I am fascinated by London at night.

Last Thursday around 4:30 pm, on my way to a meeting, I exited the Blackfriars tube station and wandered onto the bridge and the Thames South Bank. My walk took me across the Millennium Bridge towards St Paul’s Cathedral.

With my camera in hand, I observed how the light changed from a blue hue, after the sun went down, to the onset of night. I also noticed how the cityscape transformed—from the magnificent old buildings to a striking contrast between illuminated modern office blocks and skyscrapers against the dark sky.

It’s the time when office workers are rushing to get back home, walking briskly across Blackfriars Bridge and cycling, or running. There was a palpable sense of urgency. It was already cold, around 5C, with wind blowing across the bridge, and I could feel that people wanted to be safely back home.

Two of the highlights were the illuminated dome of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Shard with its colour-changing peak.

The sky was not completely black as there was so much light emanating from the streets and buildings, a reminder that the city never sleeps.

Sadly I saw a homeless man trying to find a comfortable position on the ledge of a souvenir shop. He was bathed in the light coming from the window. There was a poignant contrast between the excessive number of colourful plastic souvenirs and a man trying to accommodate himself with very limited possessions.

In some parts of the South Bank walk, there were patches of blackness, and I noticed intriguing contrasts between the buildings, signs, and people walking—appearing as if they were being swallowed by their surroundings.

It was a short and chilly walk, full of visual experiences and a good photography challenge!

Images were taken with my Canon EOS R5 and lenses RF 24-105mm f/4 and RF 35mm f/1.8.