This point of view almost suggests that the bridge will carry pedestrians right across the Thames and directly into St. Paul’s Cathedral.
SPOILER: It doesn’t.
Apologies for another short post. I’m still feeling ill – although maybe a little improved over yesterday. Hopefully I’ll feel better still by tomorrow.
Olympus OM-1N, G-Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8 & Ilford HP5+ (@1600asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 12mins @ 20°
Taken on 29 November 2022.
An artist begins work on their picture while stood just in front of the National Gallery in London (which is offf to the right in this viewpoint).
I went out today and shot the remaining frames on a roll of HP5+ that has been in my Olympus Trip 35 for a while. I’m not sure if this was a good idea given I have a cold at the moment (although the general concensus is that light to moderate exercise can be beneficial as long as it isn’t a chest infection – which I don’t think mine is. At this stage at least). Whatever the case, I shot the ten-or-so remaining images and can now get the roll developed sometime this week. I’m getting close to running out of fresh images for the blog and, even though I have loads of unpublished stuff from older rolls I can use, I always feel the compulsion to keep the fresh stuff coming. Hopefully this 36exposure roll will keep the lights on for a while. 🙂
Olympus OM-1N, G-Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8 & Ilford HP5+ (@1600asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 12mins @ 20°
Taken on 29 November 2022.
The north-western plinth in Trafalgar Square, London was originaly intended to be topped by a statue of William IV on horseback but, due to insufficient funds, the piece was not completed. The plinth then remained empty while its use was debated for the next 150 years until, in 1998, three temporary sculptures were commissioned by Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Shortly after this, consultations were carried out to decide the future use of the plinth. It was decided that a rolling programme of artworks would continue to make use of the plinth, and this has been the case since.
To date there have been fourteen artworks displayed atop the plinth since 1998. The latest is called Antelope by Samson Kambalu. It depicts Baptist preacher and pan-Africanist John Chilembwe and European missionary John Chorley. Chilembwe wears a hat in an act of defiance, as this was illegal at the time. The statue of Chilembwe is larger than that of Chorley to elevate his act of defiance.
Olympus OM-1N, G-Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8 & Ilford HP5+ (@1600asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 12mins @ 20°
Taken on 29 November 2022.
Following yesterday’s post, here are three more gallery photographs from the Tate Modern. All three here were taken in the Turbine Hall, a huge space named after it’s previous use when the building was the home of Bankside power station. It really is an impresive venue and can be viewed from several different levels. Looking down upong the other visitors gave views of scatterings of tiny, Lowry-like figures below moving this way and that.
Olympus OM-1N, G-Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8 & Ilford HP5+ (@1600asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 12mins @ 20°
Taken on 29 November 2022.
HMS Belfast is a Tow class light cruiser that was built and launched just prior to Britain entering the Second World War. Shortly afer her launch she was struck by a magnetic mine resulting in severe damage (although, thankfully, relatively few casualties – very sadly, one crewman Painter 2nd Class Henry Stanton, died later from the injuries he sustained). The vessel did not return to active service until 1942 but went on to take part in various campaigns (including the Korean War) and was eventually retired in 1963.
In 1971 the ship was opened as a floating museum managed by the HMS Belfast Trust, situated on the River Thames in London just above Tower Bridge. In 1978 the trust and ship ship became part of the Imperial War Museum.
In this photograph, the ship can be seen from the South Bank of the Thames with the towers of the City of London in the background. It was pointed out to me that the ship’s camouflage is still doing a sterling job.
Olympus OM-1N, G-Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8 & Ilford HP5+ (@1600asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 12mins @ 20°
Taken on 29 November 2022.
I generally try to find a Christmassy photo to publish on the big day. The only recent picture I have that fits the bill is this one of the Christmas Tree being erected in Trafalgar Square in London. It didn’t have any lights or decorations affixed when I took the shot.
Each year a tree is gifted to the people of Britain by Norway in thanks for British support during the Second World War. The tree would feature in the British childrens television programme Blue Peter quite frequently at Christmas, when the presenters would assist in it’s felling and transportation from Norway, and it’s erection in Trafalgar Square. Blue Peter is still being shown – it first aired in 1958 – and is the longest running TV show in the world. In 2008 presenter Andy Akinwolere presented the feature on the Christmas Tree and accidentally dropped the star when attempting to fit it to the top of the tree.
Olympus OM-1N, G-Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8 & Ilford HP5+ (@1600asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 12mins @ 20°
Taken on 29 November 2022.
The Shard was, at the time of its construction, the tallest building in Europe, standing at 308.5 metres in height. It has since been surpassed by a number of buildings, including the Mercury City Tower in Moscow, Russia, and the Varso Tower in Warsaw, Poland. It remains the second tallest structure in the United Kindom although the tallest – the Emley Moor television transmitter – is not a habited building.
On the day I took this picture, The Shard’s pinnacle was lost in a shroud of fog. There’s a viewing gallery up at the top, though it probably represented a lesser experience on this date (unless you really like being in a cloud).
Olympus OM-1N, G-Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8 & Ilford HP5+ (@1600asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 12mins @ 20°
Taken on 29 November 2022.
Another shot form the grey, overcast day in London. Some interest in the sky would have worked wonders for the picture, I think, but the conditions were what they were.
I have more HP5+ pictures from the day to come, but this second roll was exposed at 1600asa and pushed in development, so I at least got more flexibility in shutter speeds and apertures. Those will start to appear from tomorrow.
I received a surprise today in the shape of a parcel that I’ve been expecting for weeks, but which has been caught up in the Royal Mail industrial action currently affecting us here in the UK. The parcel was sent to my via Special Delivery – a service which “guarantees” next working day delivery by 1pm but which, in this case, has taken a full three weeks to arrive. I honestly wasn’t expecting it to get to me before the New Year so, when it turned up today, it was welcome and a nice Christmas bonus. The parcel contains a new photography related toy which I will start to get to grips with next week. More news to come on this soon, I hope.
Olympus OM-1N, G-Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8 & Ilford HP5+ (@800asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°
Taken on 29 November 2022.
City Hall, London was opened in 2002 and served as the headquarters of the Greater London Authority unttil 20221. It’s unusual shape was designed by achitect Norman Foster.
Olympus OM-1N, G-Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8 & Ilford HP5+ (@800asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°
Taken on 29 November 2022.
Shad Thames is an area of former wharf buildings situated on the south bank of the River Thames in London, immediately east of Tower Bridge.The street which bears the area’s name is cobbled and spanned by historic bridges that formed part of the complex when it was in industrial use, though it’s now an upmarkek residential area. It’s a very dramatic and picturesque street and has featured in numerous film and television programmes (although I remember it most from a 1980s Doctor Who serial featuring the Daleks).
It’s a great location for photography, even in the less than inspiring conditions I had on the day.
Olympus OM-1N, G-Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8 & Ilford HP5+ (@800asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°
Taken on 29 November 2022.
Steel City Snapper photography 