Sigma 70mm-200mm f2.8 @ 70mm
f16
1/40 second
ISO 200
4 shot panorama stitched in CS5

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John's Wood 2

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 07:53:55 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

I had originally planned to upload this straight away after the last but one thing got in the way of another which got in the way of another, so a few weeks - actually its probably a month since the snow was here the second part of an afternoon shot playing in the snow. As I said before the landscape is so transformed into snow - I've driven by this a few times since and I still wouldn't give it a second look, but I do smile as I drive by knowing what it looked like and how peaceful everything was just for one afternoon.

Since then I've only been out shooting once - down to Kent and to Dungeness - had a great time and have finally processed some shots from there, so hopefully my next upload will be from Dungeness.

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Sigma 70mm-200mm f2.8 @ 70mm
f11
1/13 second
ISO 400
4 shot panorama stitched in CS5

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John's Wood

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 04:29:20 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

A few weeks ago we had snow in Suffolk, not only did we have snow but it occurred over a weekend and it settled, this is such a rare occurrence I just had to drop everything and get out, but where? I had no idea - I really wish I'd rec'yed earlier in the year. So off to the woods I went, luckily everything changes int he snow and on the way I noticed John's Wood - I've been by this hundreds of times and never given it a second thought, but it just took on a different dimension, I loved the way it just spilled over the hill into the background. So no more than 3 miles from home I spent the afternoon shooting this little wood, blizzards and all. Like my previous shot I was there alone just me the elements and the occasional hare. Its days like this when I love photography - regardless of the outcome.

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Sigma 70mm-200mm @ 70mm
1/25 second
ISO 400
4 shot panorama stitched in CS5

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silence

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 02:50:35 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

An uncharacteristic shot from me, but we so very rarely get snow that I just had to go out and capture it while it was here. I was hoping to go out today but the forecast snow just hasn't arrived, maybe later. I must say I always look forward to the snow arriving and doubly so this year - for Christmas I received a copy of Winter by Jeffrey Conley, what a totally inspirational book. If you don't know Jeffrey's work - well go and get the book while you can its amazing, his images have such beauty and are so quiet, still and calm.

As for this shot - its taken in Tunstall Forest in Suffolk. Its a 5 stitch panorama towards the end of the day. It was great just wandering through the forest - people had been and gone by the time I got there so I had it all to myself, it was so quiet so peaceful, as I was taking this shot something made me turn round and the deer were passing behind me someway off but so silently.

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Nikon 50mm f1.8 @ f11
1 second
ISO 640
5 portrait shots stitched in CS5

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a journey

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 09:00:00 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

Friday 11th January - is that too late to say Happy New Year? Well heck happy new year anyway. Here's a rare landscape shot - well I say landscape I guess its still urban, maybe industrial - and in fact this is as industrial as Suffolk gets. I'd love to shoot more industrial landscapes - I've been looking a lot at Bill Brandt's work recently - famous for his nudes but his depiction of Britain in the 30's and 40's really is fascinating - so this year I'm going to have to do a bit more travelling I think - hence posting this shot which sums up the start of this project.

The shot is taken from the side of the A14 in Bury St Edmunds and this is the Sugar Beat factory that billows out steam constantly through the winter. The shot was taken just before Christmas - which was the last time I really picked up my camera properly. Hopefully that will change soon.

There's been a couple of blogs about me published recently - the first is one of a series of blogs by Andrew S Gibson, he's interviewing many fine long exposure photographers and I was lucky enough to be included. You can find the interview with me here: Long Exposure Interview 5 - Giles McGarry

The second is on The D-Photo Blog by Diana Eftaiha - always a great source of inspiration with a really ecletic mix of photography presented. I'm pleased to be included in her blog - which you can find here: Creative Black and White Photography by Giles McGarry

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Sigma 70-200 f2.8 lens @ 78mm
f11
30 seconds
Lee Big Stopper + 0.9 SE Grad
ISO 200
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2012

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 01:30:56 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

Well at this time of year I like to look back at the year if nothing more to remind myself what I've been doing. Its been one of ups and downs both photographically and elsewhere, but I have to say the ups this year have outweighed the downs, in no particular order:

- I've experimented more than ever
- I've learnt to develop film
- I have a new camera
- I've learnt to manually focus
- I cracked my ribs trying to get that last photo
- I smashed my camera / lens / tripod to smithereens
- I shot lots with my Rollieflex
- I was runner up in LPOTY (urban)
- I was paid by a magazine for some shots
- I grew a beard
- I've travelled
- I met old friends
- I met new friends
- I lost touch with people
- I've been in so much pain I cried - twice
- I took lots of pictures and published very few
- I've started a long term project
- I've been to the beach very rarely and took very few seascapes
- I moved to google+, and then back again to flickr
- I was published in magazines and a couple of books too

So all in all its been an eventful year, one that I've really enjoyed, but I didn't hit my goals for the year although they probably weren't that realistic.

