Aerial photographer Jason Hawkes has spent more time in the skies above London than wandering the capital’s streets.
Mr Hawkes, based in Oxfordshire, has spent the past 20 years hanging out the side of helicopters in London and other major cities shooting aerial views for clients.
Over two decades, he’s curated a catalogue of photographs that capture how the city’s views have changed.
"I fly over London almost every week, but I don't go to London on the ground very much, only about four times a year," he told the Standard.
"When you go into town its quite difficult to see all the buildings around you. You have to walk on to the bridges to get a view of the skyscrapers being built."
But, observing from the sky, he said: “It is unbelievably changed, particularly in the last two or three years there’s so many new buildings going up.
“It's amazing how quickly the place changes.
“There’s a lot more steel and glass about than their used to be."
He said the best time to fly over London is dawn in summer looking out towards Westminster from the east of the city over the Thames.
“My favourite thing to do would be flying at 5.30am right in the middle of summer, especially when the air traffic is really quiet.
“Hovering over the city looking over the city towers, that view changes so much.”
