Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1953)

96 COME TO CORONATION! Pomp, pageantry and history in the making await your camera along the royal route from Buckingham to the Abbey STANLEY W. BOWLER, FRPS IT IS still early February as I write these words — a February of gales, snowstorms and floods. Our Queen and her husband have had a strenuous time visiting scenes of flood disaster; and their clothes and the weather are in sharp contrast to what we may expect to see in the heart of London a few months later — to be exact, on June the 2nd, Coronation Day. Already there is a growing sense of excitement as the spidery tubular scaffolding, with its interlacing struts, grows like a giant cobweb along the routes of the triumphal procession. In some places, even now, the braced steel substructures are being covered with balks of timber to form the walkways and seats of these gigantic stands. Last month it was announced that the processional route had been extended to include part of the riverside Victoria Embankment, so that many thousands of the school children of London will be able to be present on this historic occasion. The outline map shows this route in very simplified form — 'those of you who come over for the Coronation will be able to obtain more detailed plans for personal use — and it is intended primarily as a diagram to plot the position of the sun. First of all, the sun should rise at 3:48 a.m. G.M.T. (actually 4:48 a.m. British Summer Time) and set at 8:07 p.m. G.M.T. (actually 9:07 p.m. British Summer Time). The positions of the principal buildings and their orientation are fairly accurate on the map in relation to the path of the sun. Now, a quick glance at this map will show that filming at a number of points presents difficulty owing to the lighting angle. Before going on to describe yje route and the more important points which the procession will pass, I should like to offer three warnings: First of all, owing to the generally smoky atmosphere over London, early morn Photographs courtesy British Travel Assoc. BUCKINGHAM PALACE, the beginning and the end of the royal route on Coronation Day, faces northeast up The Mall and is side-lighted early in day. ing and late evening light will usually be far less effective photographically than might be expected by comparison with other and more favored places. At these times of day the light also tends to be somewhat "warm." Secondly, since it is almost certain that the prevailing light direction will not be suitable at all times, and that of sheer necessity you will have to shoot into the sun on occasion, really deep lens hoods for all your lenses are essential. Thirdly, unless you are extraordinarily privileged, much of your shooting will probably be done from a distance. Thus, at least one telephoto lens — say a 3x— rwill be mandatory, while the addition of a 6x objective to your kit will be ideal. Now let us consider the route itself. If you have a seat in a stand, it will be unlikely that you will be able to move much from that position. Thus, although you must shoot important buildings at other times, the buildings of greatest interest will be noted as we go on our way. As you may well have guessed already, the procession starts from Buckingham Palace (A), the London residence of the Royal Family. [Continued on page 108] THE ROYAL ROUTE, dotted line out, solid lines in, is plotted for "Movie Makers" in relation to sun's course. THE STATE COACH, splendid with its matched white horses, is seen proceeding from the Admiralty Arch in 1937 Coronation ceremonies.