My wildflower of the year picture was displayed in Canary Wharf. Therefore, I set off to visit Eden Dock, where the exhibition was being shown. I met up with James, my webmaster, and Holly, his wife, who were in London for meetings, and we made our way to Canary Wharf.
Arriving in Canary Wharf: First Impressions
The tube station is an amazing piece of engineering, and I had to stop and take pictures of the escalators. We walked out into the sunshine, which was a contrast to our underground journey. We arrived around lunchtime. All around, there were office workers taking their lunch break, along with tourists taking in the sights of the area. Canary Wharf is an impressive cityscape of skyscrapers of different architectural designs. The red livery of the Docklands Light Railway darts through the gaps.
My Wildflower of the Year Photo on Display at Eden Dock
My wildflower of the year picture was close to Canary Wharf tube station. Whilst I was pleased to see my winning entry, I was once again irritated that the one printed was the wrong colour balance. The correct picture has featured since, but the wrong one persists, as evidenced by the one on display at Eden Dock. Ah well, at least I did win a wonderful prize and enjoyed the accolades that came with it.
Exploring the Adams Plaza Tunnel: A Photographer’s Dream
James, Holly and I then did some sightseeing of the artwork around Canary Wharf. I was keen to visit the Adams Plaza tunnel designed by Camille Walala. The blast of colour and light makes this a photographer’s dream. Whilst I was there, a young woman stood taking pictures in the centre of the tunnel and then walked slowly along. I could not resist taking a picture of her with the tunnel as a backdrop.
The Illusionaries Wall and the Roof Garden Umbrella Dance
We made our way past the Illusionaries, and whilst we did not go into the installation we did stop for a few selfies on the distorted mirrored walls. I had not visited the Canary Wharf roof garden before. In one area of the garden, there was a group of Chinese ladies doing an umbrella dance. Unfortunately, even after taking lots of photographs, no rain was forthcoming.
Canary Wharf Photography: Capturing the Lunchtime Crowds
After lunch, James and Holly needed to get back to work in central London, which meant I had more time to spend with my camera. There were many opportunities for street photography amongst the office workers, who were more engrossed in enjoying their lunch break than in being photographed. So many of the men were wearing white or pink shirts, which made them stand out from the surrounding area.
Old Docks Meet New Skyscrapers: Contrasts in Architecture
As I slowly moved through the area, there were many favourites, including the North Dock footbridge. Many office workers passed by, and it was a good vantage point to see a number of floating dinghies, each housing a table and food. The large duck sculpture was also fun to photograph. The remnants of the old docks contrasted with the new, shiny, reflective buildings. I liked the triangular shapes of the old cranes, and looking up, you could see the contrast between their sharp lines and the smooth outlines of the buildings.
The artwork around Canary Wharf is amazing, and I found a useful guide to the main pieces of artwork. Free London Walks is by Anna Kmiecik and lists the artwork on show with maps on where to find them.
Sculptures: Standing Figures of a man and a woman and Two Men on a Bench
I passed several statues on my travels through the plazas of Canary Wharf, too many to mention, although taking pictures in the direct sunlight proved to be a challenge. One photo that came out well was of the ‘Two Men on a Bench’ sculpture by Sean Penny. Catching the expression of the men worked well.
I love the sculptures by Sean Henry. He creates painted bronze statues that are either smaller or larger than life size. The two Standing Figures of a Man and a Woman stand on the pavement, gazing at each other. When you approach, you think at first that they are real people. Then the scale of the statues becomes apparent. I loved taking pictures of these two figures, using their hands to frame passers-by, with a measure of success.
The Tear by Richard Hudson: Canary Wharf’s Silver Teardrop
While there was plenty of other excellent artwork to encounter, I did need to get back home. There was one more piece to photograph: the Tear, by Richard Hudson. This sits near Canary Wharf tube station and is a large silver teardrop. The reflections are nicely distorted, so you can catch people and surroundings in your shot. The presence of a colourful food truck helped a great deal.
Final Shots at Canary Wharf Tube Station
More photographs were taken of Canary Wharf tube station before heading home. I always enjoy Canary Wharf, as my previous blogs show. Please feel free to read my London Times blog on a walk along Regent’s canal which takes in Canary Wharf.