As part of my degree I took part in a yearlong exchange programme with Massachusetts Institute of Technology which is in Boston. Having got that far I thought I should take the opportunity to travel in North America and therefore went on several trips to places including Boston, San Francisco, New York, Niagra Falls and Toronto, Maine and the rest of New England, Orange County and Southern California, and many other places.
I really enjoyed my time in the USA, it’s very different from the UK, and studying there is also a worthwhile experience as it’s always good to learn to work in new ways. I really liked being immersed in the culture, and of course there were many opportunities for excellent pictures.
Some of my favourite pictures are the ones below :
Reflections, Toronto I found this picture completely by accident; I was simply trying to keep dry by staying along the edge of a building having been caught in a rainstorm in Toronto. I got to the front of a theatre and suddenly saw this picture, little did I know it would probably be one of my favourites. It just goes to show that part of getting a good photograph is being in the right place at the right time and always having your camera at the ready.
Fence at the Golden Gate I was looking for an interesting way to take a picture of something that must be one of the most photographed sights in the world. It was taken down by the fort on the San Francisco side of the Golden Gate Bridge. I think it works really well, and I think the focus on the fence also adds interest to the picture, even though the actual subject is blurred. I guess it just goes to show how well recognised it is.
Brooklyn Bridge, New York Another really famous sight, but taken at night this time. I really like the way I used a longer exposure time and tripod to capture the movement of the traffic on the bridge, it makes the picture a lot more dynamic. I proudly hang this picture at home.
Waves, California This picture is so very simple, and yet has been drawing many comments from people who see it. It is dynamic and yet peaceful at the same time, it’s probably the combinations of deep blues and greens. The key to taking this picture was patience, I just had to take lots of shots until I found the right one, but I was very pleased with the results!