On my travels in London, I enjoy taking the double-decker bus and looking out at the street scenes below. I saw this shop window on Haymarket from the number 139 bus on my way to Pall Mall. Luckily, I was working for the British Dental Association whose offices are nearby, so at lunchtime I went back to photograph the shop windows.
Look at there is a white sphere behind you.
Dover Street Market is a multi-retailer selling high-fashion products. The name comes from the original location in Mayfair, although the present store is on the Haymarket, along which the 139 bus passes. The windows contain large white spheres that fill the space. Each window has one of these spheres and they look wonderfully surreal.
I am pretending not to notice what is in the window.
I stood in front of the windows and recorded people’s movements with my iPhone. The windows themselves created the storytelling. People were distracted by their phones or simply walking through London refusing to acknowledge those around them. This made for great street photography.
Three of a kind.
There are some interesting subjects and their activity adds to the surreal mood of the photographs. The window dressers, often called visual merchandisers, at Dover Street Market are exceptionally talented.
The festival is a great meeting point for photographers. I’d already attended the morning talks and, over lunch, done an impromptu photowalk around Greenwich with a colleague, Peter Thompson. So the day was already off to a strong start.
Reflections in a puddle of shoppers at Greenwich Market.
At the FujifilmUK stand, I signed out the GFX100RF for the hour-long session. It’s noticeably larger than my X100VI, but still comfortable to hold one-handed. I wrapped the strap around my wrist, my preferred way of carrying a camera, and followed Bal (Mr Whisper) towards Greenwich Street Market. He kicked things off with some street photography tips, revisiting ideas like leading lines, framing, and reflections, which was a useful refresher.
Looking in at the sweet shop in Greenwich MarketMake fudge not war but choose carefully.
A few shots in, I started to get the feel of the camera. I normally use back-button focusing on my other Fujifilm camera, so it took a little time to adjust. Greenwich Market is an enclosed square with entrances on each side, full of activity and photographic opportunities.
Portrait of a shop keeper at Greenwich market.
Near a photobooth, Bal noticed I’d accidentally set the camera to digital zoom, caused by pushing an unfamiliar dial. Once corrected, I was back on track. The GFX100RF was a joy to use as I moved through the stalls, and the time flew by.
Taking the picture.Drawback the curtain.See the result.They look so good.
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A dancing dogJust be happy
– When we regrouped, I asked Bal if I could take his portrait, which he kindly agreed to. I took several shots by the market entrance, but again hesitated over my focus settings. Bal quickly switched on eye detection. This was another good reminder of how important it is to know your camera well and adjust settings quickly.
Portrait of MrWhisper taken at the entrance to Greenwich Market
At the end of the session reluctantly, I handed the camera back and checked the images on my X100VI, only to find they appeared completely out of focus. I was despondent, even though I’d thoroughly enjoyed the session.
The M&S bag says it all!
Back home, I checked the files properly on my computer. Relief! Most were in focus. My X100VI simply couldn’t handle previewing the large files many in excess of 130Mb. Processing such large images was demanding (and my laptop ran hot), but I was very pleased with the results.
Reflections of the 188 bus.
Many thanks to Mr Whisper for a fantastic session, and to Fujifilm UK for letting me use the GFX100RF. Now I just need a loan to buy one. Would I get the GFX100RF? Yes, absolutely.
The GFX100RF such a great street camera.
Finally a big shout out to MrWhisper. I would recommend going on one of his night photography courses around London. Details on his website.
Walking through London at Christmas is always a blend of wonder and chaos. Lights spill across every street, crowds move in every direction, and here and there you stumble upon small pockets of calm. I spent a couple of hours wandering with my camera, capturing the city’s festive energy.
Winnie the Pooh and Piglet complete finding the North Pole in Selfridges.
My companion for the evening was Peter Thompson, and we set off from Selfridges to explore the brightest spots. New Bond Street was dazzling with its high-end storefronts lit up with elaborate displays. The place was crowded, and the cars parked along the street looked like they were auditioning for a Monster Trucks spin-off. They were huge 4x4s in loud, flashy colours, with a generous scattering of BMWs and Mercedes squeezed in wherever they would fit. Amid all this noise, DPD vans were doing their rounds, delivering parcels to the shops. The upside? All those polished metal surfaces made for brilliant reflections of the lights around them.
The Christian Dior shop window.Reflections of lights from the cars.
