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Top 5 Places to Visit at Themes Bank in London (South of the River)

Top 5 Places to Visit at Themes Bank in London (South of the River)

London – The metropolis on the river Thames is one of the most picturesque places in the world. True paradise for every photographer. Magnificent architecture, colourful markets and cultural diversity are just some of the attractive spots and potentially amazing destinations one can find in less than a mile. So, it is all up to you to decide what to shoot first. But maybe you would like a professional advice, and thus you could have a chance to take unique photos of the vibrant city like London? In our guide, you can find the absolutely best places for a real adventure. That may result with some of the best pictures of city anyone has ever made.

 

1. London Eye

London’s Southbank is our location since it is a real hotspot with places like marvellous London Eye. Eye used to be the largest Ferris wheel in the world. It is still the largest in Europe but also one of the best viewing points in entire city.

London Eye

 

2. Tower Bridge

The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London. Bridge is  also one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. It is one of the most visited attractions in London and  has stood over the River Thames since 1894. The bridge deck is freely accessible to both vehicles and pedestrians. Check the new  Tower Bridge’s Glass Walkway, one of London’s most unique experiences.

Tower Bridge

 

3. Borough Market

Perhaps the most colourful destination for every photographer in the city is the famous Borough Market. In this magnificent place, one can capture not only food sellers and their products but also human engagement and determination to show you magnificent culinary knowledge.

Borough Market

 

4. City Hall

The south bank of the river Thames is indeed a paradise for photographers, and one of the most interesting spots is surely the house of the Mayor of London, the great City Hall. Its magnificent and environmentally friendly architecture will enthral and inspire you to make unique photos, the ones no one else has ever made.

City Hall

 

5. The O2 Arena

The world’s busiest indoor arena, with numerous events being organised throughout the whole year is a frequent spot for many photographers who visit city. The grandiose building of the O2 Arena, named after its primary sponsor, is a place where almost all social gatherings occur on a daily basis.

Therefore, in case you decide to visit the city on the Thames, then spring and fall are the best options, for the city will inevitably offer you the best pictures during these two seasons of the year.

O2 Arena

 

Looking for more photogenic location at London, offline map, exact navigation and tons of photo tips for London? Download our travel photo guide app and enjoy exploration of South bank of Themes river. Fripito app is free of charge at iPhone and Android.

 

 

Top 5 most popular places at Madeira

Top 5 most popular places at Madeira

Madeira is ever green Portuguese island in Atlantic ocean. It takes just few hours of flight no matter you comes from Europe or US. Island is popular for all year nice weather and colorful landscapes. If you plan to explore Madeira, check out great video made by our friend Radek Hasa. If you are looking for more tips and less known locations at Madeira, try our Madeira travel photo guide.

 

Basic facts about Madeira:
Area: 801 km2 (309 sq mi)
Population: 289,000 (2016)
Language: Portuguese

 

 

What are the most popular places at Madeira?

1. Funchal

The capital city of Madeira Island have so much to offer. Go with Cable car up the hills overlooking the city and explore tropical garden. Down the hill on toboggan sled ride. Explore the old city by walk. Taste a greate local food. Try local Madeira wine. Chill with cup of coffee in lovely coffee places. Swim in the ocean. Take a boat ride to watch wheals and dolphins. Do some shopping. Just so many options for you to do in that place.

2. Porto Moniz

In this small beautiful town you can find the prettiest natural lava swimming pools on the island. Town is located at north-west part of Madeira. It takes approximately hour of driving from Funchal.  Definitely must see if you are visiting Madeira Island.

3. Pico do Arieiro

1,818 m (5965 feet) high mountain, is Madeira’s  third highest peak. If you want to feel like you are on the top of the world over clouds, you definitely should not miss this spot. There is easy road access to the summit, with a large car park. The hike is moderate and not recommended for people with knee or dizziness problems.

4. Levada Caldeirao Verde

Its easy trek that is 13km roundtrip, and will probably take 4-5 hours. It’s a beautiful walk and a torch is a must as you have to go through some dark tunnels. Recommendation is comfortable shoes, water, and snack. If you want to enjoy the trek alone come early (around 8am) to be the first one there.

5. Cabo Girao

View point 560 meters (1,840 ft) above sea level with a ‘glass floor’ under your feet. It is one of the highest sea cliff in the Europe. Recommendation is to go early. It can get busy by other people as it is one of the most visited attraction in Madeira. View point is 15 minutes of drive from Funchal.

 

Are you looking for more travel tips for Madeira? Download our Fripito app for free to iPhone or Android phone and explore 85 photo spots at island!

How to Choose the Best Travel Tripod for your photo trip

How to Choose the Best Travel Tripod for your photo trip

Choosing the right travel tripod for your photo trip is essential. Biggest concerns of most travelers are size and weight. The smaller the better, right? But buying the smallest tripod necessarily doesn’t have to be the best idea. We will try to help you choose the right tripod which will cause you minimal transportation problems while keeping the best abilities to do what is its job, keep your camera steady.

 

Ideal size

Tripods have two different and important sizes (height). The maximum height after being fully retracted, which helps you with your vantage points when shooting and the carrying height, which makes the tripod as small as possible when you don’t need it.

The maximum height should be at least 165cm (65“) so you can shoot from eye-level height in order to keep natural vantage point. If possible, keep an eye on the center column, if a tripod can reach desired height without overextending the center column. It affects the stability.

Minimum height – travel size should be less than 50cm (20“) so a tripod could qualify as a travel tripod and fit your luggage.

Tip: Check out extra small Gitzo traveler tripods.

 

Weight of travel tripod

Travel tripod should be around 1,5kg (3.3 pounds), including a tripod head. However, most travel tripods come with preinstalled or fixed head. Choosing a carbon fiber, magnesium or titanium tripod instead of aluminum helps to save the weight, but comes with a higher cost. Some tripods can be secured with a bag of sand or water, in case of strong wind.

Tip: Look for extra lightweight carbon fiber tripods with magnesium ball heads.

Travel tripod

Construction

There are couple types of tripod construction. Some are better for stability, some are better for portability and ease of use. Choose tripods which are small when retracted and do not have too many moving parts. Also focus on the head mechanism. Three-way heads have handles for each axis, they take more space, but can support heavier cameras. Ball heads are more compact and fast to adjust, but cheaper ones do not offer enough friction to support a camera with heavy telephoto lens, for example.

If possible, try how easy you can adjust leg height. Some tripods have sturdy handles and require some effort to extend them to maximum height. That is also affected by how many sections tripod legs have, which is usually between 2 to 4 sections.

Tip: Check tripods at BH Photo Video for price levels.

 

Mini alternatives of travel tripod

If your space is limited or you simply don’t or can’t carry a tripod around, there are still couple options for you. There are plenty of “tabletop” tripods, in case you have an even surface to put tripod on, or special kind of tripods with bendable legs. Most famous of these tripods is line of Joby Gorillapods, which can stand on a surface or its legs could be bent and wrapped around objects like poles, railings etc.

Now you are equipped so go outside and explore. You can download our app to see travel destination inspirations and guides made by photographers for photographers.

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