The 24 Hour Project: Capturing London One Photo An Hour

By Londonist Last edited 144 months ago
The 24 Hour Project: Capturing London One Photo An Hour

This weekend, 65 photographers in 35 cities participated in The 24 Hour Project, intent on capturing the essence of their respective cities from 12 midnight to 23:59 on Saturday 24 March taking one photo an hour.

Time: 00:53, Location: Old Street, Title: "Late Night Snack"
Time: 00:53, Location: Old Street, Title: "Late Night Snack"
Time: 01:17, Location: Hackney, Title: "Outside a Cafe"
Time: 01:17, Location: Hackney, Title: "Outside a Cafe"
Time: 02:36, Location: Brick Lane, Title: "Wandering on Brick Lane"
Time: 02:36, Location: Brick Lane, Title: "Wandering on Brick Lane"
Time: 03:28, Location: Liverpool Street, Title: "Walking Home"
Time: 03:28, Location: Liverpool Street, Title: "Walking Home"
Time: 04:56, Location: Leicester Square, Title: "A Fight"
Time: 04:56, Location: Leicester Square, Title: "A Fight"
Time: 05:08, Location: Piccadilly Circus, Title: "Untitled"
Time: 05:08, Location: Piccadilly Circus, Title: "Untitled"
Time: 06:23, Location: Hyde Park, Title: "An Empty Path"
Time: 06:23, Location: Hyde Park, Title: "An Empty Path"
Time: 07:35, Location: Hyde Park, Title: "Untitled"
Time: 07:35, Location: Hyde Park, Title: "Untitled"
Time: 08:35, Location: Portobello Road, Title: "Getting Ready for the Day"
Time: 08:35, Location: Portobello Road, Title: "Getting Ready for the Day"
Time: 09:40, Location: , Title: "Lock Step"
Time: 09:40, Location: , Title: "Lock Step"
Time: 10:46, Location: Ludgate Hill, Title: "Untitled"
Time: 10:46, Location: Ludgate Hill, Title: "Untitled"
Time: 11:06, Location: Bank, Title: "Untitled"
Time: 11:06, Location: Bank, Title: "Untitled"
Time: 12:14, Location: , Title: "Underground"
Time: 12:14, Location: , Title: "Underground"
Time: 13:43, Location: Camden Town, Title: "Untitled"
Time: 13:43, Location: Camden Town, Title: "Untitled"
Time: 14:56, Location: Camden Town, Title: "Untitled"
Time: 14:56, Location: Camden Town, Title: "Untitled"
Time: 15:18, Location: Camden Town, Title: "Camden Town Girls"
Time: 15:18, Location: Camden Town, Title: "Camden Town Girls"
Time: 16:06, Location: Regent's Park, Title: "A Rest"
Time: 16:06, Location: Regent's Park, Title: "A Rest"
Time: 17:05, Location: Camden Town, Title: "Puff"
Time: 17:05, Location: Camden Town, Title: "Puff"
Time: 18:51, Location: Old Bailey, Title: "Cranes"
Time: 18:51, Location: Old Bailey, Title: "Cranes"
Time: 19:29, Location: Hoxton Square, Title: "Running Out of Steam"
Time: 19:29, Location: Hoxton Square, Title: "Running Out of Steam"
Time: 20:04, Location: , Title: "Masked"
Time: 20:04, Location: , Title: "Masked"
Time: 21:19, , "Untitled"
Time: 21:19, , "Untitled"
Time: 22:22, Location: , Title: "Dancing"
Time: 22:22, Location: , Title: "Dancing"
Time: 23:41, Location: Hackney, Title: "The Night is Just Beginning"
Time: 23:41, Location: Hackney, Title: "The Night is Just Beginning"

After rising at 9am on Friday for work, I knew it would be a marathon day spanning more than 39 continuous hours. But little did I know it would be almost a marathon in physical distance too — nearly 22 miles were walked within the 24 hour period.

Everything was going along just fine until it got to around sunrise. I made my way to Hyde Park and decided to rest a bit on their benches. It was the beginning of a slow decline in energy. By 8am I made my way to one of my favourite photography spots, Portobello Road, but I was so exhausted I had trouble not only focusing my thoughts, but also my camera. I decided to take the bus to give my body a break and found that I was drifting off to sleep quite regularly there.

Thankfully I got a second wind and pushed through on my way to Camden Town.

After a brief stop to eat some dinner, I went to a friend's party. It was a tough decision to not only go there but shoot there as well as I wasn't sure if it would fit the project's theme. But I thought, people in London do go to parties on Saturday nights, so why wouldn't I? Seeing my friends lifted my spirits, but it was also an opportunity to recharg my batteries (both figuratively and literally).

I'm still trying to figure out if the project was worth it. I think I'll grow to like it much more after a bit of time has passed and my tortured body has recovered. I can tell you this, however, I will not do this again...

Well, until I'm asked to participate and give an automatic and resounding "yes!"

Check out other sets of photos from London and around the world at www.the24hourproject.net

All photos by Gary Cohen aka streetographer.

Last Updated 26 March 2012