Brighton Sewer – Photography Challenge
Sometimes photography can take you to some very unusual places and nowhere is more challenging then going into the maze of Victorian sewers that crisscross beneath the feet of the people of Brighton. It might have been easier if I had advanced warning of my visit, but the whole thing was arranged by Sam as a mystery location challenge. All I knew was that I was going to Brighton and I’d need to wear old clothes.
I’m sure there are a lot of questions to answer, but here are the first ones that come to mind.
Was it smelly?
Well surprisingly it wasn’t too bad. Yes there was a slight odour but nothing like you might imagine.
Surely if can’t be safe?
You get well briefed before going on the tour. Everyone wears gloves and a hard hat and there are comprehensive washing facilities at the end of the tour. That said you only go in walkways or sewers that handle surface water, so although you do see (if you want) the nasty stuff, it’s kept well away.
Wouldn’t a faster lens be more useful?
If I had time to research where I was going I just might have taken my 50mm f1.8 lens. However it really was a mystery visit so that wasn’t an option. Besides my 24-105L lens has image stabilisation equal to three stops and the f/4 aperture gave me a slightly bigger depth of field.
What happened in the middle of the video when it went black?
It was a power failure. One moment the lights were on the next it was pitch black. Fortunately the power came back on a few seconds later.
Are the images noisy at 6400 ISO?
Yes, but Photoshop CS5 has an almost magic ability to subdue noise in RAW photos.
What’s with the colour scheme?
In previous challenges I’ve come in for criticism for “over processing” my images. That’s a very subjective thing to say, but for these Images I decided to give them all the same look and do very little Photoshop work. The split tone look was applied in Photoshop CS5 (Adobe Camera RAW)
Would you recommend the tour for photographers?
I’d whole heartedly recommend the tour, but not as a photographic venue. Go and learn about the history and modern use of the sewer system, but don’t expect to come out with lots of photos.
Very interesting location, looked fairly challenging to get good shots.
I wanted to know, if you had been using you 40D or a camera which had a pop up flash built in, would you have used it to help illumination?
Using on camera flash would not have worked for me as the flash would have given harsh frontal lighting. Now off camera flash… that could have been interesting. Sadly that’s not really an option on a public tour.
Very cool, Gavin! I always enjoy your videos.
This was a very cool location. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could get permission to bring a model down there to do a photo shoot?
Looks absolutely fabulous…will keep in mind for my next trip to Brighton!
Brilliant video as you always do provide and share so well, on a critical note of this, it is fantastic work, not an easy venue as you say. On a more general note, you are a very generous and giving person Gavin. I shall be in the west Sussex area next month and shall earmark this, going to do the Balcombe viaduct too.
Thanks for all you do to help the little man out!
Best,
Ron.
Fantastic Shots Gavin. One question…Shooting at that high an ISO how did you adjust for graininess? Did you use other software for grain reduction? Well maybe that was two questions. Anyway Thanks for the Videos.
I reduced the Luminance noise in Adobe Camera RAW (Photoshop CS5)
Thanks Gavin.
as always Gavin i enjoy your vids and website,only wish i could get around as much as you do.Appreaciate all what you do.
Hello Gavin,
I would like to know what lens did u use and what was the shutter speed.
Thank you for all what you done.
Mireille
All the info is in the video. 🙂