viewing platform

311 steps

/ mikeosbornphoto / 14 Comments

These days, if you want a good view across London you visit superskyscrapers The Shard, the Walkie Talkie or take a spin on the London Eye.

But there’s a 17th century vantage point which is still holding its own and brings the visitors flocking in. It doesn’t even have a lift, but 311 stone steps to a small viewing platform. The Monument was erected to mark London’s regeneration after the devastating Great Fire of 1666, with golden plumes of flame atop the slender stone pillar.

So it was less than good planning to turn up on a Bank Holiday around midday. It was very busy, with two-way traffic on the narrow stairway. And the viewing platform was quite a squeeze. But the views are impressive, given that modern viewpoints tower over this one. There’s no grubby, over-reflective glass either, but a sturdy wire mesh which you can photograph through – and is an interesting feature in its own right.

Clamber up the stone steps if you find yourself in the City of London – you’ll get a certificate for your efforts. But do come early.

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The Photo Shop

St Paul’s selfies

/ mikeosbornphoto / 41 Comments

Tate selfie

When I see a mirror, my instinct isn’t usually to point my camera at it. But this was an exception. I was on the upper viewing platform of London’s Tate Modern gallery, with the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral gloriously in shot.

These similar photographs turned out very differently. Above, I’m (unfortunately) in full view, while the couple perched behind point at the view, which has been dazzled out of existence.

Just seconds later and a drastic dialling down of exposure, the three of us have become silhouettes, and St Paul’s, a slither of the Millennium Bridge and other buildings are visible.

These are not strictly speaking selfies. But which version do you favour? High key or silhouetted?

St Paul's selfie

North London vista (2)

London’s summit

/ mikeosbornphoto / 9 Comments

Shard apex

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…

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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