Incredible photos capture London's empty streets without a car or pedestrian in sight

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Tom Marshall28 February 2016

Without a soul in sight, this is London at its most deserted.

These incredible images by photographer Genaro Bardy show some of the capital’s most iconic locations when completely free from cars and people.

The eerie scenes around landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Tower Bridge may appear to be the results of a crafty Photoshop editing session.

But they were actually captured in the flesh by Mr Bardy as he spent an entire night wandering the city at the quietest time of year – the early hours of Christmas morning.

Deserted: Christmas decorations hang over Regent Street
Genaro Bardy

He had the streets of central London virtually to himself as he walked for more than 12 miles taking long-exposure photos from 11pm on Christmas Eve until 6.30am the next day.

The French snapper, 39, told the Standard: "It was pretty magical. For most of the night there were some people or cars, but between 4.30am and 6am, when I was around Trafalgar Square and Regent Street, I was really alone.

"It’s an incredible feeling to be alone like that in central London."

The collection is dubbed Desert in London and is the second in a series, after he photographed his home city of Paris at the same time the previous year.

He added: "I don’t have a family to celebrate Christmas with and before I used to just watch TV, so I'm happy to do this now.

Favourite shot: Genaro Bardy was very happy with this photo of Northumberland Avenue
Genaro Bardy

"It's my way of celebrating Christmas doing something that I love."

Mr Bardy came up with the idea after taking pictures of New York's empty streets during a curfew when Hurricane Irene hit in 2011.

His long exposure technique brings vibrant colours to the late-night photos but makes it especially difficult to secure each shot.

The camera's shutter is open for about half a minute during which no cars or people can intrude, or it will spoil the photo.

While these pictures of London were taken over a single night, he spent a week in the city scouting locations and preparing his shots beforehand.

Barren: Leicester Square is usually bustling with crowds
Genaro Bardy

Then on Christmas Eve 2015 he wrapped up warm, packed food and drink supplies, and embarked on his long and lonely night.

Mr Bardy said he completed the project on foot because he couldn't work a Boris bike.

Fortunately, after a wet week beforehand it did not rain on the night, although Mr Bardy insists he would have toughed it out whatever the weather.

He said he was very happy with the results, particularly the photos of Tower Bridge and Nothumberland Avenue, one of the least well-known locations in the collection.

"I love this shot, I couldn’t say why exactly," he said.

The photographer went professional two years ago after a career in communications and events. He takes travel photographs for a living, but this is a personal project funded in part by donations to a Kickstarter campaign.

After photographing Paris and London at Christmas, he hopes to go back to New York to continue the project during Thanksgiving, with Tokyo and Mumbai among other possible destinations.

Mr Bardy is set to exhibit his work at the Photographes du Monde gallery in Paris in mid-April.

The Kickstarter campaign is supporting his plans for a further exhibition in London and to publish books of the photos.

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