Beached Pill Box

A deserted Norfolk beach on a beautiful winter's evening. The pill box is a remnant of defence fortifications from the Second World War. The coastline has crept up on it over the years, and it has sunk halfway into the sand, but in summer months it is an irresistible source of play for kids –I was one of them once, spending holidays here when I was young. On this occasion I liked the emptiness and the gentle drama of the clouds and waves. Location: Hemsby, England

Beauty of Nature

A simple, calm picture -grass on the edge of a mountain pool, with clouds reflected in the gently rippling surface. Peaceful and beautiful. Sometimes simple is best. Location: Valdres, Norway

Head For Heights Required!

That's probably how the job advertisement for the crane operator on top of this impossibly large building was titled. I mean, come on – there are building and then there are buildings, and this one appears to be growing outwards as it gets higher. I liked the way it soared so far above the other tall buildings below, though admittedly they are some way away. I also liked the plume of smoke in the corner, which breaks the picture up a bit. And though I took this photograph from the top of another tall building close by I would not climb that crane for art, love or money! Location: Warsaw, Poland

Weird Landscape

This is one of the last pictures I took with my first digital camera, when it had become so light sensitive that most every photograph came out over-exposed, despite my attempts to combat this. It had had a good run, and was replaced by a reliable Canon PowerShot A2200, with which many of the pictures I have posted here have been shit with. I will be advancing to other, bigger cameras for careful and more artistic studies, but for mobilty, instant accessibility and convenience I am a strong devotee of small, simple cameras, and I always have one with me wherever I go. But back to this picture: it was one of many that were about to be trashed, due to the over-exposure, but tweaking the image a little in an attempt to salvage it I found it turned into quite a startling image –the two leafless trees give the picture a slightly eerie, post-apocalyptic look, whilst the blues and greens, though almost alien, also look more hopeful! Location: Charleston, South Carolina

World Book Day and Shakespeare's Birthday!

Shakespeare is supposed to have been born on this day in 1564, but he also died on this day in 1616 -just one day after the death of another great writer, Miguel de Cervantes. And World Book Day -if one really needs such a thing, since every day is a book day in my world- happens to be today too. Also it is spring, and the time for clearing up and sorting out; what better day to go through my Shakespeare bookshelf and sort out the many volumes, plays, books of critcism and history there. My aim was to perhaps get rid of some of them, but I just haven't the heart too, so they will all be going back in the shelf later today. Ah well, that's the love of books for you!

Dog!

If anyone has ever tried to photograph a puppy they will know what a frustrating experience it can be –they don't always cooperate with the photographer's intentions, composition or ideas, and though they may be cute, angelic and loveable in "real" life, these qualities are not always easily captured on camera. However, this darling little King Charles spaniel was a born poser –a natural, and the camera seemed to fascinate him as much as he fascinated the camera.

Seaside Resort

A ghostly seaside resort on the east coast of Norfolk –it is well out of season so there is nobody about, yet paradoxically the amusement arcades are open and illuminated. If the picture had sound you would hear the electronic tinkles and jingles of a dozen game machines, adding to the slightly eerie atmosphere. But I am hugely attracted to places out-of-season, so was particularly pleased to capture the effect of the neon lights on the slightly damp street, taken here just after the sun has gone down on a cold December day. Location: Hemsby, England

Waterloo Bridge

To complement the last entry, and my desire to photograph every one of London's many bridges, here is a shot of Waterloo Bridge. It is perhaps one of the plainest bridges to cross the Thames, but with the impressive dome of St. Paul's Cathedral to the left, the modern glass and steel office buildings to the right and the busy water traffic on the Thames below it all seems to say "London", and proudly so too. I took the picture from a bridge further upstream, and once again made sure that an example of that seminal London mode of transport -the red double-decker- was crossing when I took the photograph. That bright colour in the middle really does it for me! Location: London, England

Chelsea Bridge

Another London bridge, perhaps less known or celebrated than some of the others, but a nice, clean structure nonetheless is Chelsea Bridge, which opened in 1937 -the second such bridge at this spot. It's what is known as a self-anchored suspension bridge. Of course I had to get a picture of it just as a double-decker bus was passing over it, the red colour being so much a part of London as the Thames flowing below. The clouds are also gently exciting. Location: London, England

Street of Melting Snow

Winter coming to an end on a steep Quebec street. There are still icicles dripping from the roofs and piles of slush on the side of the road, but the sharp cold of deep winter has gone, and in the distance is the hope of spring, perhaps represented here by the far-off church steeple, which forms a sort of focus point to the whole picture. The street itself is not that special, but it has character and a sort of timeless quality that I quite liked. Loction: Quebec City, Canada

Rear End of Horse in Berlin

The magnificence of the Berlin Dom against a mellow early evening sky. I felt just a picture of the dome itself would look too dull, so I took this from the top steps of the Alte Nationalgalerie (a magnificent building in its own right), just behind the equastrian statue of Fredrick William IV. It gives the photograph two distinct motives, combining to accentuate further the grandness of the Dom, and perhaps God -despite the distance it looms above the mere man. Location: Berlin, Germany

Old Lifeboat Ramp

A deserted beach on the Norfolk coast where I used to spend summer holidays as a child. It's winter, around sunset, and the clouds are colourful. There is a stiff wind, as always, but you can't really see that in the picture. Some of the stone structures are part of fortifications constructed during the Second World War; the rusty iron supports hold up an old wooden lifeboat ramp that leads to nowhere. On the left are sand dunes that I once climbed and explored -now they are closed off and protected from erosion. For me the picture has a bit of mystery about it, yet a benign sort of mystery -and beaches always appeal to me! Location: Hemsby, England

Cats That Look Like Hitler

One of the many bizarre but hilarious websites out there is one called "Cats That Look Like Hitler" (check it out here). Unlike many other websites this one is exactly what it says, plain and simple. I have contributed one picture to this vitally important database, taken while on holiday in Greece, though to the cat's defence I should say he had a very sweet nature. However, I am sure that there would also be more than enough candidates if anyone were ever to start a website called Cats That Behave Like Hitler! Location: Crete, Greece