Landseer's Iconic Lions

The four bronze lions that flank Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square are a London icon. But no matter how familiar you think you might be with the sights of this city, nothing prepares you for their size when you finally see them in person. They are several times lifesize! The lions, strongly symbolic of British power in Imperial times, were cast in 1867 from a sculpture by Sir Edwin Landseer, the 'most celebrated animal artist of the reign of Queen Victoria,' as I once heard him described. He was criticised for giving animals eyes that were too expressive, they had a human quality that was uncomfortable to the 19th century mind; it is also said he had never seen a lion when he sculpted the original, but used his dog and cat as references! The metal of which these statues are cast is said to be the melted-down cannons of the destroyed French fleet, captured in 1805. The photograph was not difficult, but a composition in which there were no intrusive elements was; here one of the four shares the frame with the decorated base of Nelson's Column, but at least there are no buildings, people (or pigeons) in the shot. Sharpness and colour were enhanced, the latter considerably to put some hue into a watery winter sky. December, 2006; Fuji FinepPix S5600, automatic. Image by Mike.

It Wouldn't Be Trafalgar Square Without Pigeons

Click image to view at 1000 pixels wide

The title says it all... This was December 2006 and I knew I had to pay homage to the pigeons of Trafalgar Square. The following year the closest I got to the ravens at the Tower of London was a black shape in a tree, but the pigeons are more tractable. This was a slight telephoto close-in to fill the frame without getting too close to the bird, perched on the balustrades in front of the National Gallery. The general dearth of colour is due to the low winter sun into whose quadrant I was shooting: note the shadows of the passers-by. The image has been sharpened and the colour turned up for publication. Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. Image by Mike.

Fountains of Light

This shot was an exercise in patience. The harsh lighting conditions are the result of afternoon sun (the clock in the background says 1.45) shining directly through a very powerful water jet with the shadow side of buildings creating the dark background. The fountain is one of several in Trafalgar Square, London, photographed in early December, 2006 (the sun is very low in the English sky in December). You can see there's some elevation in the POV, the picture was taken with telephoto from across the square on the steps of the National Gallery. Patience involved framing the sprays and then waiting for the endless coming and going of tourists to create as un-cluttered an image as possible. Note also the sunglare creating halos of the fine droplets of spray drifting into the lens. Fuji FinePix S5600, 200ASA, full auto. Image by Mike.