During the recent cold snap, 20 hardy attendees enjoyed an evening of photographic exploration and experimentation at the recent OLYMPUS ’Lumiere London’ photography event. The workshop centred around ‘binaryWaves’, an installation situated next to the Regent’s Canal in London’s Kings Cross. The work by Belgium art collective LAb[au] uses infrared sensors to capture invisible flows of information from mobile phones, radios and cars and transforms them into a unique display of light, sound and colour. The 40 illuminated 3m high panels create a wave-like effect oscillating from one side to the other. The exhibit was one of a series of light based installations in a London-wide event presented by Artichoke and The Mayor Gallery, taking place over 4-days between 13th & 17th January.

After an initial meeting, briefing and warm-coffee-refuelling session at a local establishment, OLYMPUS photographer Marcus Clackson lead the workshop demonstrating what was attainable with some shots taken the previous evening while OLYMPUS’ Clare Harvey-May provided both technical expertise and her usual boundless enthusiasm. The group of mainly Olympus OM-D users took the opportunity to test drive the wide-angle and fish-eye lenses from the M.ZUIKO range whilst other camera brand owners took up the challenge to see how the OM-D E-M1 & E-M5 Mark II’s measured up to the testing conditions.

We were also lucky enough to have artists Els Vermang and Manual Abendroth from Lab[au] attending on the night to explain the theory behind the piece and hopefully one of the shots taken on the evening by attendees will be used future binaryWaves promotional material.

With crystal clear skies, sub-zero temperatures, stunning scenery and growing crowds, simply getting good results whilst shooting in low-light using a tripod was a challenge, although once this was mastered experimentation topped the agenda with Live Bulb mode being favoured to create the more artistic compositions. There were also other artworks on display in the area and growing crowds flocked to see the nearby Central St Martin’s college being lit with a circus themed animation – while a neon light ‘diver’ splashed into an imaginary pool of neon water.

As the cold started to penetrate even the most hardy attendees shutter finger, we all headed off to battle through the London crowds. Just in time as it turned out as the area got so busy King’s Cross tube was temporarily closed due to overcrowding and the Lumiere lights were temporarily switched off. However with memory cards stuffed full of fabulous images and fingers finally beginning to thaw, all agreed it was another excellent OLYMPUS photography event.