It’s taken me a while to put another photography post together simply because I’ve collected such a wealth of material over the past few months I simply did not know where to start. A few weeks ago armed with our trusty XE-1’s, LD and I explored the famous Camden markets before moving on swiftly to central London and brunching at The Shard.
All the shots were taken really quickly as the weather in the capital at the moment is freezing, plus the possibility of overlooking London in a couple of hours was too much to bear for both of us. The Camden markets boast their own short yet proud history and although in recent years they may have gained attention for the huge fires the Camden Lock and Stables markets have solidified themselves as permanent features of the already historic Camden Town.
I moved to Camden Town around 5 months ago and it finally feels like home to me. The whole area is undergoing a modern regeneration similar to Shoreditch / Hoxton with prominent bands and street artists all showcasing their work here in 2015. Amy Winehouse is still an icon around these parts and it can be fun spotting stencils of her face in really obscure places.
Embankment and London Bridge are two of my favourite areas of London as they have given me numerous memories that simply cannot be described in a single paragraph. Whatever your mood Embankment is the perfect place to visit for a little introspection. You never know who you’re going to meet, what you’re going to see or overhear but above all it’s one of the best walks in all of London.
Within an hour you can see the river Thames, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Tate Modern, St Pauls Cathedral and many other great sights ‘hidden’ in plain view among a myriad of listed buildings and historic bridges. Then of course we have The Shard which in my opinion is the most gorgeous building in the world.
A few years ago when it first opened I had the chance to visit the top floor and overlook London just as the sun was setting. It was honestly one of the best experiences of my life and I simply had to return in the hope of capturing that moment again. We decided on a restaurant / bar called Aqua which was located on the 31st floor and after a lightspeed elevator ride we had arrived (in more ways than one).
Although it was in the middle of the day, wine was out in full flow and undeterred by the prices it was only right that we treat ourselves. To be fair, the price of admission was enough for the view itself and there is something almost primal about overlooking a huge city, seeing these complex cultural threads from above and almost oversimpliyfing them. The word “Sonder” instantly comes to mind.
Sonder – n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.
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If you want to see the previous two mini photography posts make sure you check out Photography Journal 01 and Photography Journal 02.
Aqua Shard Details
British Restaurant and Bar
Address: Level 31, The Shard, 31 Saint Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY
Phone:020 3011 1256
Hours: Open – 9:00 am – 3:30 pm, 6:00–10:45 pm
