Underpass in Berlin

Nothing to do with Christmas or winter or snow this time, apart from the fact that the holiday period has been a good time to sort through pictures taken earlier in the year and get them in some kind of order. This one is from the summer, taken on my last day in Berlin – a city filled with more stories than most and one I return to as often as I can. It's taken from the east side of the Spree, with the magnificent Bode museum on the island on the other side. What intrigued me here was the way the building was framed by the tunnel, with enough light coming in to illuminate the walls and features - sombre and baroque and modern and urban all in one shot. And even more intriguing is the pairing of the chairs –one balcony type and the other, incongruously, a comfortable office chair. I have no why they were there or who used them, but they certainly seem too perfectly situated to have been merely dumped. It seems to me that the chairs are happily enjoying the moment, relaxed, peaceful and together – but that may be just my imagination working overtime! Location: Berlin, Germany

Winter Scene

I promised snow in my last posting, so here is a picture taken on Christmas Eve just outside Oslo. It was a beautiful day –blue sky, crisp air, and snow that has not yet been unsettled or sullied. The river has not yet frozen over, though it will in a few days if the present temperatures prevail. All is peaceful; all is quiet; and all is rather beautiful, I think. Location: Bryn, Norway

Oslo Christmas

The Royal Palace in Oslo on a cold, foggy morning a few days ago, with a sprinkling of frost on the ground, and some hardy tourists in front of the statue of Karl Johan. The Christmas tree is up on the balcony, but there is no snow, as yet – This came later the same day, so now the picture is already history; but then, every picture is the moment it is taken. There's already a fond sense of nostalgia for the long weeks of winter we've had so far without snow, but as I write it's white and magical outside and perfect for Christmas. My next pictures will feature snow – but who knows, perhaps by then it may all have gone, and this picture will again be correct. But somehow I think it will last. Happy Christmas, and thank you for watching this space. Location: Oslo, Norway

Under London

I've always had a fascination for London Underground and consider it not only one of the world's great engineering feats, but one of most iconic and exciting examples of urban design. I know many people regard the whole system with frustration, or find it simply a means of getting from A to B, but I find any journey through the maze of tunnels and levels that worm beneath the ground to be uplifting and wondrous. During rush hour crowds make it somewhat stressful, but when things are quieter it is endlessly fascinating. I think the genius of the whole system is the use of curves –tubes are always so much more fun than regular straight walls. Then there's the widespread use of colour-coding, making it impossible to get lost when changing lines, adding brightness to the white or cream tiling. This is a connecting tunnel between lines. There's an element of science-fiction about the picture, 2001 maybe, and I loved the way the lines and curves create almost a fish-eye effect as the tunnel rather soothingly beckons us forward. Location: London, England

Warehouses in Hamburg

I happily got lost in this district of Hamburg while looking for a museum, but reasoned that the whole area was a like a musuem in itself. I was drawn to the height of these buildings, old warehouses looming over narrow canals, suggesting trade and commerce and bustling activity, but here silent and still. There is something mysterious here, or even dreamlike – a feeling that the buildings on either side of the water are almost glaring at each other; and there's a sense of the epic in the perspective as are drawn to the bridge in the distance. Oh, and I liked the colours –the warm reds of the brickwork and the spooky green of some of the roofwork. Location: Hamburg, Germany

Hair Style

I came across this facade in Vienna and was immediately drawn to it for a number of reasons. The salon was closed and faded, but had the marks of nostalgia and one-time modernity. The chic, very moderne,1920s lettering is particularly exciting. The two doors would once have opened to two very different worlds –the women's salon and the men's salon, but there is perfect symmetry in their arrangment. The displays case now boasts an odd assembly of lace, a vase of flowers and one forlorn wig, but it is easy to imagine displays of previous decades, of all manner of styles. There is something theatrical about the picture, as if we are looking at a stage- or film-set; but one that has been abandoned, finished with. I am intrigued by such places; I want to know their story, their ghosts and step through the doors and into that fading past...Location: Vienna, Austria

Snow Bubble at Piccadilly Circus

Another one from London and one of its iconic landmarks –the statue of Eros and its marvellous plinth on Piccadilly Circus. The plinth is hidden here, and Eros appears to be floating in the middle of a huge bubble set up over the statue for Christmas. It even features snow at regular intervals, resembling a gigantic version of one of those fascinating snow toys you often find in gift shops. This one went a bit wrong soon after the photograph was taken as high winds caused the plastic bubble to rip and collapse, spreading large quantities of artificial snow all over Piccadilly, but here the effect is tranquil and rather pretty. I was quite pleased with the light, both in the background and bubble and on the figures in front. Sepia seemed right, too. Location: London, England

