London - Spring in the air meet?

[spylaw4]

For those intending to attend on Saturday - there are for a change only a few Tube line closures. The Jubilee is out between Green Park & Stratford, the "Drain" is out, and the District/H'smith & City are out from West Ham eastwards - i.e. not affecting the central London zone. Goodge St and Holloway Rd Stations seem to be closed.

[biglouis]

OK, some last minute stuff.

If anyone needs my mobile number then please PM me and I'll send it to you.

The plan as I understand it in several phases (I hope it is not too complex).

1. Early risers can meet at 11:00 at Somerset House. Find your way to the main entrance which is on the south side of the main courtyard and I think says 'Navy Office' above the entrance. I'll probably be hanging around the tables looking at the fountain from a few minutes before 11:00.

2. There is an exhibition to visit (probably won't take long) and I guarantee if you haven't been to Somerset House before you will want to take a lot of photographs - especially of the stairs!

3. I originally stated that at midday we'd walk along the Thames towards the Inns and off up to Holborn and either the Penderels Oak or the Citie of Yorke.

Just a thought. I don't want to cause too much uncertainty and change but we could of course still meet at Somerset House at 11:00, and for late arrivals you can join at 12:00 and instead of going to the Inns of Court we could walk over Waterloo Bridge and go to the National Theatre and spend 20-30 minutes looking at Ravilious and then find a hostelry on the south bank.

To that end, if anyone is thinking of ONLY joining us at the pub can I know that now. If it turns out that no one is for the pub only, then we could make a collective decision at midday about which direction we want to go.

Of course we could still go to Holborn and the pub at 12:00 and then later in the day go to the south bank and then after that............

LouisB

[spylaw4]

I hope to be at Somerset House about 11:00am- so see you there Louis. Weather forecast is not looking too promising.

[Tim B]

I expect to be joining you at Somerset House.

Not to further complicate matters, because I am quite happy with any of the suggested itineraries, but there are St. George's Day (belated) celebrations in Trafalgar Square from 12.30pm - 6.00pm on Saturday. Mayor of London website has details in case anyone wants to take this in later in the day, staggering out of the pub, or whatever.

Tim

[MartinEB]

I am new to all this, but would very much like to join you. I expect to be at Somerset House for 1100.

Regards,

Martin

[spylaw4]

Originally Posted by MartinEB

I am new to all this, but would very much like to join you. I expect to be at Somerset House for 1100.

Regards,

Martin

You'll be very welcome Martin!

[MPerson]

I can't make it this time but Louis said he will buy everyone a drink to toast my absence!

[petewayne]

Afraid I will have to duck out of this one......last minute family commitment

[spylaw4]

Nice to see everyone - "old" friends and some new faces - a good turn-out as well - thanks to all those who came along.

[earleygallery]

You're back already! Thought it would last into the small hours

Sorry I couldn't make it, last minute problem with getting an MOT done - friend was going to run it in for me but he was ill and it couldn't wait, at least it passed!

Photos awaited.

[michael_boylan]

Originally Posted by earleygallery

Photos awaited.

Shame you weren't there James. Hope the MoT went okay.

Here's a few snaps of the motley crew to be getting on with.

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(I don't know what Brian was doing in the alcove)

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[steve kessel]

Very nice to meet up with people today and hearty thanks to Ivor for the drinks.

Steve

[earleygallery]

I missed drinks

[MartinEB]

Nice to meet you today - many thanks for being so welcoming.

[biglouis]

Great meeting yesterday and thanks to everyone who turned up and made it such an interesting day. Great exhibition at Somerset House, which I urge other members to take a look at, followed by lunch and great conversation in the Black Friars. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions for my forthcoming book of photographs. Pete declared the meeting closed at 10PM as we staggered out of All Bar One on Fleet Street with Robert Parker - I did not know I had such staying power - made me feel ten years younger!

top-o-the-stairs.jpg

[George James]

It was nice to see all the old faces again, and a few welcome new ones, I think a great day was had by all.
Thanks to Louis and Brian for their organization and a well planned day.

Ivor.jpg


Dominic.jpg


Brian-&-Bob.jpg


Louis-and-Brian.jpg


Steve.jpg

[spylaw4]

10 pm!! Staying power indeed! I would endorse Louis' recommendation - the Bryant exhibition is stunning.
Oh, and the Ravillious at the NT has some lovely images - Leica and quite a lot of them using older uncoated lenses.

Michael - I was changing a lens!

George makes point while Robert is intent on one of his cameras.
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Pete in a pensive moment
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"We see no ships!"
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And finally - with thanks to Richard Bryant for the idea which he executed far better (but then he had a Leaf Aptus 75) and shot at a more appropriate time of day - my version of one of the exhibition shots.
20090425_1353.jpg

[farnz]

We managed to solve most of the world's problems during the afternoon's refreshments although Iraq might have to wait for a subsequent meet-up.

It was a very pleasant day that was attended by a dozen forum members including some first-timers who said they were made to feel very welcome and the pub at Blackfriars was an excellent venue after viewing the superb exhibition and a short stroll along the Embankment.

Three shots from the day: the first shot by Ivor with my DL4 to show the camera's Film Grain scene mode (that I hadn't found yet) straight out of the camera; the second, the stained glass window in the pub; and the third, on the way to the meet-up, to show that Stormtroopers and Heroes In A Half-shell need a little help sometimes too.

Thanks to Louis and Brian for organising another very pleasant day.

Pete.

Somerset House
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Blackfriar's Window on the World

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Lost?

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[farnz]

For interest's sake, here's the first shot with the shadows pulled up a little.

Pete.

L1020207-web2.jpg

[biglouis]

Originally Posted by farnz

For interest's sake, here's the first shot with the shadows pulled up a little.

Pete.

Attachment 138047

Jeez I look p*ss*d. What time of day was this?

My favourite so far has to be Brian's valiant attempt at reproducing those marvellous Richard Bryant pictures. I've put his book on my Amazon wish-list as a hint for the offspring for Father's Day.

Lousi