For a long time, I found it hard to photograph London because I was too close to it. I’m not a tourist here, so what’s the point of photographing my own backyard? Unless I got paid to capture it commercially, I didn’t find it inspiring.
That was until I didn’t have a choice but to work from home recently. I was forced to discover the local parks during my exercise breaks.
I spent decades running around, missing out on meaningful stops. I accumulated experience and things, but I have never paused to enjoy what I achieved.
A year and half later, I got clarity about my feelings about this town – I love it. Yes, I know it’s a controversial sentiment to have when many of my friends have left London during the pandemic for safer and quieter towns.
“Gradually, it opened my heart to softer feelings that I thought weren’t possible before.”
There are many sides to London. Some are hard, dark, lustful and greedy. But some are gentle, forgiving, peaceful and holistic.
The part of London that I’ve grown to love is by the old river. It had opened my eyes to the plants, insects and birds living around it.
Gradually, it opened my heart to softer feelings that I thought weren’t possible before.
“I spent decades running around, missing out on meaningful stops.”
After The Rain 