Other iconic landmarks such as Fortnum & Masons and the Burlington Arcade did not disappoint although the latter was very crowded. Piccadilly Circus had its usual hypnotic mix of colour and motion. From there we wandered into Chinatown, where the crowds thickened and the restaurants buzzed with activity. Leicester Square had been transformed into an ice rink, cheekily named “William Skatespeare”,
Fortnum & Mason sported red lights and the year 2025. The December full moon shines above.The doorman looking very smart at the entrance to the Burlington arcade.The bright lights of Piccadilly Circus.Lots of lovely aromas of cooking in Chinatown.Skating in Leicester Square. “Skatespeare”The Angels of Regent Street.
Before we looped back to Regent Street, I walked along the central reservation toward Oxford Circus. Soon I found myself standing on the central reservation, tourists pressing in from all sides, traffic sliding by just inches away. I took the final shot of Oxford Circus with my X100VI, and its internal stabilisation proved impressive, letting me capture the night scene handheld. There’s something satisfying about the slice of nightlife frozen in that frame. Then it was time to mingle with the crowds and head home after an enjoyable evening.
Crowds entering into the Oxford Circus Tube station.
If you enjoyed this description of the lights then feel free to visit my blog on last year’s lights.
If you want to escape the Hell’s Kitchen that is Euston Station whilst waiting for your train, visit this delightful pop-up park. The theme echoes the past people and life of the area, providing a quiet place to sit and watch the world go by.
The entrance to Starcross YardStriking artwork within the pop-up park.
I came across Starcross Yard by accident. My train was delayed at Euston Station, which is a common story. I therefore went out to the west of the station and walked along Drummond Street. I often walk along here to and from the station, using it as a shortcut to Triton Square, where there are sparkling skyscrapers and interesting pieces of art to photograph. To get there, you must walk across an area slated for the HS2 station. There is not much going on there now, as there is still debate over whether the station will be built. As you move along, security is intense, with several guards and wardens stationed near the entrance to Drummond Street.
Old ironwork vs new steel buildings.
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Peaceful neighboursSeek out the birds
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Windows and shapesWindows and reflections
– Instead of going straight on, I turned right into Starcross Street, and this is where I found the pop up park. Starcross yard sits on the former site of the Maria Fidelis School, which was closed and relocated due to HS2 construction. Now, it has been transformed into a temporary pop-up park. With a triangular footprint, the small green area features a circular yellow mural and several benches. An interesting structure of four metal posts forms a canopy—these posts were taken from King’s Cross Station and thus maintain the railway connection. At one end, there is a training centre, and along the railings, information boards share stories of past people and events in the area.
A drink at the Exmouth Arms
Drummond Street and Starcross Yard are now home to a diverse community, mainly Bengali and Pakistani. Drummond Street boasts a rich mix of restaurants, sweet shops, and eateries, as well as a few public houses serving independent brews. As the sun streamed down, the shimmering glass towers of Triton Square loomed in the distance, but my attention remained on the pop-up park. I appreciated the little details that made the space unique, as my pictures show.
Echoes of place on the railings of Starcross Yard
The park also inspired me to research the names and histories mentioned on the information boards. I have returned a couple of times and plan to visit again in the future. How long the park will remain is uncertain, given the ongoing debate about HS2’s future at Euston, but until then, it will continue to be a welcome space for the community to enjoy.
Street photographers love London, and everyone has their favourite area for taking pictures. I simply enjoy watching people move around the streets. Sometimes, you find a street teeming with opportunities for photographs; other times, it is not so fruitful. But, as they say, go with the flow—good pictures are always waiting for you.
The upside down world of Soho.Good will on Earth to Refugees.
When wandering the streets, having a companion to share your journey is invaluable. Peter is an excellent photo buddy (link to Website). Living in London, Peter knows the best places to visit and is adept at finding ideal spots to stand. My other companion is my Fujifilm X100vi. The inbuilt image stabilisation makes it perfect for street photography. I shoot with a low shutter speed (1/30,1/60), a wide aperture (f4), and auto ISO to adapt to unexpected moments. The resulting pictures can be noisy, but a quick edit with Lightroom’s denoise function cleans them up effectively.
Everyone is taking pictures of the Piccadilly light show.The streets were atmospheric giving a Christmas look.
I have also set up my camera with back-button focusing, which has significantly improved my ability to capture scenes in focus. However, this technique introduces a slight delay as I focus before pressing the shutter. I overcome this by anticipating the scene forming in front of me.
Regent street shop displays are very elegant making super street photography backdrops.