The Start of Christmas

As today is the first Sunday in Advent I thought I'd post a Christmas picture – this one being from Trafalgar Square in London with a view of the traditional Christmas tree that has been sent from the people of Oslo to the people of London every year since the end of the Second World War as in gratitude for the help provided to Norway during that conflict. This picture is actually from last year, but the tradition continues. This was a cold day and the air was very crisp, but the sky was rather beautiful. I deliberately took the shot in such a way that Lord Nelson appears to be on top of the tree. Of course, there should have been snow... but one can't have everything. Location: London, England

Flaking Facade

I don't quite know why but I found this facade of a closed-up small business rather beautiful – in a sad way. Maybe it was the unusul angle of the facade entrance itself, diagonally thrust almost out into the street; maybe it was the weeping wall and flaking paint revealing numerous coats and thus the passing of time; or perhaps it was the little splashes of red, blue and green on the glass door. Doors are always an interesting motive: they open to many possibilities of the imagination and I feel there are numerous stories here. Or maybe that's just me. Location: Trier, Germany

Now and Then: Berlin

I never got the chance to visit Berlin while it was a divided city, but I did make it there shortly after the wall came down and Germany was reunified. Since then I have returned many times, each time discovering more of the city and marveling at its regeneration. Yet some places stay the same, more or less; and we expect them to do so. The Brandenburg gate, for instance, has changed very little indeed over the years and stands as the very symbol of Berlin through the decades. Pariser Platz, the square in front, has changed far more over the years –I remember it being rather bleak and nondescript and empty back then, now it is lined by new important buildings and has been totally rejuvenated. The two pictures here are taken from the platz, from the very start of the 1990s and in 2014. Ironically it was only in 2014 that I was unable to pass from "east to west" through the gate – the whole area had been sealed off due to the football World Cup public screening on the other side of the gate –hence the temporary "wall" on the lower picture. But since Germany ultimately won that contest I think the temporary block was accepted by most! Location: Berlin, Germany

Thirsty Horse

Salzburg in the summer time: blue sky, pretty white-washed building, lush trees and a horse drinking (or perhaps spitting) water. It is, of course, part of one of the city’s magnificent fountains. I remember this being an extremely hot day, so the fountain’s coolness was welcome relief to tired hands, and the trinkling sound of the water had a calming effect while I rested in the shade. Now, with autumn becoming colder and duller as it moves towards winter, I rather yearn for such days again! Location: Salzburg, Austria

Weigh in the Park

Parks are often full of suprises and places for unexpected discoveries. Just why anyone would care to weigh themselves while out for a walk may seem a bit of a mystery, but then - why not? If, upon paying your fee you discover yourself to be pleasantly lighter than expected the day will surely be even more pleasant. And If you discover that you are overweight then you're in the right place for exercise! A few rounds and a nice brisk walk leads you perhaps back to the scales, so you can see how much you have lost in one afternoon? Or an Sunday stroll with a loved one may be excited (or perhaps distracted) by a little romantic weighing – and the inevitable discussion that follows! The graffiti on the side here is clearly a comment on the scales – 5 kg incorrect or similar, maybe? I found the contraption rather delightful in an old-fashioned sort of way, a little like a benign blue grandfather clock. Location: Bucharest, Romania

Golden Autumn

Amidst days of rain and wind there was one glorious day of sunshine earlier this week; a day which sparkled with autumn beauty and colour. There is always something magical about the contrast of golden leaves against a blue sky (even one with whisper of cloud), and something nobly dramatic. Soon these leaves will all have fallen, but here they reign and gleam, cascading like a waterfall of gold coins. It's my favourite time of the year! Location: Kolsås, Norway

Birmingham Sky

I used to study in Birmingham and lived there for a number of years so I always find it enjoyable and rewarding to revisit. Not least because of the constant revitalisation of the city and its dynamic and bold modern architecture. The extremely futuristic new library seen here is merely the latest in a range of monumental building projects. What I particularly like is that though these buildings are unusual, different and quirky, they are all people-friendly, and reflect the diversity and uniqueness of Birmingham's sometimes belittled place as the "Second City". These buildings are not as imposing and "cold" as many modern buildings in other cities. Apart from the library, this picture also shows the famous Birmingham Rep Theatre and Symphony Hall. But the sky and the light was what really attracted me, taken on a blustery Sunday morning. Location: Birmingham, England

Bench for the Unsociable?

