Digital Photography

Natural history

I think the last time I visited The Natural History Museum in London was on a school trip – back in the days when it was just called The Natural Museum and all the dinosaurs were wandering around alive and for real. Ha!

No, really, it was a long time ago.

outside the natural history museum
outside the natural history museum
inside pillar

So here’s some photos from my visit there a few weeks ago, I’d forgotten all about them. It’s such a lovely old building, even without all the exciting treasures inside – and boy are there a lot of treasures!

diplodocus
people
dinosaur tail
skeleton

Getting my head around all the time-scales involved with pre-historic life always leaves me feeling a bit insane and in hippy-like love with the universe.

inside the natural history museum
roarrrrr

Oh, and it’s not just extinct things on display – there are more recognisable creatures too. It’s hard to imagine a time when these now familiar animals would have appeared just as bizzare and unreal to people in Victorian England as a Tyrannosaurus Rex does to us today.

tiger
mammals

It’s a museum that’s as much about people as it is dinosaurs though, about Victorian collectors and pioneers – brave and adventurous dudes like Darwin (who has now been given pride of place – keeping an eye on the old place).

charles darwin
darwin again

Oh and there are rocks, too. Lots and lots of rocks. Rocks, rocks, rocks. Every single geological compound you could ever think of, in fact. They’re in a room at the very top of the museum with wonderfully big and airy windows which, if you visit on a boiling hot day like we did, means you don’t mind spending a lot of time there looking at rocks. I liked the pointy pink ones.

rocks

Get yourself there, it’s a fab day out – and it’s free! (I want to go back)!

All photos taken with my Canon 5D MkII and 50mm f/1.4 lens

You Might Also Like

7 Comments

  • Reply
    Michelle
    4 July 2012 at 10:39

    These are really nice photographs! What a great place.

    • Reply
      Angie
      6 July 2012 at 17:10

      I loves me a dinosaur :)

  • Reply
    Robert
    4 July 2012 at 13:03

    It has been too long since I’ve been, and I absolutely must go before my Daughter gets too old to find it wonderful (there is definitely a bit between about 15 and 30 where it fails to inspire).

    • Reply
      Angie
      6 July 2012 at 17:10

      It’s a brilliant day out – those grumpy teenage years might make it a tad more challenging though :)

  • Reply
    meg
    4 July 2012 at 22:12

    I’ve got a trip to the V&A scheduled but this has inspired me to swing by the Natural History Museum too. xx

    • Reply
      Angie
      6 July 2012 at 17:06

      You’ll love it! The building alone is worth a visit :)

  • Reply
    Magali
    8 July 2012 at 16:49

    Looks like a fascinating place, also kinda shocking to me that it’s free. Government museums here all have an entry fee, & for privately run ones it’s all the more exorbitant. And of course there’s an additional camera fee too.

  • Leave a Reply to Magali Cancel Reply