Elizabeth Tower

I've always been a bit infatuated by London, but since taking up photography I've loved how the city changes at night. The rush fades, the lights take over, and places you've seen a thousand times suddenly feel different. I took this on November 18th, 2022, from one of the quieter spots along the Victoria Embankment—the worn steps, the scattered autumn leaves—they just seemed to ground the whole scene in something real.

Elizabeth Tower—what most people call Big Ben, though technically that's just the bell inside—was completed in 1859 as part of the Palace of Westminster. Standing 316 feet tall, it's been keeping time over London for over 160 years. That night, the tower was lit up perfectly, having recently emerged from its major restoration that began in 2017. The light from the Palace of Westminster cut through the cooler tones of the November sky and Portland stone, while the streetlights added that classic starburst effect at f/11.

I set up my Canon R5 with the 24-105mm lens at 35mm, using a 20-second exposure at ISO 100 to capture both the illuminated Gothic Revival architecture and the deep blue tones of the night sky. The embankment stairs and autumn leaves in the foreground create natural framing, adding depth and that sense of being there on the Thames riverbank. The city felt calm for once—rare for Westminster—and this view caught that unusual mix of stillness and grandeur.

The warm golden glow of Big Ben and the Parliament buildings stands out against the cool tones of the sky and stone, creating that classic London contrast. The River Thames flows behind, connecting this historic seat of British government to the bustling South Bank beyond. This is the heart of London captured in that quiet moment between day and night.

When you look at this photograph, I want you to feel that rare calm—standing on the Victoria Embankment steps surrounded by autumn leaves, watching Elizabeth Tower glow against the November night sky, where 160 years of London history stands illuminated on the banks of the Thames.