Confessions of a photographer

Recently I was pleased to have a photograph featured in Shutter Photo magazine in an article themed on the colour of green. The star of the show was a set of railings which line London’s River Thames around Putney.

But then I stopped to ponder over past photographic missions and leafed through my files. There are quite a few shots featuring metal railings, in different sizes, colours shapes and poses. It’s true, in this city there are countless metal barriers, and they can feature well in photos. But have I uncovered a fetish for railings?

Maybe I do have a passion for them. They can look good in monochrome and bright colour alike, create lines and frames for photographs and show off depth of field with flair. Here are some of the other shots I’ve captured in and around London. Do you have a photographic secret to share?…

Click on the first image to launch the full-size gallery

Tags: architecture, fetish, green, London, metal railings, monochrome, photography, River Thames

16 thoughts on “Confessions of a photographer”

seeingspotsphoto on June 21, 2012 at 15:45 said:

Congrats!!

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- mikeosbornphoto on June 21, 2012 at 18:10 said:
  
  Thank you :-)
  
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Charles Ford on June 14, 2012 at 19:41 said:

I actually produce detailed construction drawings of steel railings at my ‘real’ job here in the USA. It is somewhat difficult for me to stop seeing them as work, and start seeing them as interesting photo subjects. (Which you have done beautifully here.)

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- mikeosbornphoto on June 14, 2012 at 19:46 said:
  
  Thank you very much, Charles. I’m glad you share the passion through your work. Many man-made structures, grand and humble, are interesting to capture.
  
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steviegill on June 14, 2012 at 12:34 said:

I’m addicted to photographing zombies : )

Nice collection. Railings can create interesting shapes, shadows and textures, and they come in a variety of sizes, forms and colours. Personally I think they make good photographic subjects.

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- mikeosbornphoto on June 14, 2012 at 18:26 said:
  
  Thanks Stevie. Hmmmm, I think my addiction is a little less dangerous than yours :-) That’s something I’ve yet to capture.
  
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luxaeternaimaging on June 13, 2012 at 22:16 said:

Congratulations! I’m not sure if there is any one “thing” in particular that I photograph a lot, but I do have a weakness for bright colors.

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- mikeosbornphoto on June 13, 2012 at 22:21 said:
  
  Thank you! Oh that’s interesting. I tend to think of certain objects that crop up time and again. I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder (or photographer in this case!)
  
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  - luxaeternaimaging on June 14, 2012 at 06:27 said:
    
    Well, I actually started off as a painter. I first picked up a camera to document slides of my paintings/drawings. I have been suffering from a long bout of painters block lately :( but I tend to use a pallet of strong bright colors in my art and it carried over into my photography.
    
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    - mikeosbornphoto on June 14, 2012 at 18:24 said:
      
      I see. Well, I hope the block shifts at some point, although painting’s loss is photography’s gain!
      
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      - luxaeternaimaging on June 15, 2012 at 04:27 said:
        
        I like the way you think! I planned on posting some of my older painting and art work soon… I actually got inspiration for a new piece today!!!
        
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        mikeosbornphoto on June 15, 2012 at 19:04 said:
        
        Good news! I don’t suppose it was from a set of metal railings?!
        
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        luxaeternaimaging on June 15, 2012 at 20:40 said:
        
        :) Its a secret! You’r work is very inspiring though.
        
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        mikeosbornphoto on June 15, 2012 at 20:44 said:
        
        Yes, it’s better to keep it under wraps. And thank you very much, that’s a real accolade :-)
        
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danitacahill on June 13, 2012 at 20:31 said:

Congratulations on your photo featured in a magazine! You have created some nice images of railings. If I had to confess to a photography fetish, I think it would be benches.

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- mikeosbornphoto on June 13, 2012 at 20:33 said:
  
  Thanks Danita. Yes, that was a pleasant surprise. Benches? Oh goodness, I think I may be guilty of that too!
  
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