So after buying a new wide angle lens yesterday I had to have an outing... I was always going to have a day in London this week, and the forecast for today was the best - sunshine, a breeze, they said cool but it was perfect for lots of walking.. and there was LOTS of walking!
I headed first to the Tower of London (my membership runs to the end of this month and I wanted another visit to make sure I have had my money's worth! Gorgeous skies, lots of green.
the wide angle certainly gets lots in...
I joined a Yeoman Warder tour, I missed the beginning but rather than wait half an hour for the next one, just tagged on... he took selfies.. was just as funny as the previous ones I've been on.
It may even have been one of the Warders I've been on a tour with before... he seemed very familiar
the White Tower, the actual Tower of London itself
home of the Crown Jewels
so there was lots and lots of lens changing today, to get the sense of the difference between them.
the widest angle..
Tried to take unusual angles too.
loving the blue sky and wispy clouds
insider the Armoury, with all the breast plates... reminded me of that scene in Bedknobs and Broomsticks when the empty armour comes marching on the German soldiers!
windy staircase inside the Beauchamp Tower
500 year old graffiti carved into the walls...
the Tower used to be home to exotic animals. this wire monkey is quite exotic!!
view of London from inside the Tower
Tower Bridge
the Gherkin
the Shard over the other side of the river (my next destination)
so I walked along the river to London Bridge, this is the staircase up to the bridge to cross the road. I love this!
hopefully you can enlarge this to read all about London Bridge!
underneath the Shard (leaning against something to stop myself falling backwards!)
escalators down to the entrance to the viewing platform (no, I didn't this time, was doing things on the cheap today) the cranes and things are to do with the Thameslink train works going on over what seems the whole of London still
crossed the road to Southwark Cathedral...
Passed a cocktail bar with some rather strange seating outside... would have loved a sit down, but - places to go!
The catherdral was open, so for the first time I went in. (I've only ever seen it from outside before) - I bought a guide (£1) which also allowed me to take as many photos as I wanted. Unusual for a Cathedral, so I took advantage.
it was an incredibly peaceful place, and every bit as beautiful as I have heard.
gorgeous stained glass - the sun outside was making it shimmer, but I couldn't capture it on the camera, sadly.
back outside, found this strange sculpture, with the Shard behind
back over the river, we're off to St Paul's now.... more walking!
this building looks like some kind of grill on a car engine or something
here we are, St Paul's..
and some great reflections
Before walking round the outside of St Paul's I decided to head for the Millenium (Wobbly) Bridge to get some wide angle shots of the Cathedral...
I always love to stop at these steel balls for reflection selfies! Got St Paul's in it too this time.
love how at it's widest setting the new lens starts to slightly distort the facade of the buildings and gives it a curve it doesn't have! (the next lens available after this one gives you a "fisheye" view... which is great fun but limited practicality (I had one once on an old camera)
the "footprint" of the original (pre Great Fire of London) cathedral and the present
Paternoster Square just off St Paul's, I love this Square.
and now you can play table tennis....
I hopped on a bus for the next stage of my journey... Trafalgar Square
the Fourth Plinth.... a giant 'thumbs up' .... why???
from certain angles it looks rather different.... quite phallic let's say... no, I didn't take any more...
the National Gallery ( quick trip inside, only to find a loo, didn't stop to look at any paintings!!)
One thing I have realised is that with the wide angle (and even my others) given the low sun (by now it was 4 or so) I need a lens hood to cut out the glare from the sun... lots of the pictures have sun flare spots...
Admiralty Arch, close up, wide angle, loving this new lens!!
and from under one of the arches
and the other side, on the Mall
Horseguards Parade, home to Trooping the Colour
We're off to Westminster now, past the Cenotaph
Westminster. waiting for a gap in the traffic (ha ha, was just lucky with this one)
the sun was really low now and causing me trouble with my pictures...
wide angle back on...
Westminster Abbey, but I am off to Buckingham Palace now on my way home....
through St James Park
Victoria Memorial looking sparkly and gold!
HM was in, the Royal Standard was flying...
coats of arms on the gates
and a final walk through Green Park to the tube for the one stop back to Victoria and my train home - got there just in time for a train, which was packed and I had to stand up half the journey home.... not what I wanted, but that's rush hour for you..
Hope you've enjoyed the day (it was beautifully warm in the end) and all the photos and playing with the new lens.. thanks for looking.
