My flight back was from Bilbao and I had an afternoon free, so I thought I would shoot a set of pictures in and around the Guggenheim Museum there and try to sell them to The Independent. At that time I was doing commercial work and working for the newspaper, so I always tried to keep in touch with the picture desk by offering them stories and pictures taken on spec.

I managed somehow to get permission to take pictures inside, after a few phone calls and faxes from The Independent to the museum’s PR agency. The woman from the agency was very kind to me and kept me company all afternoon by following me around and looking over my shoulder at what pictures I was taking.

I came across this extraordinary scene on one of the balconies. I think they were students who were just tired of art. Or perhaps they were taking advantage of the reflections from the titanium to do a bit of sunbathing. I managed a few frames before someone woke up.

This picture was never published, but I have had it in my portfolio for a few years. It’s a good talking point because people always ask what it is and I can ramble on about how I do commercial work but also try to keep doing my own personal projects.

Edward Webb started working as a photographer at The Independent in 1991, and now shoots pictures for design and advertising agencies, magazines and editorial stock libraries, and sells his black and white landscapes through the Photographers’ Gallery in London. He lives in London and plays classical violin in his spare time. Photographer since 1991, EPUK member since 1998.