Blessing the Thames

The annual ceremony of blessing the Thames was only started 5 years ago, although it has a very traditional look, thanks to the more ancient forms of dress of those taking part.

I always try to respect religious events when photographing them, trying to interfere as little as possible with the worship of those taking part. But two other photographers from the two churches concerned seemed to have rather less inhibitions than me. I’m not sure if it is simply a matter of insiders having a clearer idea of what is and is not appropriate or just different sensitivities.

It isn’t easy to work out how to photograph the cross being thrown into the river; perhaps the ideal position for a photographer would be quite impossibly suspended in mid-air over the edge. It was quite a crowded event and it wasn’t possible for me to be exactly the best of possible positions, but I was quite pleased to capture a couple of frames with the cross in mid-air, and, by a happy chance to include a second less obvious cross just to the right of the Bishop’s mitre, made by the con trails in the sky.

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