As commissions go being asked to photograph the interior of St Mary-Le-Bow in London seemed like an exciting and straightforward proposition at first.
As the detail of this church presented itself so did all the problems, no chance of shooting in the week as this is when all the services are held, so a weekend is looking most likely.
The tower
On to the pendolino on a bright Saturday morning and two hours later I'm trying to buy a ticket for the underground, yes maintenance work on the very line I need to use. I need to get to Bow soon, as my work will be interrupted by a wedding later the same day, bus journey is one and a half hours! I decide it will be quicker to walk. It is quicker to walk but the combination of a large camera bag and tripod takes it out of me, I arrive looking rather red-faced.
Interior
Rood detail
The interior of Bow is uncomplicated and very fresh looking, in part because it was almost completely destroyed by enemy action in May 1941 and not rebuilt until 1964, no great problems here the shots look great, now for the norman crypt, amazing atmosphere down here. Also required is a shot of the famous Bow Bells whilst they are being rung, so off I go up the tower.
The famous Bow Bells
After the Great Fire of London an attempt was made to shore up the old tower, but Sir Christopher Wren had the ambition for his second (after St Paul’s) tallest structure, this tower is huge, and it's a long way up, red-face time again!
Time to return to Euston, yes you guessed walking again, whilst sitting on the train I was reminded of a route I climbed in Jordan a long time ago. 'Le Jour le Plus Long' this is a route up the South West Face of Jebel um Ishrin, in the Wadi Rum area of Jordan It is Graded 5+ it has twenty two pitches, total length six hundred metres, first climbed by the Swiss brothers Claud and Yves Remy in 1988. Today has also felt like 'the longest day'
Crypt