Attempting Street Photography and Urban Sketching along the Thames in London | Fuji X100V

[@RedshiftDougal]

I love coming back and watching this video. A very refreshing reality check and an inspiration to just get out with the camera or sketchbook. More power to you, Marek.

[@infidelcastro5129]

I’ve spent my life living with severe social anxiety and your comment about the ‘intrusiveness’ (if that’s a word) of taking photos of actual people really resonated. “What if they shout at me and/or think I’m a weirdo?” This is why I am devoted to landscapes. Hills and trees don’t cause confrontations 😊 Thank you for yet another lovely upload, Marek. I hope you know how much your videos help 😊

[@marekl]

I am glad it is not just me. I think I would hate it if someone came up and snapped a camera at me, (also I have hated it when this has happened), so I am reluctant to do it to anyone else.

[@MakeLAUGHnotWAR]

Definitely not boring, nice one Marek 👍🏻👍🏻

[@marekl]

Nice one cool dude.

[@jacquiheywood3142]

I loved your photography and urban sketching. I haven't been to London since 2008 so that walk along the Thames brought back so many memories.

[@marekl]

I love walking along the South Bank too.

[@kek23k]

My peak street photography was about 10 years ago when I was working in London. A tin of unopened custard on a bollard. I will never again achieve such dizzying heights.

[@marekl]

One day I hope to stumble across such magic cool dude.

[@alisoncrocker9919]

I enjoyed this. You took some lovely shots. I particularly liked the ones with the seagull. The expression on its face looked like he was a bit angry though.

[@marekl]

I was even closer than it looked in the photos. It looked horrible.

[@stephr7637]

I'm impressed by your knowledge of different media and willingness to try new stuff and go out of your comfort zone. I've always loved art but found being around people and busy places in order to draw/paint/photograph overwhelming. I've recently found out that I'm autistic which has made sense of a lot of stuff, and I want to say how much I appreciate your vids, both here and on the walking club. The way you shoot and edit them is really nice and they help me relax if I'm feeling stressed. I hope you get as much out of making them as your viewers do watching them.

[@marekl]

Thanks Steph, this is very kind. I thought I would make this video to show you don't have to be good at something to do it. I get annoyed when people say 'I can't draw' and just dismiss it. They should really say 'I don't draw'. I think it is just a question of patience a lot of the time, and I find it very useful to slow everything down. Also street photography is more rewarding than I thought, especially if I approach it as though I am trying to make some tiny frame of a story with each photo. I can completely understand being uncomfortable drawing with people around. I try and find a spot away from everyone. Another cool dude on here mentioned she bought a stool for her urban sketching, which is an excellent idea as you can position yourself away from everyone.

[@tr1ckster]

x100v is such a lush camera, love mine.

[@marekl]

I really love it too.

[@neilmeadowcroft7569]

Excellent. More photography walks please, I've been looking into that myself, just trying to decide on beginner gear. Eff off pigeons.

[@marekl]

You can take good ones on your phone. I hope you get a good camera.

[@simontulloch6882]

cheers Marek, makes me feel homesick for the UK

[@marekl]

Don't worry I will make a video of one of the awful bits of London soon and you'll feel much better.

[@TravellingTorunn]

I really enjoy your playful and lovely drawings and paintings. And to combine it with street photography was a good move. I wish I had enough patience to develop my drawing skills. It looks so fun to have drawn and painted memories in addition to photos. 😊

[@marekl]

I like sitting down for half an hour or so, but like you I struggle with the patience.

[@MatthewVernalls-et4mi]

Another fantastic video 😃 I love your photos and artwork. I'm certain that they'd be accepted in a competition 😁 That Seagull(?) you took three pictures of is very much like you 😂

[@marekl]

Ha. That seagull was a psychopath.

[@grainne743]

I throughily enjoyed "that sort of thing". I especially like how you captured the Hasidim riding the Santander bikes. Great!

[@marekl]

Thanks cool dude. I am so glad you liked it.

[@davidm3569]

I'm really impressed with your sketches. Only wish I could do that ( mind willing.....hands saying "Yeah dream on...". Photography, most of the time, is being in the right place, at the right time and 'seeing' a good frame. I miss taking photos, used to do a lot. Oh well best of luck and keep these interesting vlogs coming. Nice one cool dude 👍😁

[@marekl]

Yes, I agree when it comes to photos. I admire the great photographers, but I think I have more admiration for artists.

