Big Ben

Golden hour Thames

/ mikeosbornphoto / 13 Comments

The nights in London are now long and dark with the onset of winter. Just a short while ago, summer was breathing its last gasp on the embankment of the River Thames close to the iconic and imposing Palace of Westminster. The building caught the last vestiges of sunlight, while people went about their business – tourists took photographs as joggers passed by. There was even a wedding shoot taking place. Most noticeable of all was the green leaves of the trees, lush and intact. How different things are now…

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The Photo Shop

Westminster nightfall

/ mikeosbornphoto / 16 Comments

Pleasure boat trails

The Palace of Westminster. Arguably the most recognisable London landmark topped off by Big Ben, the capital’s timekeeper. It’s taken me a number of years to visit the stretch of the south bank of the Thames between Westminster and Lambeth bridges, which offers this view.

I set up my tripod in one spot as dusk rapidly turned to autumnal darkness. Each is a separate long exposure shot, two have monochrome finishes. What I couldn’t master was capturing the detail of the clock face, which is the brightest point of the composition. And the building is undergoing some repair work, meaning scaffold and a covered section are unavoidably part of the photographs. But two pleasure boats obliged to create the light trails in the main photo.

 There is little to beat the transition from day to night in a big city – especially if you have your camera ready to catch it.

Lighting up time

Gallery entrance