Big Ben | Tracking the Light

Exploring London Transport

Westminster Underground station with Big Ben clock tower, July 2013. Lumix LX3 photo.

London is among the world’s great cities. Last week I made my second visit to the British capital this year. While exploring the city and meeting with friends I traveled using London Transport, including the famous Underground.

This year London’s Underground celebrates its 150^th anniversary. It is not only the world’s oldest ‘subway,’ but also certainly one of the most interesting and most photogenic.

Using my Lumix LX3 I made a variety of images of the Underground. The camera’s compact size and relative ease of use makes it an ideal tool for photographing in a subway.

For outdoor images I set the camera’s ISO at 80. When underground, I set the ISO at 200, and use the aperture priority (‘A’ on the top dial) while dialing in 1/3 stop overexposure. I generally use the auto white balance, which seems to work reasonably well.

London Underground — Selective perspective allows for an interesting angle on Oxford Circus station on the Bakerloo Line.

London Underground tube car — London tube cars have a lower profile than cars designed for the older Underground lines. July 2013. Lumix LX3 photo.

A Virgin Trains advertisement in the London tube, July 2013.

Leicester Square Underground Station. Lumix LX3.

London tube. — For many passengers the tube offers little more than convenient transport. Lumix LX3 photo.

I’ve found that the digital camera is vastly superior to my old film cameras for making photos of London’s Underground. However, I have plenty of color slides of the Tube and Underground lines from earlier trips.

Check upcoming posts for more views of London Transport.

Also see:

London Underground April 2013—Part 1

London Underground April 2013—Part 2

London Overground—Part 1

London Overground—Part 2