As for next year who knows, I do have some goals for the year - hopefully they're more realistic and more achievable.

There's been one constant though throughout the year and that's you - the people who's photos I regularly visit and get inspiration from and the people reading these ramblings, who view my photos and comment on them. I really do very much appreciate all of the comments, they're what help me to strive to be better. So I'd like to say a big thank you to you all and hope that you all have a very happy new year.

Technical Details

Nikon D700
50mm f1.8 lens @ 50mm
f5.6
31 seconds
ND110 + ND106 + Circular Polarizer
ISO 100
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Trinity Bridge 5

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 00:45:00 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

This is the final shot of the series for now anyway, there's one more I would like to process and this is from underneath the bridge - I'd like to remain true to the way all of these look - but the work to do that is just a bit daunting - its one of those projects for a rainy weekend. Anyway this is probably my favorite of the bunch.

Thank you all very much for your comments on the series, really do appreciate your feedback, especially advice where I might improve the shots - thank you.

This is going to be my last upload before Christmas, so I'd just like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Technical Details

Nikon D700
28-200mm f3.5-5.6 lens @ 80mm
f11
121 seconds
ND110 + Circular Polarizer
ISO 100
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Trinity Bridge 4

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 23:50:00 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

This is the fourth installment of the Trinity Bridge Study from Manchester a few weeks ago. Almost there with these shots now but I did want to present them together - hence throwing them out in quick succession.

Thank you all very much for your comments so far.

Technical Details

Nikon D700
50mm f1.8 lens @f8
1/125 seconds
Circular Polarizer
ISO 200
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Trinity Bridge 3

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:47:25 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

This is the third in a short series of shots of Trinity Bridge in Manchester.

Originally I had this as a landscape shot with the bridge on the left hand side and lots of negative space on the right. I liked it, it was different but perhaps not everyones cup of tea, so I present this here in a more traditional square crop

I've long been a fan of the architect Santiago Calatrava, but until my trip to Manchester I'd never seen one of his creation in real life. I believe this is his only structure in the UK so I decided to go and spend a couple of days shooting around Manchester - the draw being this, the Imperial War Museum and a few other buildings and bridges. But its this one that really caught my eye. Its sandwiched between a whole load of other buildings but I was lucky with the right angle, clear(ish) blue sky - with a dash of direct sunlight I could really isolate and abstract this from its surroundings. As I've tried to make this a study all of the images are processed in the same way

Technical Details

Nikon D700
50mm f1.8 lens @f8
1/60 seconds
Circular Polarizer
ISO 200
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Trinity Bridge 2

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 08:25:09 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

This is the second in a short series of shots of Trinity Bridge in Manchester.

I've long been a fan of the architect Santiago Calatrava, but until my trip to Manchester I'd never seen one of his creation in real life. I believe this is his only structure in the UK so I decided to go and spend a couple of days shooting around Manchester - the draw being this, the Imperial War Museum and a few other buildings and bridges. But its this one that really caught my eye. Its sandwiched between a whole load of other buildings but I was lucky with the right angle, clear(ish) blue sky - with a dash of direct sunlight I could really isolate and abstract this from its surroundings. As I've tried to make this a study all of the images are processed in the same way

Technical Details

Nikon D700
50mm f1.8 lens @f8
1/60 seconds
Circular Polarizer
ISO 200
_________________________________________________________________________________
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Trinity Bridge 1

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 04:40:00 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

This is the first in a short series of shots of Trinity Bridge in Manchester. I've long been a fan of the architect Santiago Calatrava, but until my trip to Manchester I'd never seen one of his creation in real life. I believe this is his only structure in the UK so I decided to go and spend a couple of days shooting around Manchester - the draw being this, the Imperial War Museum and a few other buildings and bridges. But its this one that really caught my eye. Its sandwiched between a whole load of other buildings but I was lucky with the right angle, clear(ish) blue sky - with a dash of direct sunlight I could really isolate and abstract this from its surroundings. As I've tried to make this a study all of the images are processed in the same way

Technical Details

Nikon D700
50mm f1.8 lens @f16
130 seconds
ND110 + 0.8 ND
ISO 200
_________________________________________________________________________________
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Gherkin

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 01:30:07 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

A few years ago I published a shot which I entitled Finally - the Gherkin - it had taken me ages to get a shot that I really liked. The building is wonderful its shape so curvaceous - but its this very shape that made it so difficult to shoot. The shot was straight up to the top with the clouds whizzing over head. I was really pleased to get the shot. But over time I've looked at it and grown to think that the shot really didn't do the building justice - it didn't show off the beauty. So since then I've hunted all over the city for that view - and I'd pretty much given up it just didn't exist. That was until recently (well earlier this year) when a view opened up as the ever changing cityscape devoured another nondescript 60s building to be replaced - well by another probably nondescript office block. I've no idea how long this view will last below and the right the construction is well under way (one of the reasons for the long exposure) - but for now its there - I feel this shows off why I like the building so much.

