Where There Is Beautiful Light

It has been a while since the sun has deigned to shine here in the UK. It has been a gloomy horrible start to 2019. Checking the weather last week I was stunned to see actual sunshine forecast. The Delightful Mr F pointed out that this might be the only opportunity to shoot with decent light before April, so off I went to London to work on my Monopoly project. 

 I went early, and the weather app on my phone was showing the sun would rise just as I was about to arrive at Waterloo station, leading to glorious, if somewhat chilly, sunny weather. 

Once I got to London, I left the station with a spring in my step, only to be met by a howling gale, and rain going sideways. I briefly considered turning around and going home. I only had my X100F with me, which isn’t weather sealed, so photography was going to be tricky.  In the end, with the rain stopping, I decided to walk a little and wait for the Tate to open, and to shoot there instead. 

Off I went, and then the rain started again. I made haste to the next nearest train station for shelter, where I had to purchase an emergency woolly hat, as by that point I was cold, wet and grumpy*.  Having acquired a woolly hat, my mood improved, and so did the weather. The sun started to break through the clouds, and the most wonderful stark, winter light emerged.  I abandoned my Monopoly plans, and followed the light. I ended up walking all over the place, out to the Barbican, back through the City, along the river by the Tower of London, and back along the South Bank.

I don’t often shoot in the City, and perhaps should go more often. I remember when the Gherkin was a new building and everyone hated it, but I have always thought it was rather beautiful, and I like this shot with parts of the Lloyds Building in the foreground. The shot of the Shard is probably my favourite of the day.

Walking back along the South Bank, I found this lovely pool of light. I took a series of shadow shots, I like the slightly creepy, 1950s spy film look.

* Many thanks to the staff at the Charring Cross branch of Accessorize who took pity on me and cut the labels off so I could wear it.