The Leaning Tower of London, a photo from London, England

Photographer's Note

This picture (scanned from a Kodachrome 64 slide) was taken in 1986 during my only ever visit to London and shows the north-eastern end of the Houses of Parliament with the famous Clock Tower seen at sunset from the Westminster Bridge.

The Clock Tower was Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin last design before his final descent into madness and death. Designed in Pugin’s celebrated Gothic Revival style the tower is 96.3 metres high. The bottom 61 metres of the structure consists of brickwork with sand coloured Anston limestone cladding. The remainder of the tower's height is a framed spire of cast iron. The tower is founded on a 15 metre square raft, made of 3 metre thick concrete, at a depth of 4 metres below ground level. The four clock faces are 55 metres above ground.

Because of changes in ground conditions since construction (notably due to the excavation and construction of the tunnel for the Jubilee Line extension), the tower leans slightly to the north-west, by roughly 220 millimetres at the clock face, giving an inclination of approximately 1/250. Due to thermal effects it oscillates annually by a few millimetres east and west.

In Wikipedia

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Critiques | Translate

parbo (11092) 2008-12-09 17:56

Hello Antonio,

Fantastic silhouettes of famous part of London but its more valuable photo for me with its oldest capture date and nice grains on it. I like dark silhouettes under clear sky and with reddish tones, wonderful. Congratulations.

Best Regards,

Ertugrul

phwall (6787) 2008-12-09 18:16

Hi Antonio,
Even twenty two years ago you had an excellent eye for a shot. Lovely silhouette of this wonderful building, I like the little dots of colour in the bottom right of frame, traffic lights no doubt, plus the reddish/brown tones in the sky after the sunset.
Very nice capture, excellent quality as well.
Regards
Peter

jurek1951 (42198) 2008-12-09 18:49

Hi Antonio,
Lovely mood captured here and an excellent composition.Beautiful and picturesque scenery,
Georg

edytungkal (4551) 2008-12-09 19:34

At first I dont think this from a scanned picture Antonio !! 22 years wow....
A nice contrast colours between the shadows and the pastel colours, I like this shot...
Very well job and thanks for that

daniel

dip (21408) 2008-12-09 20:10

Hi Antonio,
very beautiful work your "old" photo,
excellent contrast and framing,
well done!
Dimitris.

orme (7219) 2008-12-09 21:02

Hello Antonio,
This is an excellent silhouette of the Houses of Parliament.
I especially like the detail and sharpness of the small towers.
Very well done with such an old photo.
Best regards,
Andrew

maltese (22909) 2008-12-09 21:52

Hello Antonio
Une très belle réalisation que ce bâtiment si reconnaissable en ombre chinoise devant ce ciel en dégradé.
Du très bon travail!!
Amicalement
Hervé

besnard (59196) 2008-12-09 22:01

Bonjour Antonio
Un très jolie cliché en contre-jour. C'est une façon originale de nous montrer ce célébre bâtiment.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

Sne011 (3084) 2008-12-10 1:12

Hello Antonio,
I like this simple but beautiful composition with architectural silhouettes and sunset colors. Nice framing makes this photo complete.
Have a nice day,
Sneza

jrj (34843) 2008-12-10 2:16

A fine silhouetted old work here Antonio. Very effectful and handled well through the scanner. Interesting result + a very informative note.

riclopes (35577) 2008-12-10 2:40

É uma silhueta lindíssima, António. E não deve nada à passagem do tempo. Nota-se que a definição de imagem não é perfeita mas não pertuba de todo os detalhes da imagem. O contraste com as bonitas tonalidades suaves no céu é muito bom. Excelente recuperação do século passado ;-)
ricardo

tempocativo (476) 2008-12-10 3:14

Olá António, adorei as silhuetas em contraste com o pôr-do sol. Ficou muito bem! A fotografia ficou escura o suficiente para formar a silhueta do resto da estrutura, mas o claro suficiente para se ver as horas na torre.
Obrigado por partilhares esta foto de 86!
Abraço
Paulo
Tempo Cativo

Juntas (7960) 2008-12-10 3:17

Olá António. Bonito contraluz com um toque especial do vermelho no céu. Muito boa qualidade tendo em conta.... Abraço. Paulo

AiresSantos (56155) 2008-12-10 3:26

Ola Antonio
As silhuetas estao magnificas os os tons do ceu tambem.
Vemos algumas luzes na parte direita. Excelente qualidade tendo em conta que foi digitalizada
Um abraco Amigo
Aires

Charo (51290) 2008-12-10 4:23

Olá Antonio,
Uma bela retroiluminado varredura desta famosa torre. Magnífica moldura e um lindo céu.
Abraços,
Charo

