I had been taking some photos of boats along the Thames, and while I was heading off towards London Bridge to catch my train, a statue of a face with closed eyes made me reflect on how I pass by so much in a bit city and don’t necessarily see – even as a photographer. There is so much crammed into a city that it’s nearly impossible to see everything.
Passing through places and spaces on a regular basis can often make one immune to what’s around. It often becomes too familiar, and humanity often takes this for granted. While our eyes are open, they aren’t often seeing things.
In familiar places, I sometimes try to slow down and look at it more closely – often with my camera in my hand. There are details that even I become immune to. Seeing them – looking at them more closely – I start appreciating the city around me more. To imagine the human history of London is just around us – waiting to be listened to.
It reminds me how impermanent we are, as well as our surroundings. Whether we look and listen or not, time moves on.