My first stop was to see the lights along Regent Street, with the beautiful angels soaring above the centre of the road. The shop windows offered bright, eye-catching displays. My technique here was simple: stand still for a few minutes and point my camera at the scene waiting for a suitable picture to materialise. The magic in this series of pictures came from the rain earlier in the afternoon. A light drizzle was falling on the pavement, creating reflections that shimmered with colours.
Reflections and colours
I met Peter at Waterstones’ coffee shop, and we set off together. Starting with the bright lights of Piccadilly, we walked along Shaftesbury Avenue before exploring Chinatown. The city was bustling as it was the end of the working day. Pubs were overflowing, and people were moving everywhere, on foot and by bicycle. There was so much activity that pictures appeared all around us.
Umbrella for the rainRed Coat
— The rain added another layer to the story, bringing out umbrellas that enhanced the scenes. As we wandered into the narrow streets of Soho, the vibrant atmosphere gave way to Leicester Square. Here, we encountered a German market, but it was a disappointment. The stalls were no different from those found in Birmingham, and their circular arrangement felt uninspired. I did, however, find an interesting tree to photograph, though not much else of note.
Tree decorations – Leicester Square.Busking away looking for an audience.
We did not stay long at the market. Instead, we headed to the Diamond Jubilee Garden facing St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden. The coloured lights reflecting off the wet pavements created a stunning view, and the silhouettes of people walking through the garden added depth to the composition of my pictures. We arrived at Covent Garden itself, and the decorations there were breathtaking. The large decorative bells and Christmas ornaments hanging from the ceiling filled the space with festive charm. The place was alive with energy, and I could have spent hours photographing the scene. This was my final stop on my visit to the lights of London. There were a few more pictures to take along the Strand before arriving at Charing Cross station and the Bakerloo line up to Marylebone station.
Approaching Covent Garden.St Paul’s Church Covent Garden.Street reflections and silhouettes. St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden.The Christmas tree and decorations in Covent GardenThe beauty of the interior of Covent Garden.
All that remains for me to say is: enjoy my photographs and the short descriptions accompanying each one. There are some fantastic backdrops, including a particularly amusing one where a poster is upside down. I am sure this was deliberate, designed to catch the eye of keen street photographers like Peter and me as we wander London’s streets.
Toys and Souvenirs.Blue tyres and red lights on the Strand.Outside Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.Walking in the rain outside the Hippodrome.I love London.The shop window says it all.Escalator at Charing Cross.
If you enjoyed this view of Christmas lights then please follow the links below for more stories. One is about Christmas in Birmingham this year. The second is snow in our village in 2017.
London is an ideal place for urban photography as it offers so many different places that offer variety. There are several large-scale cityscape vistas which sit with the smaller scale scenes taking in street art and street photography. The start of my recent photo walk with colleague Peter Thompson was the Angel, Islington and from here we accessed the Regent’s canal. A link to this part of my photo walk is below. Leaving the canal we moved around Shoreditch taking in some of the street art and catching people interacting with their urban surroundings. Architecture was another focus of my lens. Finally we finished off at Horizon22 which is also covered in a separate blog entry. So sit back and be prepared for a roller coaster of pictures from my walk in Shoreditch. (All pictures taken on my Fujifilm x100v)
Two is company, three is a crowd. (Street scene in Islington)Street Market, Islington.Love those old Toby jugs.Telephone boxesBroken telephone boxesInside a telephone box.Street art with human interaction.Transport catches up.Taking time out.Scary.Conversation at the traffic lights.Bull in a China shop.I do like this one!Powerful street art.Incredible architecture.Little Red Riding Hood.Light and shadows by Liverpool Street station.A lone figure in Liverpool Street station.BishopsgateMore views of Bishopsgate.Decisions, decisions.Reflections and a selfie.Happy hour.Icing sugar window.Cash only.Street art.Street car.Elephants.Where does it all go?Not happy.Black and White Cityscape.Colourful buildings.Colourful railings.Watching.Sunglasses in Brick lane.Picture perfect.Pictures on a wall.
You made it to here and your reward are links to my other recent London Times postings.
I have been up the Shard and visited the Monument. Both buildings have their charm and give unparalleled views of the London skyline. I have seen Westminster and beyond from the London Eye where your excitement builds as the wheel slowly turns. Eeventually when you reach the pinnacle of the journey, you have a super view of the Houses of Parliament and the Southbank where cars and trains move around like they are part of a model village. There are many others that I have been fortunate to visit over the years and all provide an assortment of bird eye views of London. Do I need to visit another high-rise viewing platform?
