This photograph is taken in Westfield, the glistening retail place here in west London. But this isn’t a typical scene. It’s very quiet, with just three figures going about their business.
And that isn’t shopping as it’s early in the morning. They are heading to work in some of the many shops, or perhaps using it as a quick route to another place. It is a shot of reflections and closed doors. But that doesn’t last long in this place…
This is the view from the roof of BBC Television Centre in west London. It looks across the snowy blocks of the White City housing estate and not much further – snow showers impede the way. A touch of sepia brings out the lines and depth of the buildings in a wintry scene where there is little clarity. Click on the image to enlarge.
Later I went on to capture the details of everyday architecture and features in their wintry guise – I will share these with you soon.
Cut flowers do not last long. I like to take photographs of them so that they survive beyond their limited life. This was a pristine bunch of white roses, which I have detailed in a series of nine different shots, with rows of colour, monochrome and sepia.
Enjoy the composite effect and scroll through the gallery by clicking on the first frame.
You might enjoy these other floral posts: Summer survivors Flora in the frame
Sepia is considered an old-fashioned way to treat photographs, stuffy and Victorian. But it’s still used in the digital age, and brings a certain something to various shots.
I’m a fan, but use it quite sparingly. You know when it fits a photograph and adds something to the story. Landscapes which contain people often come under the sepia gaze in my editing suite. It adds many different subtle moods and freezes a moment more delicately. Architectural details, already locked in time, can also benefit from this treatment. This collection of UK shots that I’ve put together hopefully visualises these points.
A pleasant summer’s day at Richmond Green, sitting on the bench of special significance. For a short while, Dermot looks across the sun-kissed grass, while enjoying the shade of a very mature tree.
I was torn between the bright, fresh feel of the colour shot and the timelessness of the sepia. The mood of the photograph also goes two ways – this could be an enjoyable moment’s peace and time to relax, or does it signify a juncture of deep thought, reflection and even solitude and solemnity? Which do you prefer?…
