Sunday 1 May 2011

My Abbey Road ABCD Picture

Okay, as I am organising the ABCD photo competition, I cannot enter a photo that I have taken into the competition, but that didn’t prevent me from taking one.

I took a ride into north London this morning to Abbey Road, where the famous Abbey Road Studios are. These studios are where the Beatles made a lot of their recordings and in particular, the pedestrian crossing outside the building was used for the picture of the Beatles that was on the cover of one of their albums, suitably called “Abbey Road”.

This is my version of the cover of the album, taken this morning, Sunday 1st July, especially for the ABCD competition. There are numerous centerlines in this picture!....


It is actually four pictures and I have cropped myself out of 3 of the pictures and pasted me back into the 4th picture. I used a tripod and my shutter remote control for the pictures.

This is the original Beatles album cover....

I had to wait to take the picture as just as I set up my camera, as bus carrying a lot of people arrived and they all had the same idea of taking their pictures of each other on the crossing....


This is the actual Abbey Road Studios, which is just to the left of the pedestrian crossing behind the low white wall....

44 comments:

iansolley said...

You are such a poser!!

here is my post

http://7agescustommotorcycles.blogspot.com/2011/05/bloggers-centerline-day-abcd.html

Beck said...

Very creative! It made me smile, just like the one that you took on the centerline in the USA did. Looking forward to your contest.

Eve said...

Great idea for the photo Gary! That would be a winner in my book! I can't wait to see all the photos to come. My internet connection is spotty with the problems we are having in the state of Alabama. I hope to get out today and get a photo before another storm come....even if it's just in the driveway!!

Gary France said...

Ian – I’ve never denied it! Your picture almost counts, even though it is lacking in one important thing - you!

Beck – Thanks. I didn’t intend to include 4 of me in the picture until I saw the different pictures and thought, hmmmn, this might just work!

Eve – I am looking forward to seeing them all as well. I had forgotten that you live in Alabama and so I hope that all is well with you after the storms.

mq01 said...

excellent!

Unknown said...

I've been reading about this for a hell of a long time. It's finally here. I'm really looking forward to a good turnout.

Brady
Behind Bars - Motorcycles and Life
http://www.behindbarsmotorcycle.com/

Eve said...

Ok Gary, I managed a post. Sorry I don't have just one photo for the challenge, but I was having so much fun I had to share the story.
http://sunnysideup-eve.blogspot.com/2011/05/abcd-with-thoughts-and-prayers.html

Mike said...

Well done Gary! I like seeing such an historical place and your creativity there. I also like the red double-decker bus in the background.

Gary France said...

mq01 – Thanks!

Brady – The waiting is nearly over. Are you putting in a picture?

Eve – I am glad you managed it, especially given the circumstances.

Mike – I saw the red bus coming along the road and I thought it would be good to include it. Glad you liked the history.

Chris said...

nice photo Gary :)

I posted mine up too.

Rob Campbell said...

Hey Gary:
Great contest! Mine is also up, I have two versions. One with just me an done with my two sons.

http://www.cartoonthunder.net/2011/05/abcd-all-bloggers-centerline-day/

Doris said...

I am a new follower of yours but am happy to participate in ABCD and to see everyone's photos!

Donna McNicol said...

Well, our plans were to travel out to our property, spray paint a centerline in our newly graveled driveway and take our centerline shot. The weather gods decided that this wasn't a good day...started raining at 7am and hasn't stopped. Sigh...maybe we'll luck out and it will clear later today. Looking forward to everyone's photos!

Steve Williams said...

Nice job with Photoshop. Looks like four real guys on Abbey Road.

Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks
Follow me on Twitter

Gary France said...

Chris – Thanks! I have got your submission, safe and sound.

Rob – Very clever pictures. I an collecting all of the pictures together and putting them all in one post on my blog, probably tomorrow and I am going to put the one with you and the two boys on there. I hope that is ok with you.

Doris – Thanks for your picture and I was sorry to read of your vehicle problems. I hope you get it all sorted out.

Gary France said...

Froggi – I hope it dries up for you a little! I am hoping to post everyone’s pictures tomorrow.

Steve – Thanks. I wasn’t sure how to do the cropping from one file into another, but I cracked it in the end.

Allen Madding said...

And here is mine:
http://allenmadding.blogspot.com/2011/05/blogger-centerline-day-abcd.html

-Peace
Allen

Geoff James said...

Awesome Gary!

My wife will be thrilled as she's a complete Beatles nut (saw them live, screamed her head off apparently) and we still have her LP!

Rhonda said...

Nice one! Puts my not nearly so creative picture to shame :) I really need to learn Photoshop! Have fun checking everyone's photos, I know I will. http://www.thekitchenwitchblog.com/?p=5024

VStarLady said...

Not too many miles logged - but a lot of fun. Postcards from Kingston just posted (from the centre line)

http://ridingonavstar.blogspot.com/

Lady R (Di) said...

Okay I'm in. Here's my link
http://ladyridesalot.blogspot.com/2011/05/lady-r-does-her-abcds.html

May the best photo win! Have fun looking at all these entries! Shew!

Anonymous said...

Great contest. And here's my link:
http://myrideblog.wordpress.com/

Axel said...

Here is my link
http://wp.me/pSdns-Fd
Looking at the others... should have taken more care...

SonjaM said...

