Kids, 2016
‘For me, street photography is it. It's what I want to do. It's almost impossible to run out of subjects as something different happens on the same street every day. London is full of surprises.’
Advertising
Pug Life, 2016
‘I started off using a Canon 450D and a long lens (50-200mm). It took me a while to build up enough confidence to ditch the lens and use a regular 18-55mm, getting closer to the people I wanted to photograph.’
Advertising
Sister Ray's, 2016
‘The Canon is a lovely camera but it’s bulky and people do see you coming when you’re using it, so a couple of years ago I switched to an Olympus EM5 which I absolutely love.
It’s smaller and easier to use and has a flip screen, so you can shoot from the hip and see what you're doing.’
It’s smaller and easier to use and has a flip screen, so you can shoot from the hip and see what you're doing.’
Pride, 2016
‘I’m fine with waiting for a person to notice me and photographing their reaction, but I'm not into the intrusive kind of street portraiture practiced by Bruce Gilden, which to me is all about sticking your camera right in someone's face – I wouldn't do that!’
Advertising
Metamorphosis, 2014
‘Two of my favourite street photographers are Martin Parr and Joel Meyerowitz. I could see from their work that street photography is not just about photographing people walking down the street.’
Dave's strut, 2016
‘It's about so much more – their surroundings, the light, the colour and humour in different situations. I didn't set out to emulate them, but I did have an idea of what I should be looking for when I was out shooting.’
Advertising
Singing in Shoreditch, 2015
‘As a city, London is fairly friendly to photographers. Most people I come across are very happy to have their photo taken – if they even see me doing it.
I've had a couple of instances where people have been very angry. The first time it happened it really put me off going out shooting and it took a while to go out on my own again.’
Red Stripe, 2016
‘I think maybe it helps that I’m female – I do know a few male photographers that have been in physical fights with people who didn't want their photo taken!’
Advertising
Distracted, 2015
‘If I were to give advice to aspiring street photographers, I would say practice, practice, practice. Getting out as regularly as you can builds your confidence and sharpens your eye.’
Skater Girl, Brick Lane, 2016
‘Photograph in a way you feel comfortable with at first then slowly push yourself out of your comfort zone - get closer to people, wait for eye contact, that kind of thing. Find your own style and don't let other people tell you what to do.’
Advertising
Shake a tail feather, 2016
‘And London is full of characters that are waiting to share their stories – and people who are less happy when you catch them doing something they shouldn't be! It's a fantastic city full of colour and diversity and I hope I'm shooting it for a long time yet.’
Shadow dancers, 2014
Advertising
Chapel Hill Market, 2012
Happy Shoppers, 2013
Advertising
Happy Coppers, 2014
Thinking caps on, 2013
Advertising
It's lit, 2012
City views blow away the blues, 2016
More photos
London's top department stores are famed for going all out when it comes to their festive Christmas windows, and Harrods' latest offerings are no expection. This year, the Brompton Road windows take 'Once Upon a Christmas' as their theme, with each one featuring a stage filled with moving puppets and some very fancy designer gear. For more wintery shopping inspiration, check out our behind-the-scenes peek at Selfridges' Christmas windows, or try our round-up of woolly winter warmers.
Advertising
There's so much tradition to pack into December that it's no wonder Christmas seems to start before autumn does these days. London has always been crazy for Christmas, though – just check out the gallery below, which shows the city in festive trim as far back as 1956. All photos are from the Henry Grant Collection, held by the Museum of London. A large selection of the Museum’s collections are available to buy as prints from www.museumoflondonprints.com
RECOMMENDED: See our full festive guide to Christmas in London
Advertising
Last year marked the centenary of WW1 and the installation of 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red', which filled the Tower of London’s moat with 888,246 ceramic poppies - one for each British and colonial fatality during the war. Designed by artist Paul Cummins, the installation drew swarms of people to the Tower for a glimpse at the huge tide of flowers through the crowds. Here we look back at the incredible Tower of London's poppies with some of our favourite photos from the Time Out Flickr community. After a brief tour of the UK, the iconic poppies have now been sold to raise funds for service charities.
This year Remembrance Day falls on Sunday November 8 2015 (as the nearest Sunday to November 11) and is marked by a parade in Whitehall to honour those who gave their lives in WWI, WWII and subsequent conflicts. The Royals will join members of the Armed Forces, ex-service people, political leaders and representatives of faith communities for a two-minute silence at 11am.
Discover Time Out original video
Advertising