Wonderful photos Andrew. I love that area. Is so nostalgic, futuristic and surreal at the same time, especially on the weekends when everything is closed and the streets are empty.
Much enjoyed this Andrew and it brought back memories of my own meanders around the City. I too have dined in Leadenhall market and earwigged on the world of high finance...
You were there a day after! I love your insightful photos. You have photographed the people I mention, but I don't have the bravery or patience to take.
PS I see Ian Sanders commented on your Instagram post. I texted him on Wednesday, when I was revisiting Libreria off Brick Lane, as he took me there last year.
Beautifully concise in words and images, but large too. Lovely to see some of your non-brutalist photography shining so bright -- Wednesday was the perfect day light-wise by the looks of it. In reading this, I am back to pondering the origins of The Thames, from Stephen Fry's earlier post on Ai. Lovely stuff.
Beautiful photography, the City is amazing as it’s such a layering of architectures. I do though take a bit of exception to the overall sentiment of the City as a place of uncaring bean counters. The photos are mainly of the Insurance sector, buildings huddle around the Lloyds building, the global hub for insurance and reinsurance. Far from being purely capitalistic, without this small area, ships wouldn’t sail, airlines wouldn’t fly, your mortgage wouldn’t happen and your car wouldn’t run. When natural disasters strike this area moves the funds around so that people’s homes are rebuilt, infrastructure replaced within days. This is what the people you’re listening to do, work on incredibly complex financial instruments that make all that possible as efficiently as they can. It takes not a dry, unimaginative brain but a creative one to think out ideas and solutions. And the wheeling and dealing? Meeting and talking is the crux of the business, no so long ago brokers would sit and discuss each piece of business face to face with underwriters, much is digitalised now but the need for communication and building trust continues. Some of those lunches are just friends, I entered the business at 19, left at 60, you grown up with the people in the business, you learn who to trust, who not. You lean in on each other, that’s what’s it about and yes beautiful architecture, the reason it’s not monolith boxes is that building is controlled by the Corporation of London, they preserve the history of the buildings in the area so that small medieval churches and grounds poke between tower blocks. Rant over, sorry, but I love the City and it’s people are so much more than a row of beans!
Thank you Rita for your considered rant. I appreciate it and you’re quite right. There are two sides to every story and I know The City does many essential things to keep our world going round. I run my own business and understand good business is done via establishing good relationships. I was being cynical and generalising based on some observations. There is always good and not so good in every walk of like.
Andrew, SO many amazing shots. The slightly chilling backdrop of security saying what folk can and can’t do ruffled my feathers …but your eye for a great shot and the thought that you were circumventing their officiousness pleased me very much! I agree with Tim about the clouds + Gherkin shot … a beauty.
Thank you very much, Barrie. To be fair, security guards are a little more relaxed these days. But there is a sense of being watched and I felt more comfortable knowing that the public art provided an excuse to be there.
To the writer of dystopian musings in me, I’m intrigued by that sense of ‘being watched’. There’s always that idea of “if you’ve got nothing to hide you won’t object to being watched” but the slow creeping restrictions on ‘freedom’ (from thought or deed) is a rich vein for writing.
I’m super glad you found a way to feel comfortable about taking such amazing shots.
It’s the number of security cameras and notices about you may be being recorded. I see it in the new developments near Temple Meads in Bristol. Constant reminders that you are on private land. Reluctantly given public access in return for planning permission.
Thank you very much, Manuela. It’s not a double exposure. It was taken from Fen Court Roof Garden which has glass barriers and the clouds are reflected in the glass.
Love these pictures Andrew - especially the second reflection of the clouds and the Gherkin. Great shot.
Thank you very much, Tim. Yes, I think that one is my favourite too. Taken on the Roof Garden at Fen Court which is free to visit. https://www.thecityofldn.com/directory/the-garden-at-120/
Wonderful photos Andrew. I love that area. Is so nostalgic, futuristic and surreal at the same time, especially on the weekends when everything is closed and the streets are empty.
I’ve never visited at the weekend but I imagine it’s a very good time to visit
Much enjoyed this Andrew and it brought back memories of my own meanders around the City. I too have dined in Leadenhall market and earwigged on the world of high finance...
Thank you, Harry. I had a funny feeling you might have done the same in Leadenhall Market!
Great work Andrew. The little diamond reflections are my favourite.