Great picture, Gary. My mom would certainly love you for doing this ;-)
Thanks again for the inspiration to ABCD. Here is the link to my entry: http://2wheelersrevisited.blogspot.com/2011/05/abcd-in-quest-for-perfect-line.html

Gary France said...

Allen – That’s great that you were able to get a picture done while helping out at church.

Gary France said...

Rhonda - That is a great picture and I love the need for the bowl to help move your things quickly before the car came along!

Gary France said...

VStarLady – It looks like you had a great day out and I like the montage of postcards!

Anonymous said...

Love the Abbey Road picture!!

I took my picture on the first street I road my motorcycle solo!

http://helmetorheels.wordpress.com/2011/05/01/a-bloggers-centerline-day-aka-abcd/

ToadMama said...

It's still May 1st where I am (Maryland, USA). The photo was taken midday today. I just couldn't post it until I got back home. http://toadmama.com/2011/05/abcd-a-bloggers-centerline-day/

Unknown said...

Gary:

I love that Abbey Road photo. If I were there I would want to take one too. And it's still May 1st here even though I started out just after sunrise. It never fails, just when you want to take a photo lots of people show up and just take their time dawdling around, making you having to wait for them to leave

http://wetcoastscootin.blogspot.com/2011/05/abcd-bloggers-centreline-day-may-1st.html

bob
Riding the Wet Coast

Troubadour said...

Thanks for the challenge, took the photo on the way home from a group ride today. Here is my link: http://troubadourtriumph.blogspot.com/2011/05/abcd-centerline-challenge.html

Ha, it is still May 1st here, 7:40 pm, another weekend gone.

VStarLady said...

Well, this has just been a whole lot of fun ... a great way to bring bikers and bloggers together. Thanks a bunch. Am really enjoying looking at all the posts. What's the next event you've got planned :o)

GF said...

Great photo Gary, this has been fun. It has also allowed me to find and read other bloggers sites.
Here's my entry for the challenge:
http://ridingusa.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-centerline-day-abcd.html

redlegsrides said...

Very cool picture Gary! Kind of gives me an idea, now to figure out how to do it as well as you did.

Dom


Redleg's Rides

Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner

Gary France said...

Good morning from the UK. I would like to thank everyone that has submitted pictures for the ABCD photo competition. It has been a great deal of fun looking at the pictures and I thought I would let you know what I am doing with them.

To make it easier for everyone to see all of the pictures in one place, I am copying them, plus a link back to the original blog owners posting into one new post on my blog. This is taking some time and yesterday I got about half way through it. I am resuming it this morning.

From what I have seen so far, there is a wide and varied range of photos and it has been fun to see what styles and locations have been selected.

I did say in the rules that the pictures must be published on your blog on 1st May, but I didn’t take into account the different time zones, so as long as it is on your own blog when it is still 1st May somewhere in the world, then it counts!

Look out for the posting on my blog of all the entries, and the selected winner soon!

Thanks again.

Gary

Gary France said...

Lady R – Got your picture thanks. A simple idea, but very effective!

D. Ford – I hope you enjoyed bike week and thanks for stopping on the way home for your ABCD picture.

Axel – Good to see you were out on a Chapter ride when you got your picture.

Sonja – I think you found the perfect line and the perfect sky as well.

Helmetorheels – I can’t think of a better reason to chose a location for your ABCD picture!

Gary France said...

ToadMama – What a great place to be for the ABCD, New York, and with your daughters as well. Great pose!

Bobskoot – You posted a terrific group of pictures for the competition on your blog. I really liked your latest piece of photographic equipment, a human shutter release! Please thank Mrs Skoot on behalf of all of us.

VStarLady – I am not sure about the next event yet, as I am still working my way through this one!

Oz said...

Gary, I am forgot to comment here after posting my ABCD photo. This was a great idea. Lots of fun looking at fellow bloggers' photos. http://motoroz.blogspot.com/2011/05/abcd-bloggers-centerline-day.html

Gary France said...

Oz - As you did post your picture on your own blog in time, you are in!

ToadMama said...

Thanks, Gary. I should've posted the shot on my other blog, too. But the weekend walking all over Manhattan tired me out. For what it's worth, I posted a mention there today. I'll do better next time so folks realize I actually am a motorcyclist, too. :-)

Trobairitz said...

Great theme for your picture Gary. Who doesn't love the Beatles?

cpa3485 said...

Gary, it appears you have the whole world participating in your little "game". But it's a great idea and your pic is as inventive as any one of them. Did you provide the Aston Martin to the royal couple the other day?

Jim

Kathleen Jennette said...

Whaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! I can't wait to visit those studios and I am soooo jealous. (My Softail Deluxe is painted in the Beatles theme...I saw them in S.F. in 1964) HUGE FAN! So I am luvin this one!!! Thanks for setting this all up. Unfortunately, where I was, I could not upload a photo...no reception and too unsafe for me to get to a center line :( In any case, this has been so much fun going around and seeing what everyone put up! I surely hope you continue this!

Gary France said...

Trobairitz – Quite right. Everyone likes them and didn’t they influenced other artists for decades afterwards!

Jimbo – I was pleased with the number of entries, but I wouldn’t have said the whole world! No, it wasn’t my Aston Martin, but I wouldn’t mind borrowing it from them!

KT – It was quite something to stand outside the studios on a quiet Sunday morning and just think of everything that must have happened in that building! I am glad you liked the competition and I hope you are able to enter something next time. That is, if there is a next time – not sure yet!