Showcase

TIME FLOWS the Thames – a London portrait

Alan Larsen

Profile picture of Alan Larsen

Alan Larsen is a photographer interested in the representation of place and how the built environment embodies and reflects the human environment. 

His work comprises straightforward topographical images, through which he reveals the hidden landscapes that lie beneath the surface, exposing the relationship of place to time, memory, identity, and the histories that contributed to its creation, and continue to pervade it. His work is mostly presented in series, allowing layers of meaning to emerge by creating a dialogue between the individual images and within the work as a whole. In addition, he uses text to create a tension about what is visible on the surface, questioning what might lie beneath. 

Walking is often part of his practice, combined with imposing a constraint such as photographing at predetermined fixed intervals of distance or time. This process encourages documenting – mapping – a more objective reality, rather than making subjective choices that prioritise aesthetic outcome. In this way, patterns can be revealed that might otherwise go unnoticed. 

Combined with this, Alan is also interested in how the landscape in both urban and natural contexts can express complex emotions and feelings, reflecting a sense of self and connecting internal and external worlds. 

By documenting banal and overlooked aspects of the built environment, Alan reveals and revels in the interconnected multi-layered narratives that are hidden in plain sight in the urban landscape.

Alan Larsen is a photographer interested in the representation of place and how the built environ...

The River Thames has shaped London – literally and metaphorically – for centuries, its use and environment evolving to meet the changing needs of the city.

This work documents the south bank of the river from London Bridge to the Thames Barrier, walking and taking photographs at 500 metre intervals. Pairing images of the landscape with images of the river creates a dialogue between contemporary and historical activity. A portrait emerges of a river and its environment: a product of the past, seen from the perspective of the present.

Final work

  • Anchor on cobbled path. Glass and steel offices across river. Boat on river. Abandoned anchor in mud at low tide.
  • Warehouse converted into apartments. Modern office block partially in view. Old wooden jetty visible on foreshore at low tide.
  • Council flats with grassed area in front. Development site with offices in distance.
  • Warehouse converted into apartments at low tide showing old wooden structure of riverbank. Old wooden and stone causeway at low tide.
  • Houseboats at low tide. City of London in the distance. Chain on muddy foreshore at low tide.
  • Red life belt container. River wall with empty wine bottle and drinks cans. River with rubbish floating on top.
  • Hoarding with graffiti. New green apartments. Runner on path. Post with chain. Mud on foreshore at low tide. River behind.
  • Industrial concrete works. New lime green apartment block in background. V shaped bollard with skin graffiti. View into river.
  • Cycle path beside aggregate depot. Long wooden fence. Top of river wall and river.
  • Shelter on the riverbank. View of sailing boats moored on the river. Reeds and green with river behind.
  • Colourful graffiti on hoarding beside path. Reinforced riverbank and river.
  • The Thames Barrier. The start of the Thames Path. Offices of Canary Wharf in the background. View into the river with edge of riverbank.

Research and process

Map of the River Thames in central London. Path drawn along the south bank with 500 metre intervals marked from London Bridge to the Thames Barrier.

17000 metres from London Bridge to the Thames Barrier marked at 500 metre intervals

Photographing the river at predetermined 500 metre intervals imposes a structure and constraint that encourages mapping what is there – a more objective reality of the place – rather than making a subjective choice that prioritises aesthetic outcome. This process can reveal patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. It also makes visible the passage of time, and movement though space. 

Share this project

TIME FLOWS the Thames – a London portrait

The River Thames has shaped London – literally and metaphorically – for centuries, its use and environment evolving to meet the changing needs of the city.This work documents the south bank of the river from London Bridge to the Thames Barrier, walking and taking photog...

A link to this page has been added to your clipboard

Browse related work