I love how different countries have come up with weird and wonderful solutions to myriad concerns. I was struck by how unsociable this bench on an underground platform in Budapest seemed, and wondered whether it was designed specifically for those who valued solitude, or the claustrophobic, or to deter people from talking at all, unless they cared to project their voices. It seemed a very Eastern European sort of thing, but I suppose the bench may have been set up this way to deter people with various unsavory designs from sitting next to vulnerable young ladies (or men) who are waiting for their trains. Or are they meant for particularly smelly individuals? Then again, it seems suspiciously like a piece of modern art, except in that it has a practical function. What fascinated me perhaps most was the variable distance between the individual seats, and why and how this was determined. Finally, it was something unusual and different and I liked the stark contrast between the red seats and the creamy, scuff-marked wall. Location: Budapest, Hungary

Lamp post on the Bridge

A bridge in London - another one! This time in Putney, with a pale sun struggling a little to shine behind a bed of clouds but gracefully illuminating the water of the Thames, seen here at low tide. The lamp post drew me straight back into the past as I crossed the bridge, and I felt it must have seen and known a great deal in its long, sedate life. I chose to shoot it from below against the sky (which itself was rather remarkable) to heighten its calm solidity, and in sepia because I was in a romantic, nostlagic mood. Location: London, England

Unclaimed Pram

There is a story to this picture. There must be. But I don't know what it is; I can only speculate, guess, or let my imagination conjure up a tale. Why has a perfectly good pram been left in a Copenhagen back street, with no occupant, owner or indeed anybody else nearby? It would of course have been rather distressing if it had been occupied and left so forlorn, but I was intrigued by its emptiness. Did someone no longer want the pram? Or need it? Did the baby die suddenly? Had the pram been stolen, or the baby kidnapped? Or was there some much plainer, more ordinary explanation? Was it just left here because whoever owned or used it happened to be visiting the people living above? Yet, if so wouldn't it have made more sense to park it near a door? The mystery remains. But I think it makes for quite an intriguing picture; there are some interesting lines and patterns, with the scrawled, careless graffiti along the whole wall creating some weird kind of life-line. Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

River Thames

Late afternoon –or early evening, depending on your outlook on life, and the sky over London is painted like a misty, washed out watercolour. It is romantic, nostalgic certainly, with the familiar skyline of the Houses of Parliament and "Big Ben" on one side –rather like an illustration from Peter Pan or similar, but with modern London behind and even more noticeably on the other side of the river, with the impressive wheel that is the London Eye. The Thames itself is calm and the moment is one of particular beauty. At least it was for me, which is why I wanted to capture it in a photograph, from Waterloo Bridge. Location: London, England

Autumn in Oslo

It's that time of year again - that colourful, vibrant, magical phase of transition from summer to the first whispers of winter. Today was the first day I wore both gloves and a scarf, but I also wore sunglasses and summer shoes. And trees too are wearing a mix of summer and autumn garb, creating canvases of vivid brightness and colour as they head towards full golden glory. This is from the park of Oslo's Royal Palace (which can be glimpsed through the trees). The small building is the cabin of the guards. Have an happy autumn! Location: Oslo, Norway

Posters

Whenever I look at old, often black-and-white, pictures from German cities the one thing that seems almost always to be present is the round "poster column". They were not designed to be that, of course; their real function has always been something of a mystery to me though I understand it has something to do with electricity or gas or air. I am more attracted to the decoration –an endless series of posters, pasted on top of each other, capturing moments of cultural or political history, placing any photograph for ever in a particular time like an insect in amber. The nearby buildings, trees, roads, even vehicles change much, much slower by comparison. There is nothing special about anything that is advertised on this column, and nowadays they can be seen in many other countries too, but I just wanted to capture an example of this, for me, most German piece of street furniture. Ideally, a series over many years would be fascinating. Location: Trier, Germany

