Blog – Ignite Creative

Christmas is a great time for photographers, with festive displays popping up all over London providing a brilliant opportunity to get creative with your camera. So as our Christmas gift to you, we’ve selected our favourite places for getting festively photographic in London:

Trafalgar Square

For an iconic photo of London during the festive season, you should head straight to Trafalgar Square. Here you can truly rock around the Christmas tree, as every year a giant Norwegian Christmas tree arrives as a gift from the city of Oslo and is decorated from top to toe with twinkly fairy lights. For a special seasonal photo, head down there between 5pm and 9pm when the daily carol service takes place around the tree.

Hyde Park winter wonderland

For action shots full of energy and excitement, Hyde Park should be your next port of call. Part amusement park, part Bavarian market, there is myriad things to see and photograph as you walk in this winter wonderland – including a giant wheel, old fashioned helter-skelter and an ice-rink in the middle of the park. There’s free entry and you can go during the day or at night depending on the style of photos you want to take, so grab some mulled wine and have a wander round.

St Christopher’s Place

From Hyde Park, head up to Oxford Street and check out St Christopher’s Place. A good place to avoid the crowds, this quaint passage and courtyard is tucked away just off the main street which means that you won’t get accosted by shoppers whilst you take your shot. They have some fantastic futuristic Christmas lights this year created by James Glancy Design, to the delight of many a photographer.

Fortnum and Mason’s

Fortnum and Mason’s window displays provide a great opportunity to take some high-quality photos. Full of rich vibrant colours and fabrics, their theme of ‘Showtime’ this year gives them extra razzle dazzle. Inspired by the music video for the Pet Shop Boys’ 80’s hit What have I done to deserve this?, each window in the historic building displays a different backstage scene from a burlesque theatre. It may not be a totally traditional (and if you’re thinking of using your photos as Christmas cards – maybe don’t send this one to your granny) but if you’re suffering from Tinselitis or Klaustrophobia, this may just be the photo opportunity for you!

Oxford Street

Some of the best places to take photos are on the main shopping streets such as Oxford Street, which becomes an attraction in itself during the festive period. Spectacular images of colour and light illuminate the street, whilst some impressive decorations on the sides of the department stores are great to photograph too. If you’re not fazed by pavements heaving with jostling hoards of impatient shoppers, then you can get some joyful shots around here and on Regent Street.

Covent garden

Lastly, visit Covent Garden where they pride themselves on an innovative and unique Christmas display. For some festive live-action shots, head to the Reindeer enclosure and if that’s not enough, check out their 15 foot topiary reindeer at the eastern end of the Piazza. There are also some pretty fantastic lights courtesy of United Visual Artists. These are unlike any Christmas lights you likely to find elsewhere, with interactive chandeliers and LED snow. Escape the bleak midwinter weather and take some creative indoor shots in one of the country’s most iconic locations.

So, if this has inspired you to go out and take some creative shots around London, why not try an Ignite Creative workshop where you can learn how to take great photographs every time? Discover composition and photography techniques to improve your skills and impress your friends and family. For more information about our Beginners and Specialist courses see here.