Photography – Page 2

Phones and Filters

Arthur Square, Belfast

Hipstamatic is a popular photography app for the iPhone, although probably not as popular as it once was. I think I may have mentioned it previously as every so often I delve into it to see what I can do.

Briefly it allows you to use filters on photographs taken with your phone as well as adjust settings, such as exposure, saturation etc. Some filters are overly dramatic but exercising some restraint can yield impressive results. By curbing your temptation to go completely over the top some striking images can be produced. I tend to tone down the filters and then perhaps adjust saturation, highlights and shadows to get where I want.

Shipyard to Subway

Harland and Wolff shipyard crane viewed from across the River Lagan

The above images were taken on my old iPhone 8. It has been replaced with an iPhone 13 and while setting up the new phone all my photographs were moved across. I found these while doing a clean out.

QUB

Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) was founded in 1845. It is renowned for its academic excellence and rich history and attracts students from all over the world. An iconic landmark is the Lanyon Building, a striking Victorian masterpiece named after its architect, Sir Charles Lanyon.

All images iPhone 13

Edinburgh

It has been more than twenty years since my last stay in Edinburgh. A couple of years ago, I spent an afternoon there while on a bus trip but that was really just a walk up and down Princes Street and then time to go.

On my previous visits, when I stayed in the city, I had travelled by car. This time I flew. Easyjet from Belfast – I hadn’t realised it takes only about 25 minutes.

In Edinburgh there’s a tram service every seven minutes from the airport to the city centre. It takes about half an hour. Convenient and stress free.

I enjoy walking around any city I visit, immersing myself in the atmosphere, gaining a sense of the place and of course taking photographs. In Edinburgh The Old Town, with its cobbled streets and narrow alleys project a sense of history and charm, while the shops, cafes and bars in and around Princes Street in the New Town offer a more modern vibe.

I shot a lot more clips than photographs but here are some pics.

Sunny Saturday

Funday, Botanic Gardens — Belfast on a sunny day 13.05.23. Free Fun Day with Bollywood dancing, arts and crafts. In support of Belfast Asian Women’s Academy, one of the Lord Mayor’s charities

Walking around Belfast on a sunny Saturday (yesterday) produced these images. I had walked up towards Queens University and Botanic Gardens and found a free Fun Day in progress at the Gardens. There was Bollywood dancing, arts and crafts and a guy with a bubble machine

Botanic Gardens, colourful as always.

I posted a photograph a short time ago of The Grand Central Hotel in Bedford Street taken with my iPhone. This is another one taken just a bit further up the street.

Writers' Square looking towards St. Annes Cathedral — Writers’ Square looking towards St. Anne’s Cathedral

This image of Writers’ Square, again taken with the wide angle lens on my phone.

I’ve found my phone is fine for grabbing quick images and they look good, very good even, on the small screen. When moved onto the computer with a large screen however they don’t look quite so good. Having said that, I’m fairly sure these images would meet the quality standard required for many uses.

Wide Angle Phone

Grand Central Hotel, Belfast

I recently published an image of Ewart’s Mill that included a small section of the Grand Central Hotel. I would’ve liked at the time to have shown more of the hotel but lack of a wide angle lens and traffic on the busy street prevented this. My new phone has however, I think, a lens equivalent to 13mm and this photograph of the hotel was taken a few days ago.

St. Anne’s Cathedral viewed from Writers’ Square

Later I came across this young couple standing in Writers’ Square where the darker flags intersect.

The widest ‘proper’ lens I own is a Canon 17-40 zoom. The Canon produces images vastly better than a mobile phone, but then there’s that saying about the best camera being the one you have with you.

Riders in Red

Spotted on Donegall Quay some time ago, travelling towards the AC Hotel and Clarendon Dock.

Contrasting Eras

Ewart’s Mill or the Ewart Building, once a Victorian linen warehouse in Bedford Street, has been redeveloped at a cost of £85m. Now a modern office building it is connected, at the first and second floors, to a new 17-story office complex. I take it this is the modern looking building behind.

The building to the right is the luxury Grand Central Hotel, formerly Windsor House. It was originally an office block and at one time the tallest building in the city.

The Europa Hotel can just be seen in the gap between the buildings. It opened in 1971.