I shot this image of Tower Bridge on a summer night in June 2022, during what felt like a delirious final push of a 70-DAY TOUR with Ignite, Ho99o9, NOFX, and Pennywise that had taken me all over Europe and the US. I had less than 48 hours in London, crashing in some crappy hotel, running on fumes, but I wasn’t going to miss this shot. On my last night, I met up with fellow music photographer Nick Sayers and got pizza at Purezza in Camden, then rode around London checking out Fred Perry gear. Exhausted but determined, I rode back to my hotel to grab my gear, parked my rental Lime bike on the side of the bridge, set up my tripod halfway into the street, and took this shot before heading back to my room for a quick four-hour sleep before catching multiple shitty flights back to California. Standing beneath its towering structure, I wanted to capture more than just a landmark—I wanted to freeze a moment in time that reflected both the history and movement of London itself. Designed by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry, Tower Bridge has been an unmistakable piece of London’s skyline for well over a century, an enduring testament to the city’s architectural ambition.

In this long-exposure shot, the bustling life of London is depicted through abstract light streams from passing cars and buses, creating a mesmerizing effect that showcases the blend of historic and modern elements. Whether it’s the way the lights reflect off the Thames or the sheer presence of the structure itself, Tower Bridge always has a way of making an impression.

For me, this shot is about contrast—the stillness of the bridge against the rush of headlights, the weight of history set against the fleeting movements of modern life.

History of Tower Bridge:

Tower Bridge, crossing the River Thames close to the Tower of London, was constructed to connect the 39% of London’s population living east of London Bridge. Opened by Edward, Prince of Wales, and Alexandra, Princess of Wales, on 30 June 1894, the bridge remains a vital traffic route with over 40,000 crossings every day. The bascules, originally powered by hydraulic mechanisms, were converted to an electro-hydraulic system in 1972, ensuring continued operation for both road traffic and river vessels.