More Love Locks

Just a few of the many thousands of "love locks" on the bridge across the Salzach River in Salzburg -itself one of the most romantic of cities. I like the randomness of the palette here -the mix of commercially produced red locks already embosse with hearts and more humdrum regular gold padlocks and, as always, the one or two contributions from individualists. And then there's the glimpse of town, and the river, and the blue sky, and the mountains. Sigh; just...sigh. Location: Salzburg, Austria

The Seafront at Lowestoft II

With summer drawing to a close it is comforting to know that there still may be occasionaly sunny days and bright afternoons in the months to come. This picture was actually taken last December, on a day when the sun shone defiantly and warmed the seafront to such an extent that ice-creams and doughnuts (so integral a part of the summer seaside life) made a brief re-appearance. Here I particularly like the way the "ice creams" appear almost to float in the sky, but there are other quintessentially English details that make me smile, like the refreshment station for dogs and the diverse items on the menu. I also like the way the promenade stretches into the distance and the little wedge of silver sea. It captures, for me, a particular moment and atmosphere. Location: Lowestoft, England

Book Sharing

I love books –not just for their content or for the experience of reading, but for the excitement and potential of their physical presence. Libraries and bookshops fill me with a sense of adventure, and I have, at present, 38 books on my bedside table! Part of the attraction of books is there communality -they can be shared and enjoyed again and again, by countless people. Therefore schemes such as the one pictured, where a corner of a park in Germany has its own enclosed bookcase, really meet my approval. People can take or leave a book, read in the park or take it away, and the selection of titles is as random and arbitrary as the people who pass by. I wish there were lots more places like this –some hotels, guest houses and cafés have similar schemes, but wouldn't it be marvellous if every corner of every street had such a bookcase! At least for people like me!

Location: Augsburg, Germany

Foyer of Gielgud Theatre

Visiting London's theatres can be a delightful architectural, as well as theatrical, experience. This was taken while standing in the queue at one of my favourite West End theatres, The Gielgud (formerly The Globe). The dome and gallery from this angle give the viewer a kind of exaggerated experience of being on stage, and besides, I love curves! Location: London, England

Another Cow

Well, I rather like cows; they're fairly placid creatures and unlike many other animals don't immediately run off when you approach them. I think some even quite like the attention given to them by a curious photographer, and their doleful eyes and casual, lackadaisical manner prove often to be quite photogenic. This particular fine lady is out grazing in the mountains for the summer -a pleasant life indeed! It's a nice, peaceful picture that, for me, instantly conjures up the mood and atmosphere of summer in the Norwegian countryside. Location: Valdres, Norway

Soho Street After Rain

I don't like rain –that is: I don't like being out in it. But I love the atmosphere and freshness of the air afterwards, particularly in cities like London, which somehow become even more alive after rain. I also love the opportunities that are presented when it comes to taking interesting pictures; wet pavements (flagstones here) reflect light and give vividness to otherwise dark features on walls and street furniture. Also, London's back streets are often far more exciting to explore than the well-trodden main thoroughfares, and the absence of cars here places the picture in a rather timeless and nostalgic past. I liked the lines stretching all down the street here and the way the buildings loom on either side –not in a ominous way, but rather sagaciously I think. Location: Soho, London, UK

Phone Booth

I am fascinated by ordinary things that look different in other countries. I've mentioned letter boxes/mail boxes before, but telephone booths, or call boxes, are equally unique to each country. With mobile phones being so prevalent they are however becoming a rarer piece of street furniture these days, and personally I don't think I have used one in years –but I don't want them to disappear altogether, because who knows when one is needed. Here's a rather fetching booth from Texas; I was intrigued at the uniform price for a call, and rather liked the red/yellow colour scheme. Location: El Paso, Texas, USA

Water Flower

There's a little lake in the forest beyond Oslo that I like to visit when I am out hiking. Few people know about it or visit it, being so out of the way, and it has a magical, timeless quality, especially in deep summer when the buzz of insects fire the atmosphere with gentle chatter and every tree and plant competes to be greenest, biggest, boldest... I am not a botanist, so I can't tell you the name of this particular plant, but it's totally fascinating because each leaf has a stem that descends into the water. It has the best spot in the forest, and the best of two worlds –both the air and the water, and then there are occasional vivid flowers, like this one, peeping up with beautiful curiosity. A splash of yellow amidst the blue and green. A little beacon in the lake... Location: Nordmarka, Oslo, Norway

