The pSquared London Photowalk

As I write this post, I realise that it’s been much longer than intended since that blazing hot day on the South Bank and the first thing I need to do is thank everyone who came and made it a success. This was our first walk and it won’t be our last.

And if you’ve not already done so, go and check out the photos here or on our Facebook page…

Of course, going for a walk around London isn’t exactly a novel idea, and neither is taking a camera with you. In fact for those of you near enough, you should all consider attending one of Scott Kelbys International Photowalks. This year it’s on the 1st of October. We’re off to the Oxford walk and it’s going to be a blast seeing walk organiser Glyn Dewis again.

Our walk wasn’t quite as grand as some but it was still a great day out. Originally planned for the 18th of June, the typical British summer conspired against us and we postponed the walk until the 30th of July. That turned out to be a brilliant idea. Glorious sunshine, bustling summertime London and the Vintage festival on the South Bank? Couldn’t have worked out better.

We had arranged to meet under the statue of Boadicea on Westminster Bridge and take a stroll down the Thames for a couple of hours until we reached Tower Hill. At this point we’d have a refreshing drink in a typical London boozer, crack some jokes about leaving people in the Tower and head off home.

As is common for best laid plans, this didn’t happen. We did meet on Westminster bridge although the perfect BBQ weather kept some of our guests away although the smaller party was probably a blessing given how busy the South Bank gets in the summer.

Setting off across Westminster Bridge, it wasn’t long before one of our party was already in trouble for taking a picture of an illegal street trader! Hoping that would be the worst trouble we saw, we set off down the river.

Outside the Film Museum and along past Jubilee Gardens, taking photos quickly became a secondary concern for me. Simply trying to keep track of where everyone was became my main priority.

The street performers between Jubilee Gardens and Waterloo Bridge gave us ample opportunities for interesting and discreet street portraiture.

Heading past Festival Pier and under Waterloo bridge, we stopped for lunch from the excellent street vendors and were treated to some live music as well. By the time we headed on and made our way past the National Theatre we were beginning to realise that we weren’t going to make it to Tower Hill in a couple of hours - there was just so much so see and photograph we were going really slowly!

Fortunately, there is little of interest along Marigold Alley once you’re past the Oxo Tower especially as you have to divert off the path and walk around the bottom of Blackfriars Bridge. We rejoined the Thames Path on the Jubilee Walkway outside the imposing Tate Modern. Nearby, we stopped to watch interpretive dancers doing their thing before heading past the Globe and under Southwark Bridge.

Here, we found probably my favourite photographic location of the walk - a second hand book sale. The books all lined up on tables made for a wonderful photo opportunity as well as some more street portraits of people browsing.

After coming out from under Southwark Bridge, it was already later than our planned finish time at Tower Hill so we stopped for our celebratory drink at the Anchor on Bankside before heading to London Bridge station with tired legs and heavy camera bags and we trudged our way back home.