Old school

[thegman]

I took this shot recently while photgraphing the demolition of six high rise tower blocks. The photographer was in the ''press enclosure'' where there was some serious cameras and lenses, I was intrigued as to how out of place this camera looked. I later found out that is a very modern,technical, complicated and is made by Shen Hao. All c&c welcome as usual.

[Donald]

Just a pity they didn't all fall down as planned!!

For those not of a west of Scotland inclination (!), we're talking about Glasgow's Red Road flats. The demolition did not go according to plan. But what did happen must have pretty spectacular, Gerry. have you got pics?

[DEAN01]

Brings back memories.

[thegman]

Just a pity they didn't all fall down as planned!!

For those not of a west of Scotland inclination (!), we're talking about Glasgow's Red Road flats. The demolition did not go according to plan. But what did happen must have pretty spectacular, Gerry. have you got pics?

Donald, I managed a few, there must have been over 1000 people in my location, all trying for shots between the buildings, but after 5 hours of waiting a lot of people never got any shots as the detonation was carried out without any warnings, so quite a few people had their cameras turned off, to conserve power.
#1. Red Road Flats



#2. Red Road Flats 2.



#3 Red Road Flats 3.



#4 Almost gone.






#5 Still standing.

[Donald]

Brilliant.

[dje]

Hey Gerry, very interesting thread ! The specialised camera looks good but your action shots even better. There's a certain irony about the sign which says "GHA Better Homes Better Lives"

Dave

[TonyW]

Hey Gerry, very interesting thread ! The specialised camera looks good but your action shots even better. There's a certain irony about the sign which says "GHA Better Homes Better Lives"

Dave

Also the SAFEDEM sign.

We saw this on television a day or so ago. Perhaps they were just putting on a demonstration for all those cameras.

[dje]

Also the SAFEDEM sign.

Yes indeed

[IzzieK]

Excellent action shots, Gerry...I am glad you got these in time. I never turned off my camera in between shooting or I might missed something. Or is it just a habit? Anyway, in the first shot, the half face of the guy talking to another guy is more prominent here than the camera you wanted to place somewhere...Did they demolish the last two buildings that was left behind, too?

[Donald]

Did they demolish the last two buildings that was left behind, too?

They're being taken down manually, Izzie.

[thegman]

Excellent action shots, Gerry...I am glad you got these in time. I never turned off my camera in between shooting or I might missed something. Or is it just a habit? Anyway, in the first shot, the half face of the guy talking to another guy is more prominent here than the camera you wanted to place somewhere...Did they demolish the last two buildings that was left behind, too?

Izzie, as Donald said, the remaining buildings will be taken down floor by floor, there was actually quite a large protest from local residents saying all the blocks, 6 in total, should have been taken down floor by floor. I guess they went for the cheaper option. In the first shot the guys face is a Scottish photographer, Chris Leslie, the camera was his and he was busy showing it to the other guy. Minor edit LCE to help Shen Hao stand out a bit more.

[rpcrowe]

I certainly would not select a field or view camera for an venue like this. I have shot demolitions and like to do a series of shots documenting the demo (as you did). That camera would not allow that and the proof of the pudding is in the eating and the proof of photography is in the images obtained. I looked at Chris Leslie's blog and did not find any of the actual demolition shots...

[thegman]

I certainly would not select a field or view camera for an venue like this. I have shot demolitions and like to do a series of shots documenting the demo (as you did). That camera would not allow that and the proof of the pudding is in the eating and the proof of photography is in the images obtained. I looked at Chris Leslie's blog and did not find any of the actual demolition shots...

Richard that makes me feel a bit better about my images. They may not be the best but at least I got them

[rpcrowe]

I did a series of a demolition of an old power plant right after dawn in the San Diego, CA area. These are two shots from that series. If I had been shooting with cut film, possibly the maximum I could have captured would have been two shots total and quite possibly only one. I shot with the Canon 7D on slow burst speed so that I could capture the majority of the event. IMO "use the right horse for the course".





I was lucky in that there was an expanse of water between me and the demolition. That way, I didn't have fences nor people between me and the event. I set up about an hour prior to the event and had my camera on a tripod, framed the way I wanted it and waited on a chair for the blow. The only problem was that it became darn cold right before dawn...

[Manfred M]

I really wonder why he went the view / field camera route. He had one shot.

That does not provide for a lot of room for error.

[IzzieK]

Thanks...I like the intensity of his gaze on the other guy as he explained things to him...whatever he was discussing there..

Izzie, as Donald said, the remaining buildings will be taken down floor by floor, there was actually quite a large protest from local residents saying all the blocks, 6 in total, should have been taken down floor by floor. I guess they went for the cheaper option. In the first shot the guys face is a Scottish photographer, Chris Leslie, the camera was his and he was busy showing it to the other guy. Minor edit LCE to help Shen Hao stand out a bit more.