Millennium Bridge & St. Paul's Cathedral

London has this way of layering time—old and new side by side, and somehow it just works. I shot this on December 5th, 2020, from the South Bank, where the Millennium Bridge leads you straight to St. Paul's Cathedral. There's something really powerful about that contrast—the modern, almost futuristic pedestrian bridge guiding your eye toward Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece that's stood through centuries.

The Millennium Bridge opened in 2000, connecting the South Bank to the City of London across the River Thames. At 1,066 feet long, it's London's only pedestrian-only Thames crossing, and that alignment with St. Paul's Cathedral—completed in 1710—was completely intentional. The light was just right that December night. The cathedral's dome, standing 365 feet tall, glowed softly against the sky, while the bridge lit up in cool blues and silvers from its LED lighting installed along the suspension cables.

I used my Canon 5D Mark III with the 16-35mm lens at 35mm, capturing a 30-second exposure at ISO 50 to smooth out the Thames. The river was calm, and with the long exposure, it turned to glass—reflecting everything back with just enough distortion to keep it interesting. The whole scene had this stillness, like the city had paused for a second. You can see the modern City of London skyline behind St. Paul's, showing how Wren's 315-year-old baroque cathedral still holds its own against contemporary skyscrapers.

This one's all about balance—sharp, modern detail meets timeless London elegance. The reflections in the Thames and the cool tones from the bridge give it a sleek feel, while the warm light on St. Paul's brings a bit of soul. The alignment is what makes this view iconic—standing on the South Bank, the Millennium Bridge creates this perfect leading line straight to one of London's most recognizable landmarks.

When you look at this photograph, I want you to feel that connection—standing on the South Bank where the Millennium Bridge spans the Thames toward St. Paul's Cathedral, where the year 2000 meets 1710, all reflected in the glassy waters of the River Thames in the heart of London.