Thank you very much, Jacques.
Great look around the City.
Thank you very much.
Love this, Andrew. And funny timing, too. I just posted this! https://www.instagram.com/p/C_2hJb5oHQ2/
You were there a day after! I love your insightful photos. You have photographed the people I mention, but I don't have the bravery or patience to take.
PS I see Ian Sanders commented on your Instagram post. I texted him on Wednesday, when I was revisiting Libreria off Brick Lane, as he took me there last year.
It is quite the contrast. Very cool.
Thank you very much!
I know this is an older post but the photos are stunning with the play of light between buildings. I learned something here as well. Thanks.
Thank you very much Juliette. I’m glad you liked the photographs.
Love the photos! The one from above is a mind-blower.
Thank you, Alex. I’m intrigued to know what is being built around the church. I shall return.
mate, wonderful images.
Thank you very much.
Beautifully concise in words and images, but large too. Lovely to see some of your non-brutalist photography shining so bright -- Wednesday was the perfect day light-wise by the looks of it. In reading this, I am back to pondering the origins of The Thames, from Stephen Fry's earlier post on Ai. Lovely stuff.
Thank you, Matt. Yes the light was good to me on Wednesday. I haven’t read Stephen Fry’s post yet. It’s winking at me in my inbox.
Beautiful photography, the City is amazing as it’s such a layering of architectures. I do though take a bit of exception to the overall sentiment of the City as a place of uncaring bean counters. The photos are mainly of the Insurance sector, buildings huddle around the Lloyds building, the global hub for insurance and reinsurance. Far from being purely capitalistic, without this small area, ships wouldn’t sail, airlines wouldn’t fly, your mortgage wouldn’t happen and your car wouldn’t run. When natural disasters strike this area moves the funds around so that people’s homes are rebuilt, infrastructure replaced within days. This is what the people you’re listening to do, work on incredibly complex financial instruments that make all that possible as efficiently as they can. It takes not a dry, unimaginative brain but a creative one to think out ideas and solutions. And the wheeling and dealing? Meeting and talking is the crux of the business, no so long ago brokers would sit and discuss each piece of business face to face with underwriters, much is digitalised now but the need for communication and building trust continues. Some of those lunches are just friends, I entered the business at 19, left at 60, you grown up with the people in the business, you learn who to trust, who not. You lean in on each other, that’s what’s it about and yes beautiful architecture, the reason it’s not monolith boxes is that building is controlled by the Corporation of London, they preserve the history of the buildings in the area so that small medieval churches and grounds poke between tower blocks. Rant over, sorry, but I love the City and it’s people are so much more than a row of beans!
Thank you Rita for your considered rant. I appreciate it and you’re quite right. There are two sides to every story and I know The City does many essential things to keep our world going round. I run my own business and understand good business is done via establishing good relationships. I was being cynical and generalising based on some observations. There is always good and not so good in every walk of like.
Hi, thanks and sorry I did get on my high horse a bit! 😂
Andrew, SO many amazing shots. The slightly chilling backdrop of security saying what folk can and can’t do ruffled my feathers …but your eye for a great shot and the thought that you were circumventing their officiousness pleased me very much! I agree with Tim about the clouds + Gherkin shot … a beauty.
Thank you very much, Barrie. To be fair, security guards are a little more relaxed these days. But there is a sense of being watched and I felt more comfortable knowing that the public art provided an excuse to be there.
To the writer of dystopian musings in me, I’m intrigued by that sense of ‘being watched’. There’s always that idea of “if you’ve got nothing to hide you won’t object to being watched” but the slow creeping restrictions on ‘freedom’ (from thought or deed) is a rich vein for writing.
I’m super glad you found a way to feel comfortable about taking such amazing shots.
It’s the number of security cameras and notices about you may be being recorded. I see it in the new developments near Temple Meads in Bristol. Constant reminders that you are on private land. Reluctantly given public access in return for planning permission.
I'm filing away the title: Public Art of Varying Quality, for a future project.
I look forward to seeing the results!
These images are amazing! I love the second one. A double exposure?
Thank you very much, Manuela. It’s not a double exposure. It was taken from Fen Court Roof Garden which has glass barriers and the clouds are reflected in the glass.
Brings back memories of my time in the City. I used to work at 168 Fenchurch St. which is long gone.
The City seems to transform itself every year.