TOUR DE FRANCE

[davidb]

Tour de France

Transport for London has published travel information on travel disruption as a result of the Tour De France’s London leg on Monday 7 July. The London leg is on Day Three of the UK stretch, starting off at midday in Cambridge before making its way through Cambridgeshire, Essex and East London, ending up at Buckingham Palace around 4pm. This will affect the boroughs of Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, City, Westminster, Lambeth and Southwark. Road users are being encouraged to plan ahead to avoid disruption. More information is available on TfL’s website.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/campaign/tour-de- ... 7D,9BQFY,1

On the other hand this is a great opportunity to get some sporty action photographs. Check out the web-site - it has plans of the route.

[Mike Farley]

Thanks for the tip, David. It's always useful to have suggestions about such forthcoming events.

[Mike Farley]

I have just come back from witnessing the Tour de France. There was an hour or so's worth of travelling each way and a three quarter of an hour wait once I arrived. A couple of riders went through 30 seconds ahead of the field and the peloton took just 14 seconds to pass by. Unfortunately the continuous AF on my Canon 7D was not really up to the task and most of my shots are not sharp ......

[davidb]

I wanted to find a spot on the junction of Westminster Bridge and Embankment but came out of the underground station on the wrong side of the road. But was already very busy there at about 13:30.

I finished up walking along Embankment looking for a spot. I eventually stopped at a spot just short of Temple. I found a gap in the crowd and waited. Unfortunately, the crowds built up and by the time race came by it was three deep and all trying to get a good, clear shot of the proceedings.

I stood behind a couple who were using a mobile to catch the proceedings which made it very difficult to see what was coming let alone get some photographs. In the end I had to shoot from the waist and hope focus and exposure were ok. The moments soon passed but I managed to get fifty shots (several were of the caravan which seemed to go on and on (hundreds of vans, cars and motorcycles)) and of the crowds but I got a few shots which I like and might be worth exhibiting.

[Paul Heester]

Well done David on getting those shots. I was crossing London Bridge at the time and decided to hang around for them (in the rain). Had an elevated position looking down onto Lower Thames Street but was still 3 or 4 deep. All my shots were too blurry but still enjoyed the atmosphere.

[davidb]

Great day (apart for the rain) wasn't it? I would have preferred the position at Westminster Bridge; I would have been able to see the entrants approaching and changing direction towards St James Park and been able to focus on them. Still, I can't complain too much as I did get some shots. Next time I'll know better.