Baker Street Station

[version3point1]

I thought I'd make use of my photography permit today, seeing as today was a quiet Saturday on the Tube. So I popped into one of my favourite stations, signed in at the supervisor's office and toddled around for an hour or so.

Location
Baker Street Station: Platforms 5
Zone 1 (C4)

Getting there: Depending on where you're coming from, the Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee and Metropolitan Lines all pass through this station, so you shouldn't have a problem getting there.

Location notes: Before the London Underground was even the London Underground, it was the Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway in the world that was launched in 1863. Baker Street was at the heart of all this, which explains a lot of the historical features on the station facade oustide ('1863' clearly visible, along with 'MR' for Metropolitan Railway).

The station now still has a lot of the original features (Platforms 5 and 6 especially) and design work, but newer parts of the station, espcially the spaces leading up to and surrounding the Jubilee and Bakerloo Line sections are themed - to Sherlock Holmes. You will certainly remember the silhouette profile of Arthur Conan Doyle's character, with his hat and pipe, and to top off, there's also a statue of Sherlock Holmes oustide the station entrance.

This station has a lot of character and there are plenty of places for you to sit down and wander around, so do take a look.

Notes
Shot in .RAW. and all on ISO 400.

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1/15, F4.5, 56mm


1/15, F5, 47mm


1/15, F4.5, 52mm


1/15, F7.1, 70mm


1/15, F5, 70mm
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And I have more if you want to see, if you want.

 

[version3point1]

Thanks.

Applying for a permit is fairly easy. You fill in a application form from LUL's Film Office, requesting a permit and stating what you'll be doing (personal/portfolio work or whatever) and they get back to you pretty quick. Click here to visit the application form page and here for more information.

Oh. More photos...

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1/15, F5.6, 90mm


1/15, F5, 60mm


1/13, F4, 38mm


1/10, F3.5, 18mm

 

[version3point1]

Thanks for the lovely comments everyone.

One reason as to why I set the scene before I posted the photos is because many people don't always see the beauty and wide range of shooting scenarios that are available when shooting on the Underground. Knowing a bit of the history, asking the staff questions about things in the station that make you curious also allows you to understand why some things are the way they are down there. This general curiousity about all things London Underground, which spawned from when I was a kid, is why I am an enthusiast today!

Because the London Underground is a public network, everything is pretty much 'live' and unstaged. It allows you to work and test yourself, to learn and with 275 stations to choose from, with different places and things to shoot inside each station, this is why I love shooting on the Underground.

how did you get them so sharp at 1/5" without a tripod? LU don't allow them do they?

The lighting on Platforms 5 and 6 is fantastic and you can use some fairly slow shutter speeds down there with a steady hand. Despite the regulations regarding the use of tripods, I don't actually use a tripod underground at all, due to the fact that each station supervisor has a different preference, depending on what station I'll visit.

Excellent shots, however permits are either impossible to get or bloody expensive it looks....

Do they generally charge for one individual doing photography for personal use?

The permit I have is what they state as 'provisional'. Basically, my permit allows me to shoot for free in places that are fullly accessible to the public, providing that all equipment is lightweight and handheld, that you shoot during the off-peak and weekends, and that you adhere to the railway's bylaws. This permit is usually free.

If you are a professional photographer and/or are working commercially, a charge may be made for the permit, although these permits are generally not provisional and may allow you to go behind-the-scenes and work during peak times.