Architectural photography at the Natural History Museum
On a recent trip back to the UK I was able to visit the wonderful Natural History Museum in South Kensington on two separate occasions; the first very brief visit being to view the incredible Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, while on the second visit I was fortunate enough to be accompanied by my brother’s son Jack, as we conducted a mini photo essay of the marvelous building while catching up on the years that have passed.
Exterior view of the magnificent Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London. © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Wonderful detailing on the exterior celebrating the diversity of the natural world; the incredible landmark building was attributed to Alfred Waterhouse after the original design by the civil engineer Captain Francis Fowke was selected, and he then subsequently died, leaving Waterhouse to evolve the original concept. The building was constructed and opened by 1881. © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 It is interesting to note that the museum collection was originally a part of the British Museum, effectively founded in 1753 following the death of explorer Hans Sloane when the government of the day purchased his collection of over 71,000 specimens. In 1856 scientist Richard Own was tasked with curating the natural history collection, and so the idea of a separate building was established.
The Blue Whale skeleton is now the main attraction in the Hintze Hall, since the Diplodocus is currently on national tour…the ceiling of this beautiful hall is covered with 162 individual panels depicting plants from all over the world © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Looking up with the 11-24mm f4 L at 11mm © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 A golden lion sits on top of the fence around the front of the building on Cromwell road © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Charles Darwin sitting proudly at the top of the steps in the entrance hall, keeping an eye on the visitors…© Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Monkeys make their way up the richly decorated columns…© Michael Evans Photographer 2019 © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Detail from the memorial sculpture to Captain Frederick C. Selous by William Robert Colton RA (1867-1921). Selous was a British explorer, officer, professional hunter, and conservationist, famous for his exploits in Southeast Africa. © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Part of the joy of this incredible building is finding animal details everywhere…the rams heads adorn the base of each column in the main hall… © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 My brilliant nephew with whom I spend far too little time, kindly adding the human interest to this image… © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 From the stairs looking back to the main entrance… © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Interesting light and contrast looking up at the Blue Whale tail bones…© Michael Evans Photographer 2019 © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Whale ‘fingers’…© Michael Evans Photographer 2019 © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Whale tail… © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 The face of Guy the gorilla, who was a famous and much loved attraction at London zoo. Guy was preserved by the Natural History Museum’s head taxidermist Arthur Hayward, and is now on display on the first floor balcony area © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Childhood memories came flooding back while visiting the Creepy Crawlies exhibit, that has not changed in at least 40 years! © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Somewhat alien-esque view of a human fetus model… © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 The moon exhibit… © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Grizzly behind glass…there was a notice informing that all of the exhibits in this particular section were fading, hence the very light coloured fur. It was decided that to restore the stuffed creatures would probably cause them to crumble, hence they remain as they are for the immediate future at least… © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 The brilliant great mammal’s hall…© Michael Evans Photographer 2019 © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 While watching an listening to the roar from the animatronic T-Rex I smiled as I heard several parents saying ‘it’s all right, it’s not real…’ © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 T-Rex close-up…© Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Jurassic night…© Michael Evans Photographer 2019 © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 Stegosaurus at the entrance to the Earth Hall escalator © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 The Earth Hall opened as a result of the Natural History Museum’s acquisition of the Geological Museum’s collection in 1986. The Earth escalator was designed to encourage visitors to go to the often-overlooked upper floors. © Michael Evans Photographer 2019 The museum is home to life and earth science specimens comprising some 80 million items, and while not all are on display it obviously would take many years of visits to appreciate it all; highly recommended however!
Images captured using the Canon 5DSR, 11-24mm F4L, 17mm F4 L T-SE, 24-70mm F2.8L II and the 70-200 F2.8L II
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Wonderful photos my clever son xxxxx
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An interesting and exhaustive photo essay. You really have a good eye for details. Thanks and regards.