De Vere Holborn Bars Exterior Courtyard

The image was taken in the middle exterior corridor in the De Vere Holborn Bars building. Enter the building off of Holborn and then walk through the arch and you'll see this courtyard. To get this view, head to the back of the courtyard and then turn around so you're facing Holborn. Reference the GPS in satellite mode for context. By London Underground: - closest station: Chancery Lane (via Central) - Head west on Holborn and the destination will be on your left

Any month works to photograph the De Vere Holborn Bars building, but I prefer to shoot this exterior courtyard right after it's rained. It enhances the grim mood when you also have a nice reflection in the shot.

You can find similar lighting conditions in the morning, midday and late afternoon. Be aware that during rush hours, as well as at lunchtime, this area can get busy. Try to come here between 10AM-12PM or 3PM-6PM when you have a better chance of capturing the shot without any people in your frame.

A wide-angle lens (16mm) will allow you to bring out the magnitude of the surrounding architecture.

Because the building is tall, you may have to tilt your camera up a bit at an angle. Make sure not to tilt it too far or the image will look distorted.

Use the leading lines of the ground to guide the viewer's eye to the intricate architecture.

Explore the rest of the De Vere Holborn Bars grounds. There are endless opportunities for an interesting image here, so take your time and experiment.

Explore the area of Holborn. There are many old, beautiful buildings in this district so it's the perfect place to focus on some architecture shots.

There's also a lot of construction in this area and you can capture the workers in their uniforms. It'll add a nice touch of local charm to your photos.