I'd also like to say a big hello to all those photographers (and their friends and partners) I met on Monday at the opening night of Landscape Photographer of the Year - it was great meeting and chatting to you all. I have to say this years show is fabulous - some really fantastic photography on show - and well worth a visit - its free to enter and pretty much open all of the time - there's also loads of other fantastic exhibitions in london at the moment too - have a look here Must see Exhibitions

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Nikon 28mm - 200mm @ 80mm
f8.0
62 seconds
ND110
ISO 200
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weltschmerz 2

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:54:58 -0800

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

More from my angst project. This is the Shard - 5 exposures all in camera on a single frame. Its shot in the fog which seem to be perfect conditions for multi-exposures. I'm still learning about multi exposure photography of what works and what doesn't - I've had some preconceived ideas about what should work - but having taken the shots they just don't - More London is a good case in point. Anyway will be carrying on with this for a little while and see where it takes me.

At this point I'd also like to thank all those who left comments on my previous angst work - thank you all very much

On a slightly cheery a note, the LPOTY exhibition at the National Theatre starts today with a provate viewing and then is open to the public. I still haven't seen the book yet but really looking forward to seeing the work tonight. If you're coming along do say hello

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Nikon 28-200 @ 80mm
1 / 125th second
ISO 400
5 shot in camera multi-exposure
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Inauguration

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 22:34:32 -0700

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

I'm pleased to announce that this shot was 'Highly Commended' by the judges of the Take a View - Landscape Photographer of the Year 2012 competition in the Urban Category. Hugely chuffed about this. It's going to be on display as a printed copy at the National Theatre in London from the 12th November until the 12th January 2013. The shot also appeared in yesterdays Sunday Times - which is just fabulous - over the moon.

Apparently the book is out already - I haven't seen a copy - but judging from the shots in the Times yesterday its going to be fabulous - some really amazing shots - very much looking forward to seeing them.

As for the shot - well this was pretty much the last shot before my ill fated trip to the bottom of the Thames on the Shard's Inauguration night, so its the last shot I have with my D300 - which was smashed up in the fall. It was taken from across the river - slightly elevated along with hundreds of other photographers - I was surprised at just how many had turned out - it seems such a long time ago now.

Technical Details

Nikon D300
Nikon 50mm @ f2.8
1.6 seconds
ISO 200
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web | blog | tweet | art international | 500px | old flickr (kantryla) | google+

weltschmerz

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 13:47:24 -0700

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

As I said in my previous posts I've been experimenting. This for once was about how I was feeling at the time, I've never really tried to portray my emotions in my photography but this years certainly had its ups and downs, and sometimes I go out and shoot and I just don't feel calm and or at ease with the world, which perhaps comes through with norrmal long exposure photography. Sometimes there's just angst. This is as close to how I felt that I have managed to come up with.

I'd also just like to say a massive thank you to all the people that commented and fav'd my last post - thanks all very much

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Nikon 28-200 @ 75mm
1 / 100th second
ISO 400
6 shot in camera multi-exposure
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spheres

nobody@flickr.com (Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla)) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:00:00 -0700

Giles McGarry (formerly kantryla) posted a photo:

I've had a little self imposed break from the internet recently, occasionally popping up on twitter every now and again, but generally staying away. After Berlin and the fiasco at the shard I just wanted to take time to reflect and think about where I'm going. I'm still trying to find the direction but things are becoming maybe a little clearer. I've not been idle though far from it I've been quite prolific doing all sorts of photography - just trying things out - experimenting (wasn't that what I said last time I posted something?). Been trying my hand at all sorts including time lapse, single frame time lapse, multi-exposures, star trail, even film - oh and the odd bit of long exposure too. Its been great playing again and trying new things some of which worked - most of which hasn't - but all a good learning experience.

In between all of this we also had the Olympics and Paralympics. I managed to get to a couple of sessions in the olympic park, and I'm so glad I did - the sport - well you all know about the sport, but I was really impressed by the park itself - it worked for a start, it wasn't the building site we'd all feared, and the buildings, some of them for sport, others not - well they worked too and some of them were striking too. This is not a building, and in fact its difficult to know what to describe it as, but the lines caught my eye and I was blessed with the deepest dark blue skies - perfect.

I do hope to be around a little more - my exile should I hope be over, although some of the stuff that is coming well its a little different (for me at least)

Technical Details

Nikon D700
Nikkor 16-35mm @ 32mm
F8 @ 1/640 second
ISO 200
PS CS5 / Silver Efex Pro2

Thank you very much for all the kind comments on my previous shots
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