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Old May 11th, 2012, 02:42 PM
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tailsocks and xyz123,
This was just the answer I was looking for! If we are lucky, we plan to eat at the St. James Tavern when we see Les Miz. Your picture (at night) is quite impressive)
xyz123 - thanks for the tube info and also the broadwaybox.com web site. I will look and see what is available. We are in London only 3 nights so I hope we can see at least 2 shows and that on of them will be Les Miz!

Is Phantom ever offered at the TKTS office? Is there any time of day that is better to go to the TKTS booth?
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Old May 11th, 2012, 03:35 PM
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Phantom shows up on TKTS quite a bit, generally not for weekends and also not always with a 50% discount; sometimes the discount is 25%. Usually you can get tickets at TKTS for the matinee which for Phantom, although I haven't checked it lately, is one of the few shows with a Tuesday matinee.

As far as timing, in theory the earlier you get there, the better. It opens at 1000 but sometimes some theatres are late in releasing their tickets so sometimes they sell out their allotment but other timers, some shows open up. Queues are longest around opening time!
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Old Jun 1st, 2012, 05:02 AM
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Paris is now up

www.paristripreport.blogspot.com
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Old Jun 1st, 2012, 07:41 AM
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F stop: f/4
exposure: 5 sec.
ISO speed: ISO-100
focal length: 55mm
exposure mode: manual

I was wondering about the photo referenced above.

Can I assume you didn't travel with a tripod?

Instead of 5 sec why didn't you up the ISO?
That camera should be pretty good at ISO800 or even ISO1600 to permit a reasonable shutter speed. You could always put it thru noise reduction if necessary.
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Old Jun 1st, 2012, 09:09 AM
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no i did travel with a small tripod for the long exposure shots. the noise you get after 800 is too much for my tastes. even with the noise reduction i didn't like the results. i like the trails of light from passing cars. people that "walk into the shot" are gone with long exposures too
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Old Jun 1st, 2012, 09:20 AM
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Myer i had to go back to see the actual picture that i gave the specs for. i lowered the sensitivity and upped exposure length to capture a blurred effect from the London Eye in the background. I only toted the tripod around when i would go back out without my wife. Every night shot you see when i was with her was done w/ a much higher shutter speed and ISO
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Old Jun 1st, 2012, 12:03 PM
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Ok. Fine. With a tripod and the effect you wanted you did good.

I have a Canon T2i and the high ISO performance is excellent. Maybe it's my eyes but I only use noise reduction at ISO6400.

Last year I was in Banff with my wife. While she slept I went out very early and late and found some bears.

I didn't have a tripod. I couldn't use it even if I had one. Most shots were taken from the car window or in the doorway.
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Old Jun 4th, 2012, 05:15 AM
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Hi Tailsock, I love your trip reports! I am heading to Paris and London in a few weeks and your reports + photos have totally inspired me!

I'm a newbie photographer and taking my first DSLR with me on the trip, so I am attempting to teach myself as much as possible in the next few weeks. Can you provide settings for the long exposure shots? Also, just wondering what kind of lens you were using? Thanks!
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Old Jun 4th, 2012, 06:32 AM
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loved the london report -it was interesting to see from a tourist's point of view. You are right about piccadilly circus. I work in one of the offices above the regent street shops just by the station and go to piccadilly circus every day in morning and evening. It still always grabs my attention 6 years on!

Also as soon as i saw you were off to the city on a sunday i thought "oh noooo" its very strange even the shops thee close on a saturday lunch time!

interesting about the dogs.....i had never really realised there were not many in central london.
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Old Jun 4th, 2012, 06:33 AM
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sorry, when i say "the city" i mean the financial districts which us londoners refer to as "the city"
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Old Jun 4th, 2012, 12:23 PM
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Sloane_428:

Since you didn't ask for the settings on a particular photo here they are for the last one of Marble Arch

F stop: f/13
exposure: 8 seconds
ISO speed: ISO-100 always
focal length: N/A
exposure mode: manual

i used Nikkor 55-85mm lens for the majority of my photos.

a few tips:
-practice practice practice at home. i CANNOT stress that enough. Take your camera and tripod to the grocery store parking lot if you have to. it WILL pay off, trust me. I also set up shop outside churches at night that had floodlights
turned on. If you live near a big city go downtown

-bring along an extra battery. never know when you'll need it

-if you don't have a remote use your camera's timer delay for long exposure shots. The simplest gesture such as releasing the camera's shutter release can cause the whole thing to blur

-auto mode is OK for most of the point and shoot duties but is useless on the London Eye at night. You'll want something with a quicker shutter speed and higher ISO. i frustrated myself for a few minutes before i adjusted
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Old Jun 4th, 2012, 12:28 PM
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HG001London: I loved London and would go back in a heartbeat. My wife on the other hand didn't want to go at first and only agreed to appease me. I couldn't imagine this trip WITHOUT it!

thanks for reading
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Old Jun 4th, 2012, 12:33 PM
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oh, thats lovely how much u liked it, how did your wife find it in the end?

i have to admit you were unlucky to end up in White City, i flet bad when i read that....its not exactly a key Lonely Planet recommendation-yet! but hey its all about the experience and riding those night buses is part of london!

i can't claim to be a monarchist but am currently watching our Queen's jubilee concert and it makes u realise that UK and London can be pretty patriotic!

Glad u had a great time, be sure to come back one day- there are so many places to explore. I am 29, born here and still find whole new villages i never knew about!
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Old Jun 4th, 2012, 12:48 PM
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Tailsock:

I meant to specify the Marble Arch photo, so thank you for reading my mind on that one! The tips are super helpful. I'll be bringing my kits lens with me (all that I have!) so hearing that you used that on most shots is very encouraging.

I live in New York City so I definitely plan on toting my gear around and practicing as much as possible (fountains, parks, skyline, random night shots). I feel like I can set up scenarios here that will come in handy when traveling. Thanks again!
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Old Jun 4th, 2012, 12:50 PM
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Just realized you said 55-85mm, so never mind what I said about the kit lens. I'll have a 18-55mm with me.
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Old Jun 5th, 2012, 11:34 AM
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i'm sorry Sloane. i meant 18-55 ;-)
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Old Jun 5th, 2012, 01:18 PM
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Even better!
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Old Jun 6th, 2012, 08:08 AM
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HG001London: Sorry, i didn't see your reply.. My wife had a good time but was simply exhausted by the fast pace and all the walking we would do. She absolutely loved Les Mis and the Tower Bridge... The Sunday Roast at Folly's was memorable to her as well
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Old Jun 6th, 2012, 11:11 AM
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am glad she had a nice time despite the exhaustion. You'll have to come back for a few weeks a and check out all the london villages outside the centre....its so big, i am still discovering places after 29 years here!!
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Old Jun 6th, 2012, 12:00 PM
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I'm exhausted just reading your (fantastic) report! You must have huge reserves of energy. This also makes me very nostalgic that I'll never again have my "first trip". Nothing can compare.
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