2014 moments #10

January 4, 2015January 4, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 7 Comments

I’ve enjoyed sharing my 10 favourite photographs of 2014 with you over recent days. These are the shots that stood out to me and had a particularly strong sense of place and meaning. You can find a gallery of the top 10 after this, the final entry.

THE CENTRE OF WESTMINSTER

This is a piece of pure architectural opulence, captured at the Palace of Westminster in London. The nerve centre of British political life, I wondered if the likes of Margaret Thatcher had ever stopped in the Central Lobby and peered upwards at this sumptuous ceiling. I also spend a lot of time taking photographs with my head flung back – it’s worth it every time.

The shots of the year – click first image to launch the gallery

Westminster opulence

September 28, 2014September 28, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 21 Comments

The “mother of parliaments” deserves a resplendent setting – and it certainly has that. The architecture of the Palace of Westminster is soaked in grandeur, and its inner corridors are enriched with the atmosphere of a cathedral.

After waiting in a lengthy queue and undergoing airport-style security screening, St Stephen’s Hall, Westminster Hall and the Central Lobby – the “foyer” for Britain’s political nerve centre – were ours to peruse and photograph.

It’s staggeringly opulent. All I can wonder is if David Cameron, Tony Blair or Margaret Thatcher ever took a moment to absorb its magnificence or craned their neck to admire the Central Lobby’s gilded ceiling.

Click first image to launch the gallery

Wet light

August 24, 2014December 30, 2022 / mikeosbornphoto / 31 Comments

For one week in London, there was a strange, striking light reaching into the sky after dark. You could see it clearly for miles around.

This was an artistic installation to coincide with the centenary of World War One by Ryoji Ikeda which was placed close to the Houses of Parliament. We joined the many Londoners who visited the source of the spectral column – 49 searchlights accompanied by a haunting, minimalist soundtrack.

Our visit was accompanied by heavy rain, which I though would ruin the chance to take photographs. But of course the lights picked up the deluge and created a wonderful spectacle. I even allowed my camera to get a little wet.

All the visitors wandered around in awe at the light piercing into the sky, unfazed by the downpour. There was an eerie sense that they had gathered to be lifted up by extraterrestrials.

When the light was turned off, it was missed. This was something special.

Tap/click first image to view gallery

Waiting to be lifted up by aliens

An eye on London

February 3, 2013February 3, 2013 / mikeosbornphoto / 10 Comments

The London Eye is a prominent landmark on the city skyline. But take a ride on the ferris wheel and you’ll be treated with various views of London and see so many famous buildings like The Shard and the Palace of Westminster. It’s a simple yet very effective and popular concept.

Before you board your capsule, take time on the ground to peer up at this beautiful circular structure, crisscrossed by lines and fringed with neat passenger pods.

Photography from the heights of the Eye comes with a few drawbacks – many people can fit into a capsule and they may well hinder your view or simply get in the way.

The thick glass of the pod often leads to unwanted reflections and distortion. And it was so dirty and watermarked that crystal clear shots were in some cases impossible. I decided to make them a feature of the photograph – I’ve become quite fond of them…