Saturday 25 November 2017

Gloves and Mittens Gone AWOL -No 3

The third in my series of "Gloves and Mittens Gone AWOL" -and once again one that has climbed up into a tree to display itself to the world. The leaves may have fallen, but the gloves continue to ascend -or did this one perhaps fall from the sky? Who knows.

Location: Oslo, Norway

Saturday 18 November 2017

Benches at Sunset

A fairly hazy but pleasant autumn day on the south coast of England with the sun going down and bathing the beach and surroundings in a gentle, pale luminosity heightened by the haze. The sunset has been more spectacular and vivid earlier, but noe people are heading home as the air is turning chilly. These benches would have been occupied earlier by people looking out to sea, taking in the salty air, calmly contemplating... Now the benches themselves get to contemplate. I was intrigued by the way the light hit the slats, lifting the ordinariness of the benches to something special and perhaps a little bit magical (helped by the haze). They invite, yet one almost dares not disturb. There's also a nice line into the distance with the slats and the railings contrasting with the lines out into the sea of the breakers and pier.

Location: Hastings, England

Saturday 11 November 2017

Gloves and Mittens Gone AWOL -No 2

The second in my series of "Gloves and Mittens Gone AWOL" -and in this case a particularly fine knitted mitten with a traditional Norwegian design. The mystery remains, how can anyone lose just one of these? And how helpful is it really that people drape them across branches or fences? More to follow.

Location: Oslo, Norway

Sunday 5 November 2017

Lambeth Bridge

One of my casual ongoing projects is to photograph all 33 bridges that cross the River Thames in Greater London. I'm around halfway there now, and you may have some of the earlier posts featuring those bridges I have so far covered. Here's a new one –the often forgotten Lambeth Bridge, so often overlooked by its more illustrious neighbour a little further down the river (Westminster Bridge. But Lambeth Bridge is as equally an essential crossing and has charms of its own, not least the views of the Palace of Westminster from the other side, and a good deal fewer tourists. It's also a good place to cross over to explore the quieter end of the South Bank, excellent for a good walk either along the riverside or down into Lambeth itself. Interestingly, the red colour on the bridge is meant to refer to the colour of the seats in the House of Lords, which is closest to the bridge, whereas the more green Westminster Bridge refers to the colour of seats in the House of Commons, which is closest to that bridge! Though there's been a bridge here since 1862 (and before that a ferry crossing at this point), the present structure opened in 1932. It has some nice features, like the lamps seen here, and the bridge has now been listed and therefore protected. As is my usual whim, I have photographed the bridge with a red double decker halfway across –for few things symbolise London to me more.

Location: London, England