# Project Description TIME FLOWS the Thames – a London portrait Alan Larsen Summary Final work 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... College London College of Communication Course MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography Graduation year 2025 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 View Gallery View Gallery View Gallery View Gallery View Gallery View Gallery View Gallery View Gallery View Gallery View Gallery View Gallery View Gallery Research and process 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 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 Histories Places & Spaces Realities Layers PsychoGeography Space Urban