The Amusement Arcade

It may not be Las Vegas, but the amusement arcades of British seaside towns are inextricably part of the summer holidays I remember from my childhood. They haven't changed much either – a few new machines of course, and silver coins are needed rather than the bag of pennies one used to make last an afternoon- but the sounds (clunks and bells and chimes and fairground music) are all still there, as are the flashing lights and frentic allure of dozens of machines –slot-machines (which we called fruit-machines), flipper-games, roll-a-coin, shooting games, driving simulators and -the always utterly frustrating grab-a-prize machine with its devious crane, -I remember them boasting prizes such as packets of cigarettes, soft toys and one or two expensive-looking watches that no one ever won. Now there are soft toys and iPods, but no one ever wins these either. But it's not really about actually winning the prize –it's holding onto the belief that you just may be lucky, and having a good time along the way; which, when I think about it, is pretty much what life itself should be all about. Location: Hemsby, England

Peeping Cow

Another summer animal picture. This cow thought she was invisible or at least unobserved, but my trained eye sussed out her undercover disguise! It just made me smile a little while out walking in the country, where there are delights and colour and surprises at every bend of the path! Location: Valdres, Norway

Sleeping Dog

A hot summer day in Greece. Scorchingly hot. Too hot for chasing cats, or hunting for treats. Too hot for anything, really. Far better to find some shade on cool marble and just... doze; and dream of cooler days. Location: Corfu Town, Greece

People at Tables

Reflecting somewhat my last post, here the tables are full of people. The backdrop is rather more dramatic than the conversations going on, however, it would appear –I love the bored look of the lady whose glass is empty, waiting for her husband to finish his drink). This is right outside the Stephansdom in Vienna and the statues, reliefs and paintings add a biblical sense of theatre and even judgement to an otherwise ordinary scene, but I liked the colours and textures and composition enough to share it. Location: Vienna, Austria

Empty Chairs at Empty Table

Sometimes what's missing from a picture says more than when they are there. Obviously here there should be people. There certainly have been. This is the end of the day; the people have gone. But they somehow leave an imprint behind. The arrangement of the chairs around the stone table seems to indicate that they are continuing the conversation, discussing those who had sat there earlier. A lot is said, despite the silence! Location, Hovedøya, Norway

The Boating Lake

A beautiful day before the summer season started, so the lake is almost eerily still and no boats or even breeze break its surface. It is late afternoon and the sun is low but still bright, creating the warm colours on the rooftops and walls. The blue sky is mirrored perfectly in the glass-like water, as are the buildings and structures in the lake, making them appear almost to hover in mid-air. The red board on the small tower shows the numbers of the boats that will soon be set out into the lake, and it creates a nice vivid focal point for the picture. Location: Hastings, England

Munich Sunset

Munich, a week or two ago; the sunlight stretched and washed by clouds behind a church near the river and Altstadt. A sign beckons with the promise of tasty beer. The temperature is warm and seductive, the evening is just starting, and its overture is an oil painting! Location: Munich, Germany

Danish Letter Box

I've always liked letter boxes –or mail boxes, if you prefer. Perhaps because I've always liked letters – sending them and receiving them – but also because these pieces of street furniture are so unique to each country, and are somehow like familiar friends who never change, but who discreetly represent their country whenever we think of them. Telephone boxes, buses, currency and stamps do the same, but letter boxes are far quainter –almost refuges of a former age; who knows how long they will last in this email and instant message era. The Danish letter box is, like Denmark itself, bright, matter-of-fact and cheerful. Its red and white colours nicely mirror the Danish flag, and I found the combination of the chic box and the fairly tired-looking wall most pleasing, in a very Danish way! Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

The London Eye...

I have yet to take a trip on the marvel that is The London Eye - it's one of the things I keep meaning to do every time I visit London, but have never actually managed. I was there a day or two before it first opened, when they were still testing it out, and one day I shall indeed take to the sky and no doubt enjoy the experience, but I find it a fascinating structure from the ground too, a modern landmark of my favourite city. Especially close up when your hear the whirring machinery and almost feel the movement of the huuuuuuuuge wheel above. Here the wheel shares the frame with another London landmark –and indeed another "London Eye": one of the beautiful lamps that have been part of the Embankment since Victorian times. Here it seems to loom into the picture, peering (benignly?) down at us as we gaze upward. Location: London, England