It is a long way down.Diagonal lines created by the sun streaming into the viewing area.Walking away from the view.
My recent visit to London was to undertake a planned photowalk organised by my photo-colleague Peter Thompson, that would take in the Regent’s canal and Shoreditch. We covered most of the itinerary during the day. We were nearing the finish and about to reward ourselves with a cup of tea before heading off for our trains home. We had walked the streets and towpaths of London and my feet were hurting. I was weary. Peter Thmpson suggested Horizon 42 as our final place to visit before that much needed cup of tea. I was not sure what to expect from another high rise viewing platform. Visiting the viewing platform is free but demand for tickets on the Internet is high. Arriving at the entrance door to the building, the sign display indicated that tickets were available. A quick visit of the Horizon42 web site on my iPhone followed by downloading of the tickets, and we were through security and taking the ear popping lift to the summit.
The view with the Shard and the walkie talkie building.The view westLooking east – Canary Wharf.
The Horizon22 viewing platform is simple but effectively designed. There are split level floors and there is little to no décor on the white painted walls. This maximises the light reflections and creates few distractions when taking and reviewing your picture taking. Looking down from the upper platform, I noticed how the sun streams into the area creating shadows. People are free to move around the spacious area and interact with the large windows that are present. The day I went the weather was clear and the London landmarks were easy to spot. The viewing platform looks out over Tower Bridge and the Shard. I was able to see Canary Wharf and other places quite clearly. I had my polarising lens cover on my Fujifilm x100v which minimised but did not completely eliminate the reflections in the glass from the strong sunlight. In spite of this my pictures turned out well and I appreciated the view in between using my camera.
Looking East – Tower Bridge.
I enjoyed my visit to Horizon22, the experience was good and I found the attendants to be pleasant and helpful. I was not allowed to take my mini tripod up to the top but the security ensured that it was carefully looked after and I picked it up on my exit.
There is a photography bonus in the plaza as you exit the building. You are able to look up to the top of the building which makes for a good picture composition.
Looking up at Horizon22Talking skyscrapersTaking time out for a phone call.
Would I recommend going up Horizon22? Definitely! The skyscraper is probably a better experience than the Shard which requires the purchase of tickets. In comparison Horizon22 is completely free and a link to the website is below.
Emerging from a tunnel under Islington, the Regent’s canal begins its journey through Shoreditch. The canal is wide with a spacious towpath. Many runners and pedestrians take advantage of the scenic waterway as it passes through the east of London. There are many narrowboats along the way each with their interesting names and individual colours.
Joining the Regent’s Canal from Colebrooke rowPedestrians on the towpathTravelling towards the tunnel under Islington
Several roads pass over the canal allowing views up and down the waterway. Iron arched bridges spanning the canal, rumble as commuter trains pass over them. Old industrial buildings sit on either side of the canal and many are converted to city living whilst others wait for progress to overtake them. There are cafes, pubs and restaurants with people sitting at outside tables taking advantage of the mild spring weather. Along the way there are small recesses around the bridges that have been made into communal gardens. I particularly liked the bird boxes put up on the canal bridge wall. For the photographer there are lines, reflections and opportunities for street photography. The buildings offer a range of architectural styles and the boats often spring surprises with the way that people have either painted them or the objects that they have collected on their travels.
On the look out.A building and a boat.Typical view of this section of the Regent’s Canal.Colourful Graffiti on the buildings.Hope you find what you are looking for.Beware of the dog.Beware of the leg!Canal bridges provide reflections and shapes.The Bird boxes look very cosy.
Yellow was a theme of my walk. I just seemed to find lots of yellow objects as you will see. They were either single, in twos or multiple!
The yellow let’s you know where you are.Two yellowsI hope you are counting how many yellows there are.I did well with this one getting three yellow’s into the picture ( or are there more?)
My walk started at the Colebrooke Row entrance in Islington and finished at Queensbrooke Road turning around to go back to the A10. There were so many pictures and here is a final finish to my pictures featuring one or two of the eating establishments on this stretch of the canal.
Table with a viewOld buildings, new beginnings.Food preparations.More bridge picture funBoats, boards, lines, geometric shapes and colours.
This is just one of many photographic walks that I have taken on the Regent’s canal in London. I have mapped different sections of the canal as it leaves Paddington basin on its long journey across north London to Lime House Basin. There are many parts still to discover whilst revisiting those that have already been photographed. I have added some further links below and I wish to thank Peter Thompson for showing me this part of the canal. Please visit Peter’s Website for some amazing travel photography.
