Something about London, part 2
I've met some very nice people today. I am, as usual, awake and up much much to early and walk to the hotel for my first English breakfast here, through the rain. When I leave the hotel the rain has stopped and the rest of the day will be a lovely sunny and dry day. I have a little map to guide me to the meeting point of Scott Kelby's World Wide Photo Walk but instead of just walking straight down there I get distracted. No surprise there really. A bridge across the river Thames catches my eye. Not for it's beauty but for what I could only imagine to be one of the best views towards Westminster. And I am right. I learn later that this Waterloo Bridge is the place to go for a breathtaking view. Nowhere else can you see everything from the Savoy to Westminster and the famed South bank with the London Eye in one glance.
When I am able to pull me away from this commanding view and try to find my way back, I find myself in some small predicament. I really don't know which way to go. Full of hope I turn to some guy walking my direction, camera in hand, big bag on the back. He notices and it turns out he too is on his way to the meeting point. So we walk down there together. The meeting point is already crowded with mainly men and large camera bags. Not everyone takes Scott's advice of packing light. Almost instantly I connect with a lovely lady called Amanda who can outrun us all in her motorized wheelchair if only there would be enough ramps. She tells me disabled people were already better off in the Netherlands back in the seventies than they are nowadays here in London. It instantly makes me think back to one of my first unpleasant surprises here in London. As I was on my way to the exit Euston Road at St. Pancras station I found myself unexpectedly facing a stairs. With no ramp or elevator in sight. Everybody had to carry their heavy luggage up those stairs, there simply was no alternative.
The walk starts with a little informative talk, some obligatory group shots and a short video. The shots and video are instantly put up on social media. I can't photograph on command, so it takes me a while to take my first shot. And that is still a quick snap of Amanda and Scott Kelby. By the time we wander into the barristers realm I start to feel a bit lost. Photographically speaking. But that's what I always tend to do. Feel lost in a large group of people. So I focus on the people themselves, my fellow photogs. That always leads to some, let's call them, interesting observations. Like the guy tending to his plants in the window. He becomes an instant subject for at least five or six photogs. What must he have been thinking. And the sometimes blatant disregard for other people. "Oh that's nice, I'll just stop right here to take a picture." Not noticing the one behind them who just manages to step aside preventing a collision. Not noticing the fellow photog who had already lined up his or her camera and simply stepping right in front of them.
It seems that Scott or his assistant Brad Moore are never walking alone. It makes me wonder everybody's reasons for joining this particular walk. So they simply want to meet Scott Kelby in person or are they hoping to be 'discovered' so they too can join the Kelby imperium. Making them instantly famous.
I am very impressed with Somerset House. Now devoted to the arts, at one time it must have held the national registry of births, marriages and deaths. At least that's its roll in my Miss Marplemovies.
We end up at Byron Hamburgers. The entire group down in the small and sweaty basement. Me, Sue, Amanda and Scott staying ground level. No elevator, so Amanda can't get down. After saying goodbye to my fellow walkers I head towards Covent Garden Market. At one time it must have been the thriving heart of the neighbourhood where people would get their daily bread and discuss local, national and maybe even international events. Across the street is now an Apple Store. I passed it the day before and really didn't understand why all those people were hanging outside in the windows messing with their phones. Today a lightbulb moment. It is the best damned free WiFi I have been able to find in the entire city.
I still have to get my tourist shot of Buckingham Palace and now is as good a time as ever. I make my way through the park slowly. Stealing a bench here and there just to watch the people around me. My favourite ones have to be the father and maybe eighteen month old son. The little boy is unstoppable running up and down the paths in his wellies. All dad can do is run after him pushing the stroller. It makes me wonder. Who's exercising who?
And even though most English people I have met so far have been very nice to me, I am a bit let down by the Queen. I mean she didn't even invite me in for tea!? Seems she does man the till herself now and again.
As suggested I spend the evening on Waterloo Bridge and the South bank. First waiting for the lights to come on, the rest of the time just shooting away. Finding the best images, the safest spots to put my camera on a small table tripod, walking down to Westminster and back to Waterloo Bridge. One final look from Waterloo Bridge towards the Egg makes me stop in my stride. The most gorgeous low red moon in between the high rises. A perfect gift.
