Looking for an exciting photography subject or wondering where to visit next?
Stuck for inspiration?
Why not try London.
Here are five reasons why every photographer should visit London.
Architecture: London is home to some of the most beautiful architecture in the world. From Buckingham Palace to the modern skyscrapers of the City of London, there are endless opportunities to capture stunning architectural shots.
History: London is steeped in history, with a rich and fascinating past that can be seen and felt throughout the city. Whether it’s the Tower of London or St. Paul’s Cathedral, there are countless historic buildings that make for incredible photographic subjects.
People: London is a melting pot of cultures and communities, and the people who call the city home are just as diverse as its architecture and history. From the street performers of Covent Garden to the business people of Canary Wharf, there’s no shortage of interesting people to photograph.
Landmarks: London is home to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, such as Big Ben, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge. These landmarks make for incredible photographic subjects.
Atmosphere: There’s a unique atmosphere to London that’s hard to describe but easy to capture through photography. There’s a different feel and vibe to each area of the city that can be conveyed through photographs.
Why I Photographed London.
London is a city that’s full of character and charm, with each area offering a unique experience to those who explore it.
I was fortunate enough to spend my first year of retirement living in London.
With my new found free time I was able to walk the streets, hop on the underground, and discover much of what London had to offer.
London has so many different areas to uncover and a full range of people, landmarks and buildings.
Its rich history is evident on the streets and in the buildings that surround you.
That’s why I believe that every photographer should visit London.
As a multicultural city it’s possible to see people from all round the world in one city.
Each group brings their own culture and style to the streets making London a photographer’s dream.
There’s a vibrant street art scene with ever changing paintings acting as a backdrop to the city streets.
For me though London was, and is, my capital city and I loved aimlessly meandering around taking in all the sights and sounds.
I didn’t really have an aim to most of my days but just went with the flow and enjoyed taking snapshots and watching the world go by.
London has an endless supply of coffee shops and pubs so it was not unusual for my day to be broken up with a visit to one of other of these.
Watching the different characters come and go was a joy in itself. Each with there own style and take on the world.
The covid pandemic struck mid-way through my year in the city.
The lockdown restrictions led to London feeling like a ghost town, probably for the first time in its history.
Some of the photographs I took were when the lockdown restrictions were being eased.
It was a strange privilege to walk down empty London streets and witness world famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace free of tourists.
The photographs I took during the year help me remember the atmosphere and individual character of the areas I visited.
My daily strolls were the perfect way to de-stress from my working life and a gentle way to start my retirement journey.
Taking photographs taught me to really take notice of my surroundings.
It taught me to look at people, buildings and objects in more detail.
It gave me a purpose to my daily walks and the motivation to continue my journey around the city.
Looking back at the photographs I took brings back memories of the things I observed.
The photographs were all taken on an old iphone SE.
They will not win awards or accolades but this doesn’t matter to me.
My reward is looking back at them and remembering the days I spent in early retirement.
It was a pleasure unwinding and enjoying my favourite city in the world.
All of the above reasons are why I say that every photographer should visit London!
View Some Of My London Photographs here….
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