The Road to Summer

Back again after some travels! Back to summer - glorious, warm, green, bright and beautiful summer. Ahead lies the road to adventure: long days and and even longer evenings, the sounds of birds and insects and splashing of streams, the smells of the forest, barbecues, grass and the mountains. All waiting just ahead, stretching into the distance just as summer holidays were when one was a child, seemingly lasting for ever, and every step and every hour a gift to discover. Happy summer to you all! Location: Valdres, Norway

Oslo's Royal Palace on 17th May

Last weekend Norway celebrated the 200th anniversary of its Constitution on what is regarded by all as its National Day: May 17th. One of the charming traditions of this day is the parading in front of the king and other members of the Norwegian royal family by all the school children of Oslo. Everyone is dressed in their best –sometimes national costumes- flags are waved, bands play and there is a bright and vibrant atmosphere. Often the weather is benign. This year it certainly was! There are many other events this day, from concerts to parties to impromptu dances, and this year was particularly grand in all respects. But the children's parade is still my favourite part of it. I watch the start of it on television (for it lasts for hours) and then stroll the five minutes it takes me to get to the palace to watch the last part of it –by which time there is slightly less of a crowd, and I am always able to get a good position. if you look very carefully on the side of the picture you will see a lady in blue watching from one of the palace windows. This is the queen of Denmark who was visiting. As Norway was partly celebrating its independence from Denmark it wouldn't have been right for her to be on the balcony with the king and queen of Norway – but I can well understand her enthusiasm and delight in wanting to see the parade nonetheless! Location: Oslo, Norway

Westminster Bridge

Another bridge in my ongoing –and admittedly quite casual– project to photograph all the bridges that cross the River Thames. This is one of my favourites, and certainly one of the most famous: Westminster Bridge, leading to (or from) the Palace of Westminster and the Parliament buildings housed there. This was taken from the embankment further upstream, so the perspective is a little compressed, but it shows the dramatic wonder that is the London Eye. Once again I was eager to get a shot of a red double-decker bus as it crossed the bridge, and I was delighted that the one red gondola on the eye happened to be midway at the same time, providing a nice little colour echo, as does the white of the wheel and the cranes further back. I deliberately did not include the water in this shot -it was the bridge itself I wanted to give priority too. The shot is a little blurred because of the distance it was taken from (and this is one of the few times I wish I had a bigger lens), but I liked the bold combination of urban wonders and the overhanging trees, and the colours and of course the fact that it is another shot of my favourite city! Location: London, England

Another Face

Another in my series of faces that I keep seeing –once you start being aware of this you see them all over the place, but perhaps most frequently on buildings -I found this one particularly vivid and amusing. It is actually a military building at the castle in Oslo, but the look of surprise created by the unusual round windows give the impression that this facade seems to be looking straight down at us with alarm. Location: Oslo, Norway

Boat on the Beach

Back at last - I have been having severe network problems over the last few weeks, so this is my first post in a while. However, I have been photographing a lot and one of the things I discovered by not being online for a while was that I had far more time available! And this has given me the opportunity to sort out pictures and have a general spring cleaning and organizing session of my archive. And I have also been learning more about light – which is what it is really all about. I will soon be out on the road again, and am looking forward to some exciting new photography projects in the coming few months. Meanwhile here is a boat I came across on a beach on the eastern coast of Corfu last summer. I was a perfect day and the boat was perfectly cute –like a toy boat really, although it is actually a little fishing vessel. I like the colours and the brightness of the sea and sky. Hopeful this summer will be equally bright and equally colourful. Location: Corfu, Greece

The Seafront at Lowestoft

One of my ongoing projects is visiting and photographing 100 towns on the coast of the British Isles. I have done about 6 or 7 places so far, but there is no rush –I take one place at a time; visiting one location on each visit I make to the Isles, and give that place my full attention for a few days. Possibly it will take the rest of my life to complete the hundred, but that is not important. What is important is capturing the essence of each coastal town I visit. Though all are united by their proximity to the sea, each place is unique in mood and atmosphere. I've collected the images from this project under the label "UK coast", so if you're interested in seeing the growing variety of images take a look there. My itinerary is a bit erratic, neither clockwise or anti-clockwise around the coast, but ultimately I will have visited the whole lot –and will no doubt then find yet another place, and another that I missed! This picture is from Lowestoft in Suffolk, taken on a day when the sun and clouds and sea danced a glorious ballet in front of me, creating vivid and beautiful patterns of light. Location: Lowestoft, England

