7 ms·

At first I thought he combined several images into one (there was a project a while ago that did that). But after reading that he actually waited for everyone t

by CWIZO 13y ago

At first I thought he combined several images into one (there was a project a while ago that did that). But after reading that he actually waited for everyone to clear ... that blew my mind. I absolutely can't imagine seeing big ben or piccadilly without a single person in my eyesight. Absolutely marvellous! Too bad I'm away for christmas this year, I'd love to stroll trough the empty streets ...

ye 13y ago
I'm pretty sure he's lying. There's no way for most of these places to clear completely. It's like seeing Times Square empty. I'm 99% sure it's a composite from multiple exposures.
- pdknsk 13y ago
  > It's like seeing Times Square empty. It's interesting you mentioned this. The pictures reminded me of Vanilla Sky, which prominently features empty Times Square.
  - danso 13y ago
    Funny you should mention that. Every time I think of Times Square being empty (which can happen at certain angles at certain very early times of day), I think of Roger Ebert's review of Vanilla Sky: http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/vanilla-sky-2001 http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/vanilla-sky-2001 > Note: Early in the film, there's an astonishing shot of Tom Cruise absolutely alone in Times Square. You might assume, as I did, that computers were involved. Cameron Crowe told me the scene is not faked; the film got city permission to block off Times Square for three hours early on a Sunday morning. Just outside of camera range there are cops and barricades to hold back the traffic.
  - williwu 13y ago
    London streets were empty in 28 Days Later as well.
  - ye 13y ago
    They shut down that whole area for 2.5 hours for that scene.
- jere 13y ago
  On a rainy, cold day and very early, I don't see why it's so hard to believe. Especially if you're willing to wait for the stragglers to walk out of the frame. Also, consider the clustering illusion. Even with a fair number of people, there will tend be gaps and all you need to do is choose the right perspective that focuses on them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clustering_illusion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clustering_illusion Besides, I really don't think it'd be worth lying about. The photos are interesting, but not nearly enough to risk a reputation on, especially considering how hard it is to lie to the internet.
- switch007 13y ago
  Some are much easier to believe than others. Finding empty tube carriages is easy. I think some photos are of Canary Wharf, which IIRC is deserted at weekends. Side streets in Soho, and Carnaby Street? Again I imagine quite easy.
  - dasil003 13y ago
    My office is off of Carnaby Street and I've seen looked down the length of it and not seen a soul. Quite common after midnight, although it gets a lot harder as soon as you step out to Regent Street or the Palladium.
- TranceMan 13y ago
  I can't speak for Times Square but I have seen many central parts of London where I/we are the only people around. Much of Central London is not residential. If it is a merge of multiple exposures - the result is impressive and I would be proud of that fact.
  - danso 13y ago
    I think it'd be possible to get photos of Times Square virtually empty, though a frame without either a pedestrian or a taxi would be difficult. Was looking through my old photos and found two near such shots, at around midnight...however, I almost always try to capture at least one person in a frame as a reference point for the scene, so I didn't try very hard to get an empty scene :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/zokuga/5297956792/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/zokuga/5297956792/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/zokuga/5296132766/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/zokuga/5296132766/ OK, they were during snowstorms, but still :)
    - ye 13y ago
      There are at least a dozen people in each photo. And the photos themselves are not wideangle, you can only see a narrow angle, unlike in the submission. How is this "virtually empty"?
      - danso 13y ago
        Mostly because I was waiting for people to come into the frame? And because it was around midnightish, a time when people are still leaving Broadway theaters (yes, even during snow) It's "virtually" empty compared to what Times Square is like on a stereotypical day (or night). I think if I waited till around 2-3am, or 5-6 am on a weekday
- vidarh 13y ago
  Sure it is. I've walked through many of those parts of London at times where they've been pretty much deserted.
- csmuk 13y ago
  I agree because there are two people in one of those photos! Look carefully!!!

by CWIZO 13y ago

ye 13y ago

I'm pretty sure he's lying. There's no way for most of these places to clear completely. It's like seeing Times Square empty. I'm 99% sure it's a composite from multiple exposures.

pdknsk 13y ago
> It's like seeing Times Square empty. It's interesting you mentioned this. The pictures reminded me of Vanilla Sky, which prominently features empty Times Square.
- danso 13y ago
  Funny you should mention that. Every time I think of Times Square being empty (which can happen at certain angles at certain very early times of day), I think of Roger Ebert's review of Vanilla Sky: http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/vanilla-sky-2001 http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/vanilla-sky-2001 > Note: Early in the film, there's an astonishing shot of Tom Cruise absolutely alone in Times Square. You might assume, as I did, that computers were involved. Cameron Crowe told me the scene is not faked; the film got city permission to block off Times Square for three hours early on a Sunday morning. Just outside of camera range there are cops and barricades to hold back the traffic.
- williwu 13y ago
  London streets were empty in 28 Days Later as well.
- ye 13y ago
  They shut down that whole area for 2.5 hours for that scene.
jere 13y ago
On a rainy, cold day and very early, I don't see why it's so hard to believe. Especially if you're willing to wait for the stragglers to walk out of the frame. Also, consider the clustering illusion. Even with a fair number of people, there will tend be gaps and all you need to do is choose the right perspective that focuses on them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clustering_illusion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clustering_illusion Besides, I really don't think it'd be worth lying about. The photos are interesting, but not nearly enough to risk a reputation on, especially considering how hard it is to lie to the internet.
switch007 13y ago
Some are much easier to believe than others. Finding empty tube carriages is easy. I think some photos are of Canary Wharf, which IIRC is deserted at weekends. Side streets in Soho, and Carnaby Street? Again I imagine quite easy.
- dasil003 13y ago
  My office is off of Carnaby Street and I've seen looked down the length of it and not seen a soul. Quite common after midnight, although it gets a lot harder as soon as you step out to Regent Street or the Palladium.
TranceMan 13y ago
I can't speak for Times Square but I have seen many central parts of London where I/we are the only people around. Much of Central London is not residential. If it is a merge of multiple exposures - the result is impressive and I would be proud of that fact.
- danso 13y ago
  I think it'd be possible to get photos of Times Square virtually empty, though a frame without either a pedestrian or a taxi would be difficult. Was looking through my old photos and found two near such shots, at around midnight...however, I almost always try to capture at least one person in a frame as a reference point for the scene, so I didn't try very hard to get an empty scene :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/zokuga/5297956792/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/zokuga/5297956792/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/zokuga/5296132766/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/zokuga/5296132766/ OK, they were during snowstorms, but still :)
  - ye 13y ago
    There are at least a dozen people in each photo. And the photos themselves are not wideangle, you can only see a narrow angle, unlike in the submission. How is this "virtually empty"?
    - danso 13y ago
      Mostly because I was waiting for people to come into the frame? And because it was around midnightish, a time when people are still leaving Broadway theaters (yes, even during snow) It's "virtually" empty compared to what Times Square is like on a stereotypical day (or night). I think if I waited till around 2-3am, or 5-6 am on a weekday
vidarh 13y ago
Sure it is. I've walked through many of those parts of London at times where they've been pretty much deserted.
csmuk 13y ago
I agree because there are two people in one of those photos! Look carefully!!!