A few weeks after shooting London Bridge on Ektar, I loaded another roll into the GA645S and headed east. This time it was Kodak Portra 160 — a slower, softer film stock that I knew would suit the muted winter light and the cool glass-and-steel palette of Canary Wharf. As a London photographer, I’m drawn to the contrast between these two parts of the city — the Victorian stone of Tower Bridge versus the sharp geometry of the Docklands. Same camera, same fifteen frames, completely different world.

Person walking through Canary Wharf with modern glass buildings — street photography on Kodak Portra 160 by David McConaghy

Portra 160 is one of those film stocks that rewards you for slowing down. The grain is incredibly fine for a medium format emulsion, and the tonal range is wide and forgiving. Where Ektar punches up colour and contrast, Portra holds everything back — soft highlights, smooth shadows, and skin tones that feel completely natural. It’s a film that suits the kind of street photography where you’re watching people move through architecture, letting the light do the work rather than chasing it.

Modern glass skyscraper looking upward in Canary Wharf — Fujifilm GA645S on Kodak Portra 160 Looking up at One Canada Square tower — medium format architectural photography London

Glass, Steel & Still Water

Canary Wharf is a strange place for lifestyle photography. It’s designed to move people efficiently — covered walkways, elevated bridges, tunnels connecting towers. But at sunrise on a quiet December morning, before the offices wake up and the light is still low and golden, it transforms into something almost cinematic. The buildings become mirrors. The dock water goes perfectly still. People move through the frame like extras on a film set, and the whole place takes on a quality that feels more like a photograph than real life.

Canary Wharf skyline across the dock — Fujifilm GA645S on Kodak Portra 160
Canary Wharf towers reflected in dock water — Fujifilm GA645S Kodak Portra 160

What I find interesting about shooting here is how the architecture forces your eye upward. With the GA645S’s 60mm lens — roughly a 38mm equivalent in 35mm terms — you can tilt back and still hold the verticals reasonably well. The medium format negative gives you enough resolution to crop later if you need to, but honestly, I prefer the slight convergence. It adds a sense of scale that a corrected perspective sometimes flattens out.

Person on walkway bridge with modern Canary Wharf buildings — candid street photography on medium format film
Person walking past glass building facade in Canary Wharf — Kodak Portra 160 film photography London Person walking between modern buildings in Canary Wharf — lifestyle street photography by David McConaghy

Portra 160 & the GA645S

I’ve written about the GA645S in my London Bridge post, so I won’t repeat myself too much here. But I will say that this camera and Portra 160 are a beautiful pairing. Portra’s low contrast works wonderfully with the GA645S’s sharp optics — you get negatives that are detailed but never harsh, with a tonal smoothness that scans beautifully. The built-in light meter handled the tricky Docklands light without any issues — deep shadows between towers one moment, bright reflections off glass the next.

Architectural detail of modern glass and steel building in Canary Wharf — medium format film Reflective glass facade close-up in Canary Wharf — Kodak Portra 160 on Fujifilm GA645S
Wide dock and marina view with Canary Wharf buildings — medium format film photography London

The fifteen-frame discipline is something I’ve come to genuinely love. You have to be mindful with each exposure, but you’re never so restricted that you can’t follow an impulse. I saw the early morning light catch the towers across the water and didn’t hesitate — that’s the beauty of having just enough frames. It keeps you present, keeps you looking, and it means that every image on the roll earned its place. No filler, no insurance shots.

Person walking near modern building entrance in Canary Wharf — film photography London Urban scene with modern architecture and pedestrian in Canary Wharf — Portra 160 medium format
Canary Wharf buildings across water in warm golden light — Kodak Portra 160 on Fujifilm GA645S

Fifteen frames, one walk, one roll. Two different parts of London, two different film stocks, the same simple approach — load up the GA645S, head out, and let the city tell you what to photograph. These personal projects are the work I always come back to. They feed everything else I do as a photographer, and they remind me why I started in the first place.

Shot on Fujifilm GA645S — Kodak Portra 160 — One Roll, 15 Frames