Letterboxes

With so much regulated conformity around us it is always nice to discover uniqueness –not everything has to be the same. These letterboxes could so easily have all been exactly the same, neatly lined along the wall, probably looking like the first box on the extreme left -efficient, practical, neutral but rather bland. Instead, we have here such variety that hardly two boxes are the same; each seems to have a distinctive personality, which is what gives the picture interest. We might like to speculate about the owners of the various boxes, what kind of personalities they have, and whether they correspond to the appearance of their post boxes. Other than that, there's something ordinary and urban about this photograph that I quite like; plus its harmonious diversity

Location: Oslo, Norway

Dutch Letter Box

As I have mentioned before I am always fascinated by the uniqueness of a country's essential street furniture –telephone boxes, lamps, signs; all proud ambassadors of their country's image, icons of each nation if you like. Letter boxes (or mail boxes if you prefer) belong to this group. They are all seemingly unique to their country in design and colour. Here's one from Holland –perhaps not the most imaginative or most beautiful of post boxes but perfectly functional nonetheless. I'm in two minds whether I can see a face here too. The dual openings for letters certainly suggest eyes and perhaps if one regards the little white sticker as a moustache and the keyhole as a pursed up little mouth there is something approaching a wide, sagacious entity. Otherwise I just like the ordinariness of such day-to-day objects that we often pass by without giving a second thought.

Location: Amsterdam, Holland

Imposing Building

I'm in two mind about this building –a townhouse in Nuremberg. On the one hand, I admire its individual features, such as the rounded glass of the window panes and the unusual turret, while on the other hand I find it a little ... well, intimidating; a bit imposing and mysterious. Perhaps this is as much due to the angle I have taken the picture –from below– as anything else. Or maybe, seen with "another" eye the whole facade seems to have something of a "Transformers" personality –the turret becoming a head and its upper floors the wide shoulders of some robotic creature. I don't know anything of the history of the building, but it does intrigue me –like all buildings of personality and character. Yet would I live here? Perhaps not. I'd happily have some of those windows though.

Location: Nuremberg, Germany

Bench Talk

Sometimes what is missing from a picture says more than if it is included. Here, on a very hot day, two benches face each other on a vast field of grass. There are no people, but their absence is incidental –we can imagine any number of pairings or conversations that have taken place here earlier. But this is a bit like a bench stand-off –or perhaps it's a nostalgic chat, an interview, a date? The benches certainly have personality –one of them even seems to have a face (or is that just my imagination?) and there is something untypical but refreshing about their location and position. It's an image that opens up to all sorts of interpretations and somehow draws you in. Location: Hovedøya (Oslo), Norway

Telephone Box Line-up

Telephone boxes are rapidly becoming obsolete in many parts of the world now that almost everyone seems to have a mobile telephone. In many cases they seem to have more of a nostalgic than a practical value, and none so than the iconic British red telephone box, no less than five of which are pictured here. Coming across so many boxes in one place was a bit of a photographer's treat, for things in groups are often more interesting subjects that single examples. There is something essentially British about these gorgeous constructions, with their comforting solidity and bright colour. London has been particularly good about retaining large numbers of its telephone boxes, realising no doubt their value as visitor attractions –as recognisable as double-decker buses and Buckingham Palace. It's been a long time since I myself used one of these boxes, but I have photographed them a great deal over the years. Attempts at modernising the exteriors by creating one large window on either side failed miserably; there's something special about all those little panes that gives an illusion of privacy yet still allows those inside to see out and, back in the day, those impatiently queuing outside to glare in! There are no queues here now, only a pigeon debating whether to make a call... Location: London, England

Happy Bin!

I pass this rubbish bin almost every day, because it’s just down the street from where I live, and it always makes me smile! I don’t know whether it was the result of some campaign to humanize the lowly bins of Oslo by putting eyes on some of them, or whether it was just someone having a bit of fun, but the gaping mouth of this creature is always hungry for trash, and it seems positively delighted! It proves that street furniture does not have to be boring, and I wish there were more things like this around us to brighten up our days a little –it doesn’t take much! Location: Oslo, Norway

A Dour Train

This splendid train in the German State Railway Museum seems to be staring rather glumly at us. Or is a look of suspicion or sophistication? Someone said they thought it resembled Groucho Marx, complete with cigar; another mentioned Omar Sharif... certainly some kind of face is more than apparent. As any photographer of portraits knows, it's all in the eyes, and I particularly like these ones, formed by the headlamps, with the bulbs creating the effect of pupils. Location: Nuremburg, Germany

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

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

Seeing Faces

We humnas are wired to recognize and respond to facial features and this kicks in as soon as we are born. Of course we don't usually think about this, but it's one of the reasons we connect not only to other humans, but to animals, teddy-bears etc. –and can laugh so much at grumpy-looking cats. Taken further we "facialize" almost everything we see, subconsciously mostly but sometimes more creatively. Well.. at least I do! Unlike some, I have yet to see the face of Jesus or Justin Bieber in my toast, but I frequently come across things that resemble more generic faces and usually find them quite delightful. Like this post box in Germany which looks a little like a large, motionless toad. It seems to be very content, as if having a nap after a big meal; its eyes closed. When I look again I find it reminds me of a teacher I once had who wore the same unruffled expression. If you look around you right now I am sure you will be able to spot faces in things in your own surroundings, wherever you are -you only need to use your imagination; and that's not a bad thing to exercise! Location: Berlin, Germany

The Face of a Cabin

I find I frequently see faces in things, buildings, patterns etc. and this little cabin in the Norwegian mountains has all the facial features one could want. I particularly like the way the light in the little windows makes the "eyes" come alive, and the way the step creates the mouth. It's quite a benign, sagacious face too, almost like a dozy cat!

Location: Valdres, Norway