[@Evans_Yellow]

You took some pretty cool photos. Happy St. George's day! x

[@marekl]

Nice one. Happy St Georges Day to you too.

[@varis0843]

Nice photos. Particularly liked the light on the ones on the bridge.

[@hypnogoria]

Lovely video sir! Really love your sketches and watercolours, and youve inspired me to get a little mobile art kit together and give it go :)

[@marekl]

Fantastic. I hope you enjoying it. I find it very relaxing just concentrating on something for a while. The more I fill my sketch book the more I like it.

[@B3tanTyronne]

Some great shots and sketching Marek. The walk along the Thames is a great thing to do, and it is surprising the quiet places you can come across if you are lucky.

[@marekl]

It never seems to be too busy when I walk it. Especially the North side.

[@lisaperry345]

Ooooh I hope you make a London zine in the future. 🙂 Your dislike of pigeons cracks me up. They were just minding their own business but that seagull looked evil!Haha! I didn't find this vid boring at all. I'm awful at drawing and the technical stuff went over my noggin but the pictures were great!

[@marekl]

The pigeons wake me up at 5am every morning, I hate them.

[@lisaperry345]

@@marekl Fair enough. I suppose that is rude. 😏

[@kennyjayanimation]

Really enjoyed this video. Would love to see more of your street photography as some one who is looking to get into it but trepidatious.

[@marekl]

Nice one dude. Just go for it!

[@gareth123ist]

The finger at the pigeon photo made me laugh.

[@travelbuzz1]

Yeah, trees don't talk back, thankfully. Nice pics, c... er, Marek 🙂

[@nature_photography_yukon]

Fantastic pictures Marek and love the sketches. I only have a little compact camera and still not mastered action shots, so have to hope the wildlife stays pretty still lol. Your camera/skills produce some great shots.

[@marekl]

Yes, the lens on that camera is incredible. It makes everything look good.

[@CL0CKW0RKR0B0T]

Hello from Scotland. We hate bagpipes too, that's why we send them down to Westminster.

[@marekl]

Ha. Excellent.

[@CaraCompass]

really enjoyed this! thanks marek!

[@marekl]

Thanks Cara.

[@bluecraig99]

Amazing - combining my two favourite things - going for a walk and street photography! Great photos, I can totally relate to the nervousness of photographing people. I've got some quirky street photos of Ventnor Beach Parade - my spot of choice for urban street photography 😆Loving it. Cool Dude Member #777

[@marekl]

That is an excellent choice of spots. Hopefully I'll make another Isle of Wight street photography video.

[@whitstuff]

That was really good!!!

[@marekl]

Thanks Sue.

[@lolly5453]

Loved the pictures as it was getting dark, and at the start of the first day. I’m only half way thru the vid so I’m waiting to see if the hat adjustment will make the photos even better on the second day! Defo up for seeing more vids like this Marek 👍🏼📸

[@marekl]

Yes, I liked the night photos too cool dude.

[@sfsunday74]

at about 2:10 or so you walked past where I got my first pie in London at Pieminister. #yum

[@marekl]

Excellent. I not a fan of pies, I am definitely more of a hamburger man, maybe we should swap countries.

[@sfsunday74]

@@marekl haha. maybe. next to impossible to get a decent pie here. Well, we're good at dessert pies.

[@sfsunday74]

@@marekl and full disclosure, I actually got 3 minis so I could try 3 different flavors.

[@krabbers]

As requested. I’ll keep watching.

[@judybee]

I can barely bring myself to tell you that a pigeon (who we have named Gus) has decided to befriend my windowsill at the same time each day. He peers through the window & watches us with his beady eyes & inquisitive bobbing head, then munches on bird seed left out for the sparrows. Of course, it maybe that Gus is NOT Gus....but I'm pretty certain it IS the same bird each day. How interesting (NOT) I hear you say. With that outta the way, I need to say that I am no photographer (or artist) but I absolutely love your sketches, drawings, paintings & fab photographic shots whether they be on this channel or the Cool Dudes one. You have a special gift Marek. And what's a beanie without a bit of croissant stuck to it (just be thankful the pigeons didn't spot the crumbs!) x J x

[@marekl]

I don't know if we can be friends any more now that I know you are a pigeon sympathiser.

