As the days are starting to get longer, I thought I might as well update the London from the South Bank at night picture from an earlier post before sunset got too late.

Just for comparison, here is the older picture.

Walking along the South Bank you could see many more cameras in use today than there were when the older picture was taken. Personally I think this is a good thing.

I do wonder what the London skyline will look like when I next go back to the same spot in a few years’ time. One thing is for sure, there won’t be a shortage of images documenting the change.

15 December 2023 I took a walk along the Thames tonight to answer my own question in what has changed over ten years.

Standing on top of a ladder with other photographers in a very small section of central London pavement is always an interesting experience. I’m glad to say that it is not something I have to do on a regular basis.

Cherie Lunghi 2003

So why are these images in this post? Well, the first thing is that if you are lucky at one of these events and the organisers have set up lighting for the television cameras you can take advantage of some of the creative lighting in place.

In an assignment such as this, on a cold, wet street there is no way in which you can have the same control of your lighting as you could in a studio type shoot. Balancing on top of your purchase from the DIY store you don’t really have the time to think about the composition. Focus. Exposure. Eyes open. That is your primary concern before the moment is gone.

Helen Mirren 2003

And my second point? It is youth obsession in western culture. I came across this blog Mature models go home! in which I was surprised to read that there are photographers out there who are anti older models nearly to the point of it being a prejudice.

What is my opinion? You’ll have to look out for my next post to read that.

P.S. Never ever call a press photographer a paparazzo. A press photographer may have to sometimes cover celebrity events but they also do risk their lives covering stories the world needs to see. I would not lose any sleep if there were no longer any outlets publishing images taken from afar of well known people carrying out mundane day to day tasks.

WARNING Last image contains partial nudity

London cycle race

Here are some more images from my archive catalogue.

Police officer at Farnborough Air Show

If you ask me if I miss working with film, the answer has to be no. The hassle of getting film processed and then finding that a speck of dust has scratched the good frames was a nightmare.

Alternative London Fashion Week 2003

Now the reliance is on camera manufacturers to provide a decent sensor. No longer do you have the option to switch film brands if one just isn’t doing it for you. Instead you have to swap over your whole camera system that has taken you years to acquire. Still one thing stays the same – dust. Dust on the sensor spoiling all the good frames.