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The story behind 22 Bishopsgate
22 Bishopsgate is one of the newest and tallest skyscrapers in the City. It’s a curious building, which looks utterly different depending on the angle, the light and cloud cover, and whether or not you use a polariser. It’s currently one of my favourite photographic subjects as a result.
Trying to photograph the whole building is tricky. The bluey-grey glass blends into and reflects the sky, meaning there can be minimal contrast between the two, particularly in black and white.
The trick with this one is to get out a long lens, find the right detail and cut the sky from the composition completely. I took this one from fairly close to the building. Another great position is from the other side of the Thames, where you can combine 22 Bishopsgate with the Walkie Talkie. This image is everything that I love in architectural photography – strong lines, nice contrast, symmetry and – above all – simplicity.