Nicky Fine Art Photography – Quiet Street in Bishopsgate
I had a feeling of awe on coming across this street in Bishopsgate. My heart rejoiced because I immediately was drawn in by the lines and symmetry even as it seemed like taking a sudden step back in time. I had just walked from the very modern Gherkin at St Mary Axe, not 10 minutes away. I was on New Broad Street, just a stone’s throw from Liverpool St, one of London’s busiest railway stations. In fact I was heading towards Liverpool St when I found this street. It was completely calm and peaceful with a real sense of place. Always enthralled with London’s varied architecture I was fascinated by the ordered symmetry, from the stone pavement of the pedestrianized road to the distinctive red, black and white city of London bollards to the facades of the buildings themselves. Though there is a variation of architectural style and materials of the buildings the street has a strong sense of unity due to the scale and massing of the buildings – all the buildings have a uniform height. I appreciated this sense of unity. I later found out New Broad St is a Conservation Area with an interesting history of many of the buildings.
For this fine art photograph I used curves, tones, adjustment layers and filters to express the emotions I felt when I encountered this unexpected find, ensuring I kept the red elements of familiar London icons – such as the pillar box (where we post letters) and the distinctive City of London bollards – added to the street in 1991 when New Broad Street became pedestrianized, to keep vehicles away from the buildings. Viewing this fine art photograph takes me back to the feelings and emotions I felt on encountering this street. I feel as if I am standing in the picture appreciating once more the details from the building facades, the lines and symmetry cobblestones, stonework and so much more. This and my other fine art photography prints are available for purchase online or at the Arts Market Leslieville.