[@judybee]

@@marekl A timely reply as Gus is quite co incidentally sitting on my window ledge as I write this. He must be a particularly intelligent specimen as he's just given me the evil eye after hearing me reading out your reply to my other half! I should add that he chose ME, rather than the other way round, so not sure if I can actually be classed as a pigeon sympathiser!!!!!! :-))) Ha! x J x

[@malmedia]

Subscribing just hoping you do more street photos, sketching, and comedy. Unbeatable combo.

[@marekl]

Nice one. Thanks dude.

[@anthonyhatter196]

Nice alternative to the walking, Cool Dude. Love street photography, including smiling bins. You should host a walk and natter! CD#123

[@marekl]

I put it on this channel as I was getting dangerously close to the dreaded 4,000 cut off point where you lose your KZbin partner benefits.

[@anthonyhatter196]

@@marekl is that 400 videos?

[@georgec2894]

4000 Watch hours? I obviously haven’t been rewatching marek makes a meal of it and advanced guess who tips videos enough 😂

[@georgec2894]

I am slow clapping this channel on its way to 10k... getting close now :)

[@hugomartinsphoto]

This was great, Marek! Awesome pictures!

[@marekl]

Nice one. Thanks dude

[@hugomartinsphoto]

@@marekl You got it!

[@squalloogal]

😊

[@marekl]

😎

[@michaelwhite8031]

The pigeons might be an omen to tell you that a remake of an Alfred Hitchcock film may be in the offing.

[@spirittravels.]

What an excellent refreshing video, as I normally watch travel vlog videos. Can you let me know what your vlog camera was please? The image quality is excellent. Great photography. Nice drawings. Nice music.

[@marekl]

Thanks cool dude. I have used a lot of cameras over the years trying to find the best one for vlogging. Hands down the best in good light is the GoPro Hero 10. I use it with a media mod and radio mics. Here are links to them all below. GoPro - amzn.to/3ZSUweb GoPro Media Mod - amzn.to/3txRpfg Rode Wireless Go - amzn.to/45zbjEk Good luck

[@spirittravels.]

@@marekl Cheers. Thanks for the update. Excellent video. Normally I tend to watch travel vlogs, but find a high quality vlog with great photos, like this one, to be an interesting new way of seeing things. Cheers 👍

[@benlawry5759]

Great vid Marek. It's very tricky to achieve great results with street photography on a 35mm lens, it's just a bit too wide. Some close cropping on the skateboard images may give you more of what you're after.

[@marekl]

I think I need better timing. Ha. I very much enjoy the fixed lens on the X100v.

[@Wonderingoutinthegrapes]

ep2 please. This was great

[@marekl]

Nice one dude.

[@systemSkynet]

Some preeeettty cool snaps and sketches dude. You should take a pigeon kicking course they are loads of fun.

[@marekl]

I don't understand how people can like them.

[@systemSkynet]

@@marekl you may like them with a dash of salt and pepper

[@jdanielpUK]

I haven't taken a pigeon kicking course, but, as a child, I came up with alternate lyrics to the Pigeon Street theme tune (well the first part of it, at least, since it goes a little freestyle towards the end): If you stamp on a pigeon's head, you will soon realise that it is dead; Blood and guts are splattered all over the floor, and the carpet, and the door; So never stamp on a pigeon's head, else your mum will send you straight to bed; So never stamp on a pigeon's head! 🎵 (just wasted another few minutes trying to work out how to add Cool Dudes Walking Club emojis to this...)

[@spicybiscuit88]

I really like your photos - especially the b/w train station one (i also prefer the one on the right), and the bus going under a bridge one was cool - I think because of the curve of the bus it looked quite 1950s somehow. I have a question. Why dont you like pigeons? Do you have history with them, or is it just their general menacing demeanor?

[@WalksWithOlly]

'Marek goes to Scotland' Having confessed that you don't like bagpipes, this trip must happen! No excuses!!

[@marekl]

Ha. I would like to visit the Highlands again.

[@stevesvids]

So.... you're a Fuji shooter. 😎📷🙂 Me too..... but you are more superior with your x100v as I'm still using my XT3.. Great artwork and photos Marek.... and trust you to notice the nob shadows 😂. Did make me chuckle that did. Take care Oh yeagh.... setting sail fir IOW tomorrow. See you around 👋👋

[@marekl]

Have a great trip cool dude. I have an Olympus which I love and did most of my filming on before I got a GoPro, but loved the fixed lens of the Fuji.

