Today's photo shows the view west from tower Bridge from the west walkway, in counterpoint to yesterday's view to the east.
I gave this view a similar treatment. It's also a three-image HDR in Photomatix, also a 1EV separation between images.
On the river sits HMS Belfast, a Town-class light cruiser launched on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1938 and commissioned in August 1939. After service in WWII and the Korean War, she entered reserves in 1963. She was moored on the river and opened as a tourist attraction in October 1971.
I've very vague memories of paying a visit in the early 70's in my childhood.
On the skyline above and to the left of the ship stands Center Point, one of the first skyscrapers built in london. Apparently the site once was occupied by a gallows. Started in 1963 and completed in 1967, the building sat empty for five years while the developer held out for a single tenant to lease the whole building.
Moving to the right is the iconic Post Office tower, or BT tower as it's now known. As a kid on a journey to london in the 70's my mum had planned to take myself, my brother and sister to lunch in the revolving restaurant near the top of the tower but then the IRA started setting bombs in london and the restaurant was closed.
On the skyline on the right is the magnificent dome of St. Paul's cathedral. I have a childhood memory of climbing up inside the building and walking around the base of the dome. Truly magnificent. There's been a St. Paul's on this site since AD 604. This is the fifth incarnation, designed by Sir Christopher Wren and declared complete on December 25, 1711. From 1710 till 1962 it was the tallest building in London.
The blue glass building is the home of Express Newspapers and the smaller Italianate building to the right is the old Billingsgate Fish market. The first fish market opened here in the 16th century. This particular building opened in 1877. Just over 100 years later, in 1982, the market was moved downstream to its current site on the Isle of Dogs.
Scroll below the color rendering for the black and white version.
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