“Hard Lines, Soft Souls”
Street Photography exploration of
The Barbican, London

Capturing Street Photography at The Barbican in London

What started as a simple street photography walk through the area evolved into a study of light and lines. The Barbican showcases the brilliance of Brutalist Architecture and how buildings can seem to have the ability to bend light to coincide with the space and meander around gracefully, enveloping objects in a way that seemed powerful and subtle all at once.

I can honestly say I consider The Barbican as one of the best street photography locations in London. The amazing brutalist architecture of this location has so much to offer and can be interpreted in so many way. The space and the architecture of the Barbican is unreal, inundated with geometric lines and pockets of light that give you so many opportunities to take photos which inspired the set of images below, titled “Hard Lines, Soft Souls” which was also featured in issue 3 of the beautiful Klick Magazine.

“Hard Lines, Soft Souls”

The Barbican, an iconic example of Brutalist architecture, offers an extraordinary interplay of structure and illumination, showcasing how buildings can seemingly shape and redirect light to complement their forms.

During my time there, I was struck by how the light seemed to move intentionally, wrapping itself around the space and the people within it. It had a graceful quality—subtle yet powerful—softening the hard edges of the concrete while adding depth and warmth to the scenes. The contrast between the rigid architecture and the fluidity of light inspired the title, “Hard Lines, Soft Souls.”

As I observed and photographed, it became apparent how much we often miss in our day-to-day routines. People passed through the space, distracted or preoccupied, seemingly unaware of how the light transformed their surroundings. The way it fell, framed, and danced around them made me pause and appreciate how architecture and nature interact in ways that are easy to overlook.

This series is a study not just of the built environment but also of the interplay between design and life. It’s a reminder to slow down and notice the unexpected beauty in the spaces we occupy every day. The Barbican, with its bold geometry and harmonious relationship with light, is a perfect example of how architecture can not only shape a space but also create moments of connection and reflection.

Through these images, I wanted to capture that balance—hard lines softened by gentle light, architecture brought to life by those who inhabit it.

Using Sony for Street Photography

I’ve been using Sony gear for commercial photography for a few years and the love affair is now in full force. It took a while, I won’t deny that. Those over-elaborate menus still give me a headache. But the reality of it is that the Sony have created an exceptionally capable cameras with lightning-fast, and accurate focus systems.

My go to for street photography kit at the moment is the Sony a7cii along with the Sony Zeiss 35mm f2.8, which I believe to be a brilliant setup. I do miss the flip up screen that was featured on slightly older camera like the A7iii and the A9, however you can make do with the set up for sure.

The lens in perfect in most circumstances, but falls short is very dark settings resulting in you having to push the ISO of the camera to compensate for the f2.8 aperture. Luckily, Sony cameras performs so well in low light scenarios (apart from the A7R range, but that’s a conversation for another day!) making this lens very useful for street/travel photography. It’s incredibly sharp and the focus is really quick. The size of the lens/camera combination is really comfortable and helps balance the camera well for street photography.