Street Photography In London - My Experience
London is an amazing place for street photography, it has the sights, great light, loads of variety and is very walkable. In this blog I will go through my experience doing street photography here over the last few years as well as give you some tips and what you could expect when you visit.
Variety
London has everything for everyone when it comes to type of location, subject or even mood. If you want graffiti, a gritty urban feel and lots of characters then then you can’t go wrong with either Camden Town, Shoreditch or Brick Lane. If you prefer a more clean and polished environment, then Canary Wharf and More London will have you covered. If you like a more traditional place, then head into bank, the city, and temple. Of course how can I forget the west end such as Soho, China Town, Covent Garden and Piccadilly. If you prefer longer walks, then Southbank, Embankment and Bankside will do the job. Finally I didn’t even mention the many parks, and a ton of other areas that will bring their own unique aspects and photo opportunities. My point is that there is something for everyone here both from a photography perspective as well as general visiting.
Light
London has some of the nicest light especially during Spring & Autumn. Winter light is good, however it doesn’t last that long while in the summer you get long days with amazing evening sunsets, however at midday it can be a little harsh. Not the best for photos but ideal for chilling in the park waiting for late afternoon. Typically from sunrise till about lunchtime and then from around 3pm till sunset is when i will go out and shoot. In the winter, the light is soft enough to just stay out all day. In the summer, the south side of the river gets a lot of light, while in the winter the north side is where you wanna be. As for specific locations, to be honest pretty much everywhere will get great light at different times of year. My biggest tip is to get an app like photo pills which will show you the sun path and help you plan if you want specific shots.
Weather
No, the weather here is not as rubbish as many people think it is. I mean sure, if you compare it to Dubai, then London does get a few more cloudy days but in general it’s not that bad. In the summer it is firmly shorts and t-shirt weather with a light waterproof and maybe a jumper needed now and then. In the winter it can get chilly so a good coat, hat and gloves are a must. Autumn and Spring is more of a pain because you get hot when you walk or in the sun and freeze when you stop or in the shade. So I guess a degree of layering will help. On overcast days, it is fairly boring. However when it rains, you can get some cracking photos especially in the west end or by the river.
During Autumn and Winter we will get fog. The forecasts are rather unreliable and it can be very patchy and infrequent but it does happen and Usually seems to linger by the river. Sunny days are definitely more frequent than you think.... they are the best. If there is one tip i can give, that is to stay till the bitter end. Many times the weather can change last minute and you will get an amazing sunset or a break in the clouds and really good light out of nowhere.
Difficulty
Maybe it’s because i live here and I am used to it, but i do feel that London can be a little more tricky to get good shots compared to some other locations like New York. When I say more tricky, I mean that you have to work harder to find clean good compositions within what can seem like a visual mess with so much going on. Some places are easier than others but generally you do have to pay attention and look for shots rather than just stumbling upon great compositions.
I personally find The City and by the river the easiest and areas like The West End a little more tricky. The good thing is that if you are struggling in a particular area, then a very short tube journey away is somewhere totally different that could prove to be better for your style of photography.
Gear
The biggest tip on gear is keep it small and light. There is nothing worse than having to lug around a ton of big heavy lenses especially in a crowded city. In terms of camera type it doesn’t really matter too much but I’d say bring a camera over just using a phone. As for lenses I would say a 24-70 is the best all rounder for 90% of London. There are a few spots where you can get great photos with a 70-200 but in general I don’t think it is essential especially if you plan to stay within central London.
Personally I use a 24-70 as well as a 35, 50 and 70mm primes for 99% of my London photography.
You do not need tripods and leave the cheesy camera bag at home in favour of a camera cube inside a generic bag. A good wrist strap or shoulder strap are also very handy.
Attitude To Photographers
Generally the attitude towards photographers here is ok. Especially if you are using non professional looking gear. The only thing that can catch you out is that some areas that you would think are public, are actually privately owned. For example Canary Wharf, More London, near St Pauls and even Covent Garden.
Basically anywhere where there is private security walking around. If you are using any kind of “professional” looking gear, be ready to be stopped by security and questioned on why and what you are doing. They all say it’s for security but more often than not they just want to see if you are making money thus making you to buy permits. In 99% of cases if you just say you are visiting London and this is a hobby. They will leave you alone. If they keep pestering you, or tell you not to take photos, then just leave it and pop back later that day when they’ve changed shifts. The only thing I would say is that they are not police so you don’t need to explain yourself or show them anything even if they act important.
In terms of members of the public, again overall I have not had any issues and people are more than aware that photography is a huge hobby for many people. Sure people here are not as open to their photos being taken as some other countries but as long as you don’t move like some weirdo, be nice, kind and respectful you will have no issues.
Also if you really see someone who’s photo you want to take, just walk up and ask.... you’d be surprised.
Getting Around
By far the best way to get around is walking. London is one of the most walkable cities I’ve visited and you can very easily walk from one side to the other without having to run across motorways or swim across lakes. Especially on a nice summer day you can easily rack up 20 miles in a day and not even notice it.
If you do need to use public transport, then the quickest way to get around is by tube. However the best way to get around is by using the river boats. The boats cover all the main locations and you will get some amazing views as well as a very relaxing day out.
You can even go out as far as the Thames barrier. I would avoid busses due to traffic and personally wouldn’t like to cycle in London until it is a lot safer.
Safety
Overall i have not had any issues but of course like all major cities we have to share this place with less then ideal individuals.
So general common sense practices are:
Avoid flashing your cameras and lenses. The only 2 people who care about your expensive camera is you and the person who wants to steal it.
Tape up big brand names as many thieves go for known brands.
Do not walk around with a massive camera bag with a tripod sticking out of it. You might think you look cool but you just look like a target.
Have insurance.
Use common sense.... if in doubt, put the camera away and leave the area.
If you’re shooting late at night and have a lot of gear on you, get an Uber for extra safety.
Best Times Of The Year
Honestly i would say from around April through to Christmas is fantastic. January to March it is a bit dead here so I wouldn’t bother unless you have a cheap flight deal or something.
Summary
So to summarise:
London is a fantastic city for street photography, architecture stuff, city scapes, portraits and just about anything really.
There is a lot of variety to suit all different tastes and styles so you will never get bored.
The best way to get around is by foot however you cant go wrong with jumping on the boat.
There are ample toilets, coffee shops, markets, restaurants, and just about everything you could possible need.
It is a safe city if approached with some common sense.
People are friendly (for a large city) and are tolerant of photographers.
I would suggest visiting for minimum a long weekend but a week is ideal.
Also keep an eye out for odd exhibitions and events. That will give you chance to grab photos that are unique and difficult to repeat.