London is a very photogenic city and 99 per cent of its tourists travel with their camera. But how do you get a snap of Big Ben that isn´t the same as everyone else´s? Where is the best place to take a picture of Buckingham Palace? Isn´t it easier to just buy a postcard? A "London Photowalk" resolves these problems. Londoner Ian Hardy takes visitors round the capital´s best sights and shows them how to take better holiday pictures. A “Photowalk” means that you can look at London through the lens of your camera. Ian Hardy believes that London is constantly evolving and that its character can change within a few hundred metres.
As Dr. Samuel Johnson, the famous 18th century writer, once said: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”.
The classic mistake tourists make, says Hardy, is to take a picture the moment they see, for example, Big Ben. Most non-professional photographers don´t think about composition or different angles, or they don´t know how to use the flash. This is where Ian Hardy comes in. He can show you unusual vistas. In the case of Big Ben, he will take you to a statue of Sir Winston Churchill. A photo of Big Ben with the statue in front is more interesting. Many tourists want to take a picture of the Changing of the Guards ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Ian can take you to a spot where you will be the only tourist taking pictures of the guards riding past with Buckingham Palace in the background! To take a picture of the guards passing by, you need a fast shutter speed. And it doesn´t have to be an expensive one because even the most basic compact cameras also have a zoom lens. But many tourists make the mistake of just taking a picture of soldiers in a line. Zooming into the brass instruments brings out the polish of the metal and the reflections of the sun –only if there is sun, of course…that´s something that nobody in London can guarantee!
Shutter speed = velocidade de exposición
(from Speak Up n.294 adapted)
Marque a resposta correcta en cada caso:
1. Why is London a very photogenic city?
A Because everybody takes a camera.
B Because there are many interesting monuments.
C Because it is always raining.
2. Why does Ian Hardy take visitors round the capital?
A To show them the sights.
B To buy postcards.
C To show them how to take interesting pictures.
3. Why does London Photowalk resolve the problem of taking good pictures?
A Because the tourists learn to see London through their cameras.
B Because London is constantly evolving.
C Because London can change within a few hundred metres
4. What is the classic mistake tourists make?
A They see something interesting and they take the picture straight away.
B They always use the flash.
C They only think about composition.
5. How can you make a photo look more interesting?
A Using the flash.
B Thinking of your friends´ likes.
C Looking around and considering different angles.
6. What is Photowalk?
A A new way to see London.
B A travel agency.
C A service that offers technical advice for taking pictures.
7. Photowalk gives the customer advice on how …?
A To take a picture of the Guards passing by.
B To buy an expensive camera.
C To use functions on your camera.
8. Why is it a mistake to take a picture of soldiers in a line?
A It is boring.
B There are no brass instruments.
C There are no reflections of the sun.
9. What brings out the polish of the brass instruments?
A A very expensive camera
B A fast shutter speed.
C Zooming into the brass on a sunny day.
10. In general tourists …………………..take interesting pictures.
A a few.
B not.
C sometimes.
11. Many pictures…………………….by tourists around London last year.
A has taken
B will be taken.
C were taken.
12. Ian Hardy wants tourists……………….. interesting pictures.
A to take.
B to make.
C to like.
13. Tourists go to London……………………see the sights.
A because.
B in order to.
C for.
14. …………………. tourists travel to London with their own camera?
A How much
B How many
C How often
15. …………………………………..ever been to London?
A did you.
B were you.
C have you.
16. If I had a good camera………………………………….
A I have taken very good pictures.
B I would take very good pictures.
C I´ll take very good pictures.
17. Tourists …………………………take interesting pictures.
A do not usually
B don´t they usually.
C do they usually.
18. How long…………………………………this camera ?
A did you have.
B have you had.
C do you have.
19. …………………………….this camera for two years.
A I have.
B I have had.
C I´m having.
20. Hardy has had his camera……………………….last Christmas.
A for.
B ago.
C since
