My Section 44

Soon after I took this image I was harassed by two policemen who pulled up in they're patrol car and proceeded to question me in regard to what I was doin'.
Takin' pictures of course, I said.
I showed them the images I had on my camera and expected a praiseworthy response (I had a few cool shots of which I was proud of on there), but no, they were quite the opposite and started to issue me with a piece of paper, and mumblin' somethin' about terrorism.
I asked them if I looked like a terrorist, but without my question bein' answered they asked me one of they're own - well, what does a terrorist look like?

And so I answered - er...Muslim!?
He then replied - well what about the irish!
I said - isn't that all done and dusted now?
He said - well what about that american who tried to blow him and his fellow soldiers up, in a toilet in Iraq?
I said - are you serious, your makin' it up!?
He said - its true.

I thought for a moment whilst the other guy was fillin' out the form - what are these guys on?!
Do they know that there are literally thousands of images of the 'Gherkin' on Flickr?
And wouldn't I have seen somethin' on the TV news about an incident with an american in Iraq?!

Anyway, they issued me with this section 44 and told me to sign it, so I did. I didn't want to resist although I was feelin' like it, but I knew that if I did they would ruin the rest of my day for takin' pictures, which is ironic.
I then went on my way around three more street corners (still takin' pictures I might add) and stood in front of the 'Gherkin' proper, only to see about fifty other foreign tourists with cameras all takin' pictures of this buildin', and with not one policeman in sight!

Anyway, somethin' about the photo:
This was taken at full zoom with the GX200 showin' great edge to edge sharpness, and clarity. And in 1:1 of course!

3:2 Is Dead! Long Live 1:1

I have always regarded the 1:1 aspect as bein' where its at in photographic terms, ever since I owned my first camera in 1988!
Now that I own a Ricoh GX200 camera I jus' cannot stop shootin' in 1:1.
This is one of the beauties in usin' this camera - it shoots in 1:1 aspect, and I find that the world is better lookin' shot square.
Landscapes, portraits, etc. you name it, most of the time an image will always look much better and hold fresh appeal in this aspect.
In shootin' this aspect the photographer doesn't have to deal with composin' for that 1/3rd area of dead space in 3:2 and for that matter 4:3; and no matter what rule of composition you follow in composin' your shot 1:1 will always do your image justice 95% of the time.
Of course there will be times where a 3:2 ratio is gonna' work, but I find its a very rare occasion, especially for me.
Don't get me wrong, 3:2 is OK, its jus' that its become staid and borin', and totally old hat in shootin' it! - And thats a sentiment i've held since way back in '88!