Winter Lights at Canary Wharf with CineStill 800T

Floating Earth. Perhaps the most photographed artwork from the show and one that all the headlines ran with. 1/50s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

If you were to ask someone what first comes to mind when the phrase ‘Canary Wharf’ is mentioned, it will inevitably be something to do with banking and finance. Originally the site of the West Inia Docks, changes to shipping practices meant the site became abandoned in 1980 with plans for rejuvenation were drawn up during the 1980s before Canary Wharf officially opened in August 1991. The early 90s recession meant it got off to a rocky start, but it was propelled to higher levels of success when it was finally connected up by the Jubilee Line Extension in 1999. It now houses the headquarters some of the largest banks in the world, including Barclays & HSBC.

Captivated by Colour on the permanent Adams Plaza Bridge. 1/80s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

The Light Snails. One of the most interactive exhibits which saw visitors spinning the wheels themselves. 1/60s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

Hidden nearby were other neon creepy crawlies. 1/60s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

However, times are a changing yet again. The pandemic brought about sweeping changes to working practices that has left a lot of office space still sitting empty across London. Less workers means less money coming into the area which has seen many shops and businesses close their doors. Something that is still an acute problem in the City of London. The last time I walked past the shared occupancy building I used to work at in Monument, the door was still chained shut. But sitting on the river with many of the tallest buildings in the UK in one place, Canary Wharf is increasingly attracting more and more tourists to plug the gap left by workers. This has been made all the easier by the recent opening of the Elizabeth Line which greatly speeds up travel time.

Fragmented Appearances. Bright lights bounced and radiated off of this discoball-esque installation. 1/125s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

Looking down Quayside where two of the artworks were installed. We Could Meet and The Boulder. 1/30s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

I got up close to capture my reflection in Out of the Dark. 1/20s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

Canary Wharf already boasts the UK’s largest collection of free outdoor art, but for a few short days in January each year the Winter Lights collection returns. Started in 2014, it grew in size in subsequent years until 2020, when it was then cancelled for two years due to the pandemic. 2023 saw its return, and I went down to capture it using my last roll of CineStill 800T. The perfect film for photographing bright, nighttime lights. I very nearly didn’t make it however due to my original schedule that week, but thankfully a reshuffle meant I was there on the penultimate night.

Glories can be seen in the bottom of the frame with the looming CITI Bank building in the background. Looks like I just missed focus with this image. 1/25s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

Anima proved to be the most popular exhibit as it was something you walked through and experienced. Many people were loitering to get their best photos for social media. 1/40s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

The curving arches of Toroid. 1/30s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

There were twenty-two installations (five of which are permanent) in total spread across the entire site. Guides handed out paper maps which you could use to follow the trail in any order you liked, and it made for a pleasant way to explore the area for those unfamiliar with it. The numbers of visitors were certainly very large, and I even had to queue for twenty minutes to go into Anima, the most popular exhibit, but it was definitely worth it, and never felt too crowded. As you can imagine, high footfall from the free exhibitions did also result in extra money flowing into the shops and restaurants that were open for people to enjoy. I’d be curious to know what the money spent in comparison to money gained is.

Emergence. Getting up close and pushing my lens through one of the squares gave me a view fitting to the name. 1/320s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

Bit.fall - another permanent installation which takes random words from news articles and generates them in a flash of water droplets. You need a fast shutter speed to capture it. 1/400s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

The Clew. The bright red glow is practically made for CineStill 800T and resulted in this very vivid rendering. 1/40s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

I am not sure I have a favourite thing in particular but the whole experience of wandering around outside and experiencing the different displays, some of which were very interactive, was certainly a pleasant way to spend an evening. Even if it was inevitably cold. Rest assured if you did miss this year’s event, it will be back next year with an all-new roster of artworks. For now though you’ll just have to enjoy my highlights captured on film. Now excuse me whilst I go and order some more rolls of CineStill 800T…

Continuum. I just wished I’d shifted my composition slightly to the left and captured the woman when her full reflection was in the mirror. 1/40s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

Light and sound combine in PING. 1/30s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

The two mammoths of Permafrost. 1/80s 35mm F1.4 Nikon F100 CineStill 800T.

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