Looking back on my photographic year, 2023 was an exciting one and there were several achievements including making the Landscape Photographer of the Year book. Two pictures were featured and these are described in my blog. Therefore I decide to choose four pictures that summed up my activity over the year. I love sunrises and sunsets in the golden hour. I have included a few of my favourite locations including Moor Street Station, Digbeth (including the Custard factory), Normandy Hill in Houlton near Rugby and the Lake District. My photographs have strong themes in the areas of Cityscapes and Street Photography. I do like a good reflection and trying to be different with my pictures. Let us take a look at my selection of photographs.
Sunrise at Birmingham Moor Street offers many street photography opportunities. Arriving early to take a picture of the sunrise, I looked around for a good view. The first London train was about to leave and another commuter train was just leaving. This scene made me think of the KLF song ‘Train to Trancentral’. The man pushing the button to release the doors, the sunrise and the golden train in the distance all came together at once. A very fortunate capture at Moor Street Train Station. (Taken with my iPhone 15)
All aboard, all aboard, whoa.
Normandy Hill is near Houlton in Rugby. The area of Hillmorton is nearby and the canal runs along the foot of the hill. The place used to have wireless masts for Rugby radio. The masts have been removed and the remnants of the bases are all that remain. When the conditions are right the hill has spectacular sunrises and sunsets. There are also views of the surrounding Warwickshire countryside. On a barmy night in July, I set up my travel tripod for my Fujifilm X100V. My camera settings were f/11, s 1/250 ISO 160. The sun was setting low and was just on the horizon. I pressed the button and realised that I had capture three people and their dog passing through the picture. The result was pleasing with the line up of the men and the sun outlining the shaggy coat of the dog. The rays of the sun were captured too. The atmosphere of the shot provides a permanent reminder of all the pictures that I have taken on Normandy Hill.
The last rays of summer sun on Normandy Hill.
Our family summer holiday was at Lowfield House in Little Langdale. Arguably, this spot is the heart of the Lake District and is the starting point for several walks. A place I wished to visit was Cathedral Cave, which is a short 45 minute walk from Lowfield House. Cathedral Cave is an impressive chamber. As a former slate quary, the cave is atmospheric with an open window in the wall allowing light into the cavern. There is a large slate cylinder that appears to be supporting the ceiling. There is a pool of water to the back of the cave which provided many reflections allowing one to appreciate the grand space of the cavern. Needless to say, I, like many photographers who visit this place, just wanted to take lots of pictures. The picture of Jim, my son-in-law, at the mouth of the cave proved to be a popular post on Instagram. Taken with the iPhone13.
Jim standing at the entrance to Cathedral Cave. The surface water provided suitable reflections.
I spent a delightful Sunday afternoon wandering around Digbeth, Birmingham and came across @mr_h0spitalflip and his friends on the side steps of the Custard Factory. They kindly let me sit in and take a few pictures whilst they were skateboarding on the steps. I knew this was the best picture as soon as I viewed the result on the back of the camera. I was not using a burst on the shutter. Just one picture and I caught the skateboarder in the light doing the “Custard flip”. Taken with the Fujifilm X100v, ƒ/5.6, s 1/500, ISO 640.
The Custard flip
I also found my Top nine from Instagram and these show my most popular posts by the number of likes. The two UKLPOTY pictures feature heavily. There is a picture of Sandy and me. I was also pleased to see the blossom in Oozells square and my trip to the States feature in the high scores. All good fun!
My Top 9 Instagram posts in 2023.
Links to my Top 4 photographs of 2023. I realise that I do not have a blog about Normandy Hill and I shall write one up in 2024. I have also included my Top 4 ion 2022 for comparison.
London Times is a short series of photographic blogs that record a recent visit to London. See more links at the end of the blog.
Someone left a chair outside the Cheapside Road entrance to St Paul’s Tube station. I had already had a bit of fun doing some pictures on the approach to the Tube station when I came across this discarded chair. I assume it had been left or transported from one of the nearby restaurants. The chair was ignored by all the commuters entering or leaving the underground station. I had a wonderful 10 minutes just taking pictures of people who studiously went out of their way to ignore the chair that was in their way.
A lone chair sits outside on the pavement.People know the chair is there but do their best to avoid it.It was great to see how people just did not react.No matter how busy the station became, the chair just sat out the rush.The chair does not seem to mind the fact that it is being ignored.One of my earlier pictures as I was walking towards the tube station.
So this ends my brief tour of “London Times”. If you missed any of the others then here is the full list.
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