London’s summit

In London, you can’t get any higher than this. Shooting up 800ft (242m) in an ear-popping short lift journey brings you to a partially open platform high in the sky with sweeping views on all sides.

This is of course The Shard, western Europe’s tallest structure. I was here on my birthday, and a treat it was.

The views are undoubtedly marvellous, even in the early evening when the sun was obscured behind cloud. But the notion of achieving utterly crisp images from this lookout is soon dashed – you are trapped behind highly reflective glass panels, at times a little dirty. The only answer is to embrace this as part of your photographs.

But there is clarity from this lofty place, with the upper areas open to the elements and the lines of the building. I often tilted my camera upwards, if 800ft was not quite high enough…

Click first image to launch the gallery

This Shard shoot also nudged me into experimenting with some different processing techniques – a little Holgaesque tint here, a cross-processing effect there. These are intended to enhance rather than totally alter. How far do you take your editing?

THE SHARD POSTS

Shard traffic

High altitude candids

Skyscraper study

The Shard in perspective

Capturing The Shard

Tags: architecture, landmarks, London, photography, processing techniques, reflective glass, The Shard, travel, viewing platform

9 thoughts on “London’s summit”

jdtphotography.co.uk on August 1, 2013 at 10:05 said:

Terrific images Mike and I really like the architectural detail shots in B&W.

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- mikeosbornphoto on August 2, 2013 at 21:24 said:
  
  Thanks as always, James. I must say the details did for me more than the views!
  
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pilar221b on July 29, 2013 at 18:45 said:

Reblogueó esto en pilar221by comentado:
Fantastic photographs. This perspective of London seems me spectacular. Great shots.

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- mikeosbornphoto on July 29, 2013 at 18:56 said:
  
  Thank you for sharing, Pilar, and I really appreciate the comments! I think more than the views, this is a spectacular building.
  
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belgradestreets on July 29, 2013 at 10:51 said:

Wow, great shots, love those details shots of the building esp the mono shots. Can’t wait to go visit some day. Andy

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- mikeosbornphoto on July 29, 2013 at 18:16 said:
  
  Thanks very much, Andy. To be honest I found the details a more satisfying focus than the views given the window situation. I think night shots would be more spectacular.
  
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ckponderings on July 28, 2013 at 13:44 said:

Great shots! I’ve seen the London Bridge shot somewhere before, lol, but some great images, Mike! :)

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- mikeosbornphoto on July 28, 2013 at 13:56 said:
  
  Thank you Richard! That’s the trouble with a major tourist attraction… we all notice the same thing!
  
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  - ckponderings on July 29, 2013 at 06:54 said:
    
    Hehe… Nothing wrong with that! :D
    
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