The Streets

This past March, Liz and I had the opportunity to take 10 days and head off for a short jaunt overseas, fulfilling this year's quota (at least for now) of exiting the U.S. border at least once annually. We chose England because, Liz had never been (I have previously only visited once) and because one of Liz's close friends, Tori, is currently getting her master's degree at the City University of London. Needing no better excuse than a good deal on a non-stop flight from Denver and Tori's offering of free floor space to sleep on, we were on our way.

England is a beautiful country with London, serving as a particularly compelling, albeit bustling, centerpiece. On my last visit to 'Jolly Old,' I noticed the frantic pace that Londoners went about their daily (and nightly) lives. It's not that I'm not used to city life; I grew up an hour's train ride from "the" city (New York), and spent many a day and night there. However, London is somehow different to me. I'm not sure if it is the modern double-decker buses blasting by inches from a cross walk, or the fact that heavy traffic can move calmly but swiftly through a round-about at all hours of the day, but there is a difference to me. Perhaps it is simply the fact that what seems normal (drive on the right) is just different enough in England (drive on the left) to make me take notice. This visit, I felt compelled to try and document a bit of this hectic downtown city activity. So, in honour of my favourite [sic] British hip-hop group, I offer up this mini photographic study of The Streets.

Pre-rush hour, this "sub way" (literally, walkway under a road) downtown near Tower Hill had a bit less traffic than it would just a few hours later. My new 11-16mm wide angle lens let me capture the entire tunnel as well as the walking man, without being too conspicuous.

Detail of some of the suspension system used to hold up Tower Bridge.

St. Paul's Cathedral, after hours. London does a really great job of providing outside lighting for its beautiful historic structures (which are many in number). It reminded me of the way that Istanbul lights up its many famous mosques and other buildings. They are a great help to any photographer trying to capture a nice night time shot.

Interior of the upper level at St. Pancras International rail station. Lit with beautiful natural lighting, this clean and modern rail station still shows hints of its awesome, older and dingier days serving coal-powered trains.

Commuters walk along Westminster Bridge, ever under the watchful eye of Big Ben.

Man, waiting for the tube. I love photographing London's underground. Besides being a marvel of technology and design, it is a great place to take movement photos. The coloration of the cars make for great streaking shots. The tube is also insanely busy. I have ridden the tube as early as 4:30 AM, all the way to close well after midnight, and I have never seen a station or car empty. That being said, I am always a bit nervous when I whip out the camera and start shooting away. London is known the world over to be the "most watched city" on the globe. police and security CCTV cameras are everywhere, and additionally with the 2012 Olympics looming, I can never be too sure what might be perceived as overstepping the boundaries of what can and can not be photographed, especially in high traffic areas. Luckily, I have never been stopped or questioned, and have come out with some decent photographs as a result.

Post-rush hour shoppers just outside Angel tube stop.

Trafalgar Square shot from the base of Nelson's Column. The building at center is the National Gallery, which holds the largest British collection of art. The square is always hopping, especially in the evening, and the twin fountains help frame this beautiful city scape.

Double-decker bus tearing through a round-about. I had been trying to nail a decent movement shot of a bus all week, when finally on our final night in the city, I was able to capture this one. I really enjoy the buses in London. They are iconic, big, colorful, speedy, and make, what I think are very interesting photos.