Going 'Off Piste' - A Landscape photographer 'In The City'

It all started after a really rather stunning 'sunset' shoot from a remote spot on Dartmoor one evening a few weeks ago.

It was a gorgeous evening, with great light and in a beautiful part of the world. I felt very blessed to have this on my doorstep so to speak, but in the back of my mind, I couldn't help feeling that I was stuck in a 'photography rut'.

One of a number of images that evening - the distant walker's silhouette enhancing an already glorious scene

My friend Oli and I sat having a post sunset beer and talked about doing something different and came up with a plan to visit London to do some 'Street' photography: a change from our rural native county of Devon.

Landscape photography has been more than a hobby for the last few years, but I for one, fancied a change of scene and a different challenge. As we discussed a trip to London, we referred to it 'Street Photography', but what exactly is my understanding of this? We often pigeon-hole ourselves within different genres in the photography world and I do consider myself to be a landscape photographer, but I also enjoy many other areas of photography: wildlife, architecture, cities, transport, motor sport, night time/night sky and people.

A street photography session could mean quite literally 'streets', It could also include architecture and buildings, people, street scenes....I could go on and still not answer the question fully. I refer to myself as a landscape photographer, but is not the urban scene part of the landscape?

In truth, I actually enjoy photography in all it's forms and put simply, I hoped to capture some interesting images on our jaunt to London, be that of architecture, people, life or the 'urban landscape'.

We walked for miles: 16 apparently! Took lots of images, some good, some not so good. Here's a selection of my favourites from a fabulous visit to our capital city.

Early morning light playing with the buildings south of the Thames

Underpass

A little photographed tower with a big bell inside it. Early light.

Reflections in Chinatown - 1

Reflections in Chinatown - 2

Arcade

Rolling Stone

Window Shopping in the rain

In your own world

Closing Time - Borough Market

The Shard

Lonely Protest - Near Downing Street

I am very pleased with some of the images I captured from a very long walk through the streets of London and I would love to do more of this style of photography....whatever style it actually is.

I should probably refer to myself as a 'Photographer' as I enjoyed taking these images as much as I enjoy what many would consider to be the conventional landscape images I have been creating for the past few years. There are inspiring places everywhere and still a huge array of wonderful places to visit. That will mean going 'off-piste' a bit more, but there are also many wonderful adventures to remote and wild places planned over the next few months too. My heart is always in the country I suppose, but cities do draw me in and inspire me to think and view things differently.

Thanks to Oli for great company and fabulous day in the metropolis!