[leaky5]

For the last 5 years I have lived about 5 minutes from a nature reserve and have been into it about 10 times. I kept meaning to scout out some photo locations. When I was over there with the kids today I noticed how far you could actually see over London. The point where I took this is about 100m above sea level and then drops off flat for about 20 miles into London. I only had lenses ranging from 35-200mm on me, if I had a wider lens, I think I could get a picture with the QE2 bridge on the left going right over to the BT tower on the right.
This was taken at dusk and I am planning to go later another evening, when it is a bit warmer.

Left to right you can make out The Dome, Canary Wharf, Guys hospital, The London Eye, The Gurkin, Natwest Tower and the BT tower.

Not a great photo, but I was surprised how much I could see from here.

1.7 sec / f13.0 / 140mm / 100 ISO

[Garf]

Nice photo - looks better large, as you can make out more of the buildings.

I'm intrigued as to which nature reserve you're near to - I'm going to guess somewhere near Grays if you can see the QE2 bridge as well ? I know there is one in Chafford Hundred, but that is quite low if I remember correctly..

[onefivenine]

I think you are too hard on yourself that is a superb photo
I'd love to make a stitch panorama there.

[Bstop]

Originally Posted by leaky5

For the last 5 years I have lived about 5 minutes from a nature reserve and have been into it about 10 times. I kept meaning to scout out some photo locations. When I was over there with the kids today I noticed how far you could actually see over London. The point where I took this is about 100m above sea level and then drops off flat for about 20 miles into London. I only had lenses ranging from 35-200mm on me, if I had a wider lens, I think I could get a picture with the QE2 bridge on the left going right over to the BT tower on the right.
This was taken at dusk and I am planning to go later another evening, when it is a bit warmer.

Left to right you can make out The Dome, Canary Wharf, Guys hospital, The London Eye, The Gurkin, Natwest Tower and the BT tower.

Not a great photo, but I was surprised how much I could see from here.

1.7 sec / f13.0 / 140mm

I really like the colour, very atmospheric, I agree it would look great as a big panoramic.

[Strobe]

Lovely shot, looks great large, noise seems to have been handled pretty well (don't know what ISO you were using). The view screams panorama to me, might be worth a revisit, and taking several shots to stitch together to create the panorama. That shot looks like it was at 140mm so you would have been a pretty fair distance to get that view and must have cropped a lot top and bottom perhaps? A panorama would work well, but in those conditions you would need to work fast as the light would be changing very quickly and you wouldn't want to get different light for each shot. You could also afford to zoom in closer to get more detail for each segment of the pano and your tripod would need to be a sturdy one.

[denno75uk]

Agree about the pano opportunity. As Strobe says, longer lens (beg, steal or borrow), a good tripod and a sunset similar to the one you had and it'd be a great photo. TBH you could just try at 200mm with what you have, even if you just stitch a couple of shots. But if it's going to be cropped and printed big, the silhouettes would have to be pin sharp IMO.
As is, well spotted and well executed.

[leaky5]

Originally Posted by Garf

Nice photo - looks better large, as you can make out more of the buildings.

I'm intrigued as to which nature reserve you're near to - I'm going to guess somewhere near Grays if you can see the QE2 bridge as well ? I know there is one in Chafford Hundred, but that is quite low if I remember correctly..

Thanks.

It was taken in Langdon Hills, which is on the most easterly edge of Basildon. I have added the map details to Flickr.

This shows it a bit better.

Maps of the world, street map search - powered by Multimap

[Garf]

Originally Posted by leaky5

Thanks.

It was taken in Langdon Hills, which is on the most easterly edge of Basildon. I have added the map details to Flickr.

This shows it a bit better.

Maps of the world, street map search - powered by Multimap

D'oh ! Should of thought of Langdon Hills, which is nice and high - I take my lads there for kite flying and they do egg rolling there at Easter as well - only 6-7 miles from me.

I'm always on the lookout for new photo locations in Essex, so will take the camera there at some point.

[leaky5]

I have added a few more to Flickr. If it is clear tonight I might try again, with the 70-300 this time.

London - a set on Flickr