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2008-12-10 7:53

Olá Antônio,
belo trabalho aqui, visto que coneguir ver o céu em Londres já é um marco, fica quase o tempo todo cinza. As cores do por-do-sol ficaram mais bonitas ainda emolduradas pela silhueta da construção.
Parabéns e Abraço

bucanas (2218) 2008-12-10 9:27

Ola Antoni,
Excelente filme o Kodachrome ISO 64,ainda gosto de usar chromo,
para por do sol nao tem igual.
Parbens,bela foto e bom trabalho de recuperacao.
Abracos,
Ralf

josepmarin (59385) 2008-12-10 10:59

Olá António,
el perfil de lo que vemos en estas siluetas en contraluz es tan conocido que casi no hace falta poner título a tu foto.
Excelente trabajo en este contraluz, la exposición es correcta y el efecto lumínico me gusta mucho, con el cielo aún azul.
Bonita y fuerte composición. Y gran resultado en el escaneado.
Un abrazo,
Josep

stego (24132) 2008-12-10 12:31

Olá António,
Bela silhueta de pôr-do-sol! Gosto imenso, talvez se não fosse aquela pêlo no céu à esquerda nem se notava que era uma digitalização, pois o ruído está bem controlado e as cores estão esplêndidas.
Nunca tinha ouvido falar da inclinação, mas parece-me tão mínima que aposto que haverá imensas torres antigas por esse mundo cuja inclinação é desconhecida para a maior parte das pesssoas.
Um abraço, José.

[workshop] [compare] +

mvinagre (859) 2008-12-10 14:31

Olá Antonio

Esta muito bonita esta foto, as silhuetas em
contraste com pôr-do sol estão espetaculares, a cor do ceu tambem esta optima.

miguelvinagre

Sistercosmo (242) 2008-12-10 15:41

Hi Antonio!
Nice silhouette at a beautiful blue hour. Good quality, despite the fact that it's an old one. Well done. You just reminded me that I have some good London photos hiding somewhere... ;-)
Take care,
Linda

MLINES (12516) 2008-12-10 22:02

Hi Antonio, I like this back-lit composition. These Towers are well recognised from any angle. I like the colours in the sky and sharpness of the buildings. TFS. Murray.

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2008-12-11 0:20

a 22 year old classic... a classy one i have to say, good quality for a scanned slide... cheers antonio...

korkut

(i was in london in 87, this one is even older than that, cool!...)

gracious (20025) 2008-12-11 9:28

Ola Antonio,
Beautiful scan with those beautiful sunset light and a good silhouette of the well known place in London! been there several times but never see such a beautiful sunset over it, much appreciated for the sharing!
I loved this one!
wishing you a happy festive season!
cheers
Tony

jmdias (116341) 2008-12-11 16:34

antonio

ficou bonito o rendilhado dos edifícios contra o céu iluminado. belo pov e enquadramento

abraços

jorge

xavshot (69835) 2008-12-11 21:54

Bonjour Antonio
superbe découpage des silhouettes sur ce ciel coloré. On reconnait bien l'architecture. Belle réalisation.
Xavier

carper (96) 2008-12-11 23:26

fine shot Antonio,
good backlight shot, nice contours, good quality job, I like it have a nice day.
regard jaap

leo61 (0) 2008-12-11 23:28

Hi Antonio!
Good shot with the sillhouette of this wonderful building and the nice tones in the sky.Nice to see some trafficlights.
Regards,Leo

emka (158680) 2008-12-11 23:43

Hi Antonio,

Superb quality taking into account it is an old scanned photo. I did not know it is leaning! it is not visible. Wonderful silhouettes of these buildings in evening light. Well done1

Malgorzata

ChrisJ (172378) 2008-12-12 0:40

Hello Antonio

Superb graphism & silhouettes, with a striking warm vs cold colour contrast, between the orange of the sunset & the blue sky. Good sharpness & framing. Tfs!

aadilj (18102) 2008-12-12 0:53

Hi Antonio, this one is actually beyond words. One of the magnificent silhouettes I have seen. The hues and the balance are absolutely breath taking

Photo65Net (43144) 2008-12-12 4:08

Hello Antonio,
I didn't know anything about this leaning thing on Big Ben !
Nice catch anyway, with great colors and beautiful shadowed buildings.
Have a nice day,
JB.

marcdemoulin (1870) 2008-12-12 11:32

Nice almost shadow picture of the tower. The red dots on the right add a long. Great shot Antonio.
Best RGDS
Marc

marietom (34611) 2008-12-12 12:43

hello Antonio,

Belle silhouettes de toits en dentelle, sur un beau fond de ciel coloré.
Bonne soirée
Marie

Docarmo (9767) 2008-12-12 19:39

Olá António,
É uma pena mesmo aquele pêlo no céu, perto da torre mais baixa, à esquerda... que se não fosse o José ter mencionado, eu nem teria visto... mas ele está lá :-(
Nem parece foto escaneada, a qualidade está ótima! Uma imagem de silhueta muito bem conseguida e, ainda por cima, com um céu londrino tão bonito assim.
Parabéns!
MCV

[workshop] [compare]

bakes888 (18499) 2008-12-13 1:38

Hi Antonio. So the picture is straight ;-). I can remember using Kodachrome 64, then Fijichrome 100 then I got lazy and switched to colour neg. Well timed and constructed image. The colours set off the silhouette beautifully. Thanks for sharing.
Have a good Sunday, Paul.

Wandering_Dan (3449) 2008-12-13 14:20

Hi, Antonio -

I'll have to take your word for it that it's tilting; looks quite straight to me!