Alamo Tree

Everyone recognizes the iconic image of the Alamo facade, potent symbol of its place in American history, and its probably one of the most photographed spots in America. But there is a lot more to the site than just that one image. This is from the garden at the back, which is truly beautiful and moving and an ideal place for reflection on what occurred there back in the day, away from the crowds who only want to take the obligatory shot of the facade. The garden is filled with amazing plants, historical artifacts and gentle lawns, but it was this magnificent tree next to the well that really captured my attention. It seemed ageless and somehow benign, providing shade in the hot Texan sun the day I was there. There is nothing but beauty and grace in its marvelously twisted branches, and if ever a tree could be said to be wise, it is true of this one. Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA

Hastings Pier

The pier in Hastings was severely damaged by a fire in 2010, and the remains stand forlornly in the water, waiting to be rejuvenated –which happily will be soon. I find there is a kind of beauty in most if not any ruins, but also sadness, and I was trying to capture that here. The picture was taken across a pool on the promenade, which created a rather surreal effect with the sea beyond; "bridged" by the railings and the wall of the pool. I wanted initially there to be no people in the picture as I was going for simplicity, but people were constantly walking by, cluttering the shot. However, I loved the little vignette of the father and his little girl, and especially the splash of bright colour that her jacket gives. I didn't register the plane flying high over the pier, but was quite excited when I saw it on the finished picture –a discreet counter-balance to the two people. Location: Hastings, England

On the Quay

One of the old jetties or quays in Oslo's harbour is being replaced or repaired, and the motive of renewal seems fitting for such a bright spring day, I liked the vertical lines of the jetty supports and the masts and the cranes, and the four horizontal levels -quayside, water, buildings, sky, plus the contrast of the old boat and the new boat -which together create a rather harmonious image, despite the apparent clutter. Location: Oslo, Norway

The St. Patrick's Day Concert

Well, this one came out somewhat blurred, and technically it's not at all impressive, but sometimes a picture just captures something of the atmosphere of a moment, such that you can't bear to discard it. It was St.Patrick's Day in Texas a year or two ago, and there was rather a poor turn out at this outdoor concert to celebrate the day. I felt a bit sorry for the band who were giving their all and doing a fine job, but to such a small crowd. The mosh pit is hardly heaving, but I love how attentive the kids at the front appear to be compared to the other members of the audience. I should add that this was the afternoon, and things picked up considerably as evening approached. In fact things became quite lively! Happy St. Patrick's Day, wherever you are. Location: El Paso, USA

Berlin Sky

I was going to take the "obligatory" shot of the Brandenburg Gate, but the view through it was blocked by the scaffolding and stage of some gargantuan rock concert taking place on the other side. I pointed my camera up to try and block off this clutter, and photographed instead much of the moody sky over Pariser Platz that afternoon. I was quite pleased with the result because the shot managed to capture the majesty of the gate in a rather striking way. The silhouette of the horses, the angle of the sign and especially the patch of pale yellow on one of the clouds give the image a kind of operatic grandeur which I rather like. Location: Berlin, Germany

Buildings With Faces

It's childish, I know –and I think I have written about this in an earlier entry too– but I love finding faces in objects around us. Sometimes they are sad faces, sometimes happy, but they always give the object –or in this case, building– a personality. The thing is that once you start looking for faces you will find them everywhere, and it is a highly amusing little pastime. Sometimes you even see faces of famous people or people you know. I don't quite know who this one resembles, but the surprised, open-mouthed expression is quite cute –if you like that sort of thing! I've now photographed so many such faces that I've started a new label "Faces on Things" with this entry. Location: Oslo, Norway

Window of Wonder

I love books. Simply love them. A library or a bookshop fills me not just with excitement, but with a very profound sense of curiosity and wonder that borders on the manic –partly because I realize that no matter how long I live, I will never be able to read all the books in front of me. So there's a bit of desperation there too, because with books –as with life itself– we're forced to make choices, from many possibilities that may appear equally appealing. Then one comes across windows like this one in Putney, and the excitement builds up to fever pitch, because the very display of books becomes a work in its own right –one that fires both my love of books and my photographer's energy. There is both chaos and order, and what I particularly like is the way the books are not just displayed conventionally, as in a shelf, all vertical, but are piled horizontally too. The colours, lines and the sheer number of books also create an unforgettable and exciting image. It is as if the books are pressing against the glass, bursting to be purchased and read, but also admired. Bliss! And long live books! Location: London, England