'Winter Nights' @ Canary Wharf......

[WereBo]

Just across the Thames from me is 'The Docklands', the UK's new(ish) financial centre.  Usually it's very sterile-looking despite all the modern architecture etc. but for this last week they held a 'Winter Lights' festival, with light-shows scattered around the area.  I made the big mistake of visiting it last night (Saturday) as it was soooo crowded, I must've been rammed at least a dozen times by prams/cycles/scooters/whatever, my legs were black and blue this morning.  I was very good and didn't start biting people, though I did growl and snarl at 'em a lot towards the end.

All the shots are hand-held, I took my monopod but the 1 time I tried using it, some bozo kicked it as he jostled me out of his way......  I gave up with it after that as it was too tempting to hit someone with it......

 

This was very cleverly created, computer-controlled jets of water pulsing to create words......

 

I gave up after about 90 minutes, I was freezing cold and extremely 'bored' of zombie-brained sightseers so I went home for a hot mug o' tea....

 

[Hatter]

Looks like a spectacular show!

 

[Ryewolf]

That looks like it was very interesting. I know Lancaster does a Festival of Light thingie each year and I keep meaning to go but always end up missing it.

[FUJI]

I admire your resilience and motivation to venture out on a winter’s night W ..... great results !

FUJI

[Korky]

It does indeed look spectacular. Shot three works best for me, I really like that one.

Well done for not biting anyone's legs!

Korky

[WereBo]

Thank you folks, there were several exhibits I didn't get to see as the maps provided weren't too brilliant, plus diminishing patience was taking it's toll - That's why I don't go up to London nowadays, I get irresistible urges to bite idiots...... 

@ Ryewolf - The 'Festival of Light' is usually a Hindu festival also called 'Diwali', often very colourful and musical.  There used to be a festival in the Greenwich Maritime-Museum grounds, but it's been missing for the last couple o' years

 

Some more shots from Docklands (A.K.A. Isle of Dogs', Henry VIII used to keep his hunting-dogs kennelled there - This is the 'wet words' landing......

 

Some peace and quiet back in Greenwich......  I was a bit disappointed  when I got back to Greenwich as the Cutty Sark is usually lit up like an xmas-tree, but the lights were off this time, II assume because of some work being done on it.  This Nikon saved the day though, it captured what I couldn't see at the time.....

 

 

 

[Stravinsky]

Nice shots, I enjoyed looking at them 

[Ryewolf]

8 hours ago, WereBo said:

The 'Festival of Light' is usually a Hindu festival also called 'Diwali'

Yes thanks I did know about that, this is more like the one you visited, a quick Google revealed it was called Light Up Lancaster.

[Kobione]

Very nice and interesting set to look at WereBo, well done you for getting out there and trying despite the number of people who hindered the process.

Love the colour of the fountain in the second set, and the light reflections in the water in the second shot, and it is a very long time since I saw the Cutty Sark!

[Denis]

And I very long time for me too Kobi, didnt realise that the ship was displayed like this. I remember it was in a dry dock type basin. Now it seems elevated.

Thanks for sharing werebo !

[WereBo]

Thanks for the kind words folks, 'tis encouraging to keep at it

@ Kobione - The fountain and the waterfall slowly changed colour over about 3~4 minutes....

 

@ Denis - The glass surrounding the Cutty Sark is supposed to represent how the ship would appear in the sea.  It's a wonderful bit of engineering, as the whole ship is suspended 8~9 feet off the ground, a tall person can leave their fingerprint on the bottom of the keel.  The area is now a cafeteria at 1 end and a 'Ship's Figureheads Museum' at t'other end.

Strangely enough I entered a similar photo in one of my photo-club's DPI competitions last year.  The judge liked it but was baffled 'cos the ship appears to lean over.  He though the shot was crooked so he knocked 5 points off, whereas the ship does actually lean 9 degrees to one side, the idea being to give visitors an idea of how the ship would feel if it was at sea.

I took these 2 a couple o' years ago, they show how the ship is propped up in a customised cradle, 'tother shot is the ship lit up at night.....

 

[Kobione]

Thanks for that extra bit of info WereBo, interesting re the Cutty Sark, and I'd have been quite happy to watch those changing colours for a while.

[WereBo]

I did try taking a video-clip of the waterfall and fountain, but I was shivering with cold too much, even the camera's VR couldn't stop all of it

I've promised myself to do a Cutty Sark trip when the weather warms up a bit and the light's better for longer.  It's only a mile or so down-river from me, so watch this space......

 

[Brian]

Great set!

Very nostalgic for me as I spent all my pre marital life around that general area. In fact for years I rowed on the Thames probably not more than a quarter mile from The Cutty Sark. She didn't look like this then!

Correction.....just had a look a Google Earth.  Our Club House was a retired wartime landing barge which was moored no more than a hundred yards from The Cutty Sark. 

[WereBo]

The conservators have done a wonderful job of restoring the old girl, I don't know if she could be made seaworthy or not but I'd dearly love to seethe Cutty Sark sailing with t'other boats at the Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta.

[Clicker]

A really interesting thread Bo... Thanks for all the added info.  Yer see... Not only friendly on 'ere ... S'educational too!

[WereBo]

Awwww thank you Clicker, I try to please..... 

 

[CMunzel]

I enjoyed your photos and your story of the night especially your humour. 

[WereBo]

5 hours ago, CMunzel said:

I enjoyed your photos and your story of the night especially your humour. 

Thank you CMunzel, I might ask you to repeat that about my humour to Mrs WereBo.....