[@stevesvids]

@@marekl one of the best lenses around on your x100v. Much improved since the early x100's. You certainly have yourself a gem of a camera there my friend. I use a vast array of old vintage lenses on my xt3.... all cheap as chips, and all with individual character in the images they produce. The main thing being.... all good fun. 😀 Take care Marek. Regards.... Steve

[@RedshiftDougal]

Am coming back for a another viewing of this video. There are so many points that make me think (and smile). BTW I can't help sympathising with your aversion to pigeons. With that in mind, where do you stand on crows? Most of them appear to be more intelligent than the average modern adult and I'd happily spend all my time interacting with these corvids. What say you?

[@marekl]

I like crows! I am not a fan of pigeons, seagulls and magpies. Other birds I like.

[@naturalmystery]

I hate bagpipes too, and I'm Scottish!

[@JessieCori]

I would like to watch a series of you cooking edible meals. Marek makes a meal. Add some of your banter and anecdotes and voilà instantly watchable. Who knows you might become a master chef while you're at it.

[@RArecordingsRickValcon]

at 5:02 is that a Great Horned Owl?

[@marekl]

It was a big plastic one I am afraid.

[@RArecordingsRickValcon]

aw, shame. I saw a wild one ones. I even had my camera with me, but it was dusk and I was to flabbergasted when it flew away. @@marekl

[@strawforest007]

The issues of what to photograph (not getting faces in shot) is a fascinating point. The choices photographers make on all levels and why they take pictures at all serves up endless answers. One of Samuel Lintaro's recent videos with Siegfried Hansen openly discusses several aspects of 'street photography' and nicely shows his approach. He unwittingly answers your questions raised and I feel some of his answers apply to just about anything creative - trust your gut instinct: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3qZnoCBe519asU

[@JohnBone]

Pre-digital film, for a pleasant/unpleasant (co-workers & camaraderie 100%, management 0%) two years I was the Editor of the Motorsports Dept. at Getty Images (eeugh). After each F1 race I'd be couriered c.200 rolls of 36-exposure E-6 process film, from which I had to select the 20 best images for global release, while most of the rest got thrown in the bin. Based on that ratio, on average you'll get a REALLY good picture 0.28% of the time or 1-in-135 images. Humblebrag: During those two years if you saw a picture of F1 racing on TV, in a magazine, in a book, or on the fledgling internet, chances are I'd chosen it at about 4 or 5am while pulling a hellish all-nighter.

[@marekl]

That is an excellent photo fact. Thanks cool dude.

[@unknownkdr31]

I haven’t seen you in so long completely forgot about your channel but I used to watch all your videos hope your doing ok

[@marekl]

I am making walking videos on my other channel Cool Dudes Walking Club, meanwhile there is zero acting work for 47 year old bald men.

[@Rockabillyrabbit]

But Marek, will you ever appear on Taskmaster?

[@chad7131]

Am i a cool dude since i love your videos? I'm really hoping so.

[@marekl]

Yes you are a cool dude, but you can only ever be an official cool dude by joining on my Cool Dudes Walking Club Channel. I am sorry to break this sad news to you.

[@chad7131]

I think i know what my next move is then

[@Ant-dx8yt]

I have Aspergers, since last year I've been out taking photos, of basically anything that moves, or even stands still lol... You took some brilliant shots there. I'm using lightroom too.

[@marekl]

Thanks cool dude. I am glad you are enjoying photography. These photos are all unedited JPEGS out of the camera, just with the PORTRA400 filter on them.

[@streetwalkerphoto]

Nice one. Street photographers who use burst mode are total w⚓️s. Also those skateboarders on the South Bank are pretty shit at skateboarding, so I wouldn't feel too disappointed. Good luck everyone with your street photography ( especially Marek)

[@hala9175]

Your bird was out of focus. That stupid pigeon had wreck it.

[@Vurtonable]

I feel like you may be trying to triggered us pigeon lovers (which there are many) with your rude and malicious behaviour towards pigeons.

[@marekl]

Pigeons are dicks.

[@rugglez]

Would be great to see a meetup between you and Roger (@shootfilmlikeaboss) - both camera fans and you are both Isle of Wight.

[@marekl]

I have not heard of his channel will check it out.