A classic silhouette, but very well done. The little bit of sunlight catching the rail in LR is a nice touch. The scan was really successful, too; I don't think I would have spotted that if you hadn't said so.

Best,
Dan

alentejano (255) 2008-12-13 14:46

Olá Antonio,
as cores estão excelentes,e gosto bastante do pormenor do relogio bem visivel.
Se não fosse a nota pensava que era uma foto tirada por uma maquina digital.
O pôr-do sol está fantástico!
Cumprimentos,
Luis

plimrn (21344) 2008-12-15 19:57

Olá Antonio,
The sihouette is very sharp and interesting against the striking gradient of colors. Interesting note too.
SAA, Pat

skippy007 (12510) 2008-12-15 21:13

Hello Antonio, nice PP work here, Fantastic & very impressive looking silhouette with Big Ben standing very proud. Vice colour. Interesting note, I didn't know that it was leaning.
Thanks
Santo

devimeuxbe (58557) 2008-12-16 15:07

Hi Antonio
I like these shadows and the beautifull colors of the sky behind. This is a typical shot from London; Very well done
Bertrand

giorgimer (35017) 2008-12-17 1:48

Hi Antonio,

nice shot with a clearly recognizable famous silhouette.

Compliments!

Gio

rmcfa63 (358) 2008-12-17 14:29

Viva, António

A sihueta no seu conjunto engrandece a imagem e transporta-nos para o ambiente. Gosto particularmente das pequenas luzes que nascem à direita que não nos fazem esquecer das tonalidades que o ambiente nocturno evoca.
Muito obrigada pela sua visita.

emjleclercq (15778) 2008-12-18 0:06

Nice silhouette, and good scan for an old picture.

All the best,

Emmanuel

paura (25802) 2008-12-18 15:57

António,
Um bom trabalho artístico na composição aqui. O efeito visual ficou muito bonito.

Abraço

Paulo

azaf1 (15931) 2008-12-19 2:22

Good morning Antonio
I really like this one that so sharply depict the old buildings in London. What is really attractive is the degrading shades of color so well given and cared for. I really like it.
Season's greetings from Greece
Argiris

jemaflor (148124) 2008-12-19 4:27

Hi Antonio,
Interesting capture to see all these buildings silhouettes, well managed to give an interesting result, bravo it's a good idea.

aofl (1088) 2008-12-19 6:40

Olá António
Apesar de ser uma "scanagem" de um antigo slide a foto está muito boa e o contraluz perfeito.
Um abraço e Bom Natal
al

xuaxo (6854) 2008-12-19 12:42

Isto é que é uma silhueta, António.
Gosto da gradação do céu, entre o quase branco, o laranja, os azuis.
Cumprimentos,
..-. .-. .- -. -.-. .. ... -.-. ---

Silvio1953 (222779) 2008-12-21 13:32

Ciao Antonio, splendid silhouette agaist a beautiful sky with wonderful colors, great quality for a scan, very well done, ciao Silvio

foozi (7101) 2008-12-23 4:24

Hi Antonio,
your cityscape in silhoutte is very exciting and captivating. The London shot depicts its beauty and lovely lights coming out above the London Icons especially the clock tower. Big Ben is still can be recognised.

Regards,
Foozi

P-S-I-G (25536) 2008-12-23 9:48

Hello Antonio,
Very pleasant silhouettes. I like the colours in the sky. Well taken.
Best regards,
Fabrice

Bluejeans (64251) 2009-01-03 3:13

Oi amigo
Que beleza de foto de Londres , acho que nunca vi uma foto igual a esta tua por aqui :) , foi um belo trabalho de scan , muito bonita a passagem de cores no céu , gostei muito da silhueta , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Feliz ano 2009

Angshu (56760) 2009-01-07 0:28

Hello Antonio
I never knew that the Big Ben tower was leaning! Wonderful picture of the parliament & the clock tower is full silhouette against the sunset sky...love the grading colours in the sky as well. Excellent work!
Best wishes to you & your dear ones for 2009!
Regards
Angshu

barrufeto_77 (28888) 2009-01-07 13:35

Hi Antonio.

The silhouettes and the soft-colours of the sky are lovely!

My compliments for sure!

Rgs and happy 2009!

Vato_Law (12732) 2009-03-03 14:00

Olá Antonio.
bela foto esta, que me tinha escapado,
As silhuetas da Torres de Londres e restantes a contrastarem muito bem com este céu que apresenta um belo 'dégradée' de cores.
O teu trabalho de scan é notável.
Um abraço.
paulo

kiks (12805) 2009-03-07 13:19

It is a classic one but very well executed and framed, Antonio. LOvely work.
Best regadrs
KIKS

diegomach (531) 2009-06-13 17:33

António estupendo atardecer dibujado por esas hermosas siluetas multiformes, una hermosa composición.
felicitaciones

Urs (14082) 2009-10-11 5:28

Wonderful sunset silhouette shot of London, congrats Antonio, it is a very dramatic photograph. Moreover it's an excellent scan with further processing. Well done

Best regards
Urs