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

King's Cross Station

One thing that really appeals to me is interiors that break with traditional straight-line design and that embrace an organic, curved aesthetic. Computer technology has allowed for such extravagances, creating models built on mathematical paradigms that both please a desire for symmetry and economy, and creature bold, adventurous spaces. Train stations have always been one of my favourite places to be, because they are cathedrals of buzzing excitement, centres of activity and cores of far-reaching dreams of travel (more so than even airports). So I was thrilled to visit the new King's Cross station, shortly after it opened, to discover its amazing interior. Originally built in 1852, it somehow fused the old and the new together in a highly pleasing and exciting way. For me, it was another futuristic experience, where even the humdrum experience of waiting for a train took on a dramatic, theatrical expression. Though the people here are ostensibly looking at the departures board, I feel many of them (like me) are just as much admiring the glorious ceiling above, feeling a little that travel again has the thrill of a heightened experience. Location: London, England

A Little Bizarre

Standing atop the impressive new central library in Birmingham I felt like I had been transported into the future –the kind of future that one was given to believe twenty or thirty years ago in illustrations of how cities would look in 2000, 2010 and beyond. Then, I was captivated by images of flying cars, curved buildings in the clouds and futuristic design. So I was rather disappointed when the future "arrived" and things were, by and large, pretty much the same as they were before –certainly seldom as dramatic in style as our past claimed they would be. But occasionally one does get a glimpse of such an environment, where visionary designers and architects have embraced the future dreams of the past and created wildly exciting buildings. Birmingham has the surreal new Bullring building, and now its grand central library. Here, on one of the roof terraces, one has tremendous views of Britain's "Second City", but at the same time there is the feeling of being in a garden or park. Apart from the unusual wall decorations the thing that fascinated me most was the contraption for cleaning the windows. My imagination saw it as a kind of mechanical praying mantis, a strange robotic sentinel lurking in the grass and looming over passers by. This fanciful but benign image delighted me, especially the little hole that creates a eye in the creature's "face". Location: Birmingham, England

In steps of Vertigo

With this picture I'm adding a new label –movie locations. Ever since I first saw Vertigo I have been fascinated with San Francisco, and when I finally had the chance to visit that beautiful city one of the things I was determined to do was to seek out the locations featured in the film. Though it had been made in the late 1950s most of the places were almost unnervingly the same 50 years later –which of course increased my fascination and made the film come even more alive. Here, at the edge of Fort Point just below the Golden Gate, Kim Novak's character threw herself into the bay, only to be rescued by James Stewart. When I saw the film originally I assumed that the bridge view was a vast painted backdrop –it somehow seemed too surreal in colour and perspective. But it wasn't, it was perfectly real. Yet I felt the same sense of surreality when I took this picture –making it as close as I could to the original shot. The only difference from 1958 was that a fence had been erected at the edge of the fort. I can take no credit for composing the shot –that was after all done by Hitchcock and his cinematographer, but I was nonetheless thrilled with the result. Even without Kim Novak. Location: San Francisco, USA

Hearts for Valentine's Day

In the grounds of Oslo Cathedral there is a large heart on a pole. I believe it appeared after the terrible terrorist tragedy that befell Norway in July 2011. At that time the space around the cathedral was turned into an ever-growing field of flowers, placed there by people in condolence. The heart stood above all these flowers, expressing perhaps a shared need for love. The flowers are gone now, but the heart remains, and has itself become something of a landmark in Oslo –embracing an even wider message than its original intention. And today, on St. Valentine's, it seemed appropriate to post it here. The original photograph in vibrant colour seemed very autumnal, so I played about a bit with the image and created the black and white version, but with the heart standing out in red. But it seemed rather lonely, so I joined the two images, and thus we have two pictures, two hearts, but one united image. I hope on this day your own true heart cherishes, and is cherished, in a similar way. Location: Oslo, Norway

Mime Critic?

You don't often see street mimes these days –at least not compared to the past when they seemed to be on every street in Europe. Now you're more likely to see human statues or jugglers. Perhaps mime moved elsewhere? Or just went out of fashion? Or perhaps it was looks like the one on the face of the man walking past this white-faced entertainer that sent them scurrying. I was delighted to capture the line of communication between the mime and the elderly man -their look and the body language. The mime seems to be beckoning him, perhaps to take part in his act, but the man is having none of it and I love the suspicious look on his face.There's really a double performance going on here. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the old man didn't cast any money into the pot on the bag as he passed! Location: Amsterdam, Holland

Portland Facade

I have always loved photographs of provincial America, especially those of the 1920s to 1940s. They so often feature iconic labels, mostly of cigarettes or soft drinks, that give them both a contemporary placing and a timeless flavour. I think I was trying to emulate such pictures when I took this one close to the quayside in Portland, Maine. I was fascinated by the brightly painted wooden facades that managed to look both new and old at the same time. And the Coca Cola sign was almost too good to be true, with its smears of running rust. Ideally there should have been an old sea dog sitting on the wooden sidewalk, but this was too cold a day even for the staunchest sailor. My camera was playing up because of the cold, so it's rather too blurred for my liking, but I am in a nostalgic mood, and so posting it anyway. Location: Portland, Maine

More Fog Lifting!

Well, technically not fog this time, but mist. Here it is lifting peacefully from the water of a mountain lake on one of those incredibly still, quiet mornings that I think only can be experienced in the Norwegian countryside. Once again the sepia version seems to capture the atmosphere and beauty of the moment best. I was indeed fortunate to have this as my bedroom view last summer. Now, in the midst of winter, the lake is frozen over and deep snow covers the entire landscape –beautiful in a different way. I like here the relationship of the two young trees, standing a little apart like shy sweethearts at a dance, with the whole symphony of nature's beauty warming up behind them. The reflections and the various pools of light are pleasing too. Location, Valdres, Norway

Fog Lifting

I took this picture in December on a visit to the little village in Norfolk where I was born. This is the view from the back of the village church. It was around ten in the morning and a thick, low fog had been lingering over the countryside, giving it a mysterious but rather romantic look. The sun was, however, itching to break through, so there was plenty of soft light above the fog and I was eager to get some pictures before "normal" conditions resumed. I was quite pleased with this one as one can almost feel the fog lifting, revealing little by little further layers of trees and hedges, and with the ever-brighter sun almost bursting through. There is movement and serenity. The trees and the contrast with the fog came out particularly well in sepia, and reinforced the whimsical and dream-like state I felt I was in by returning to my birthplace, just a few hundred yards from this spot. Location: Swanton Morley, England

The Small Print!

This just made me smile a bit –obviously it's not a brilliantly beautiful picture, but taking snapshots of amusing things is also part of the joy of photography. It's also very down-to-earth, which I particularly like as I quickly get frustrated with vast menus with tiny writing and a strange, dandified language that bears little resemblance to anything used in normal life. The huge writing that fills each page is daringly charming, as are the inevitable mistakes that one finds in almost any translated menu. I was hungry, so it was an easy choice –and the food was of course delicious -and I didn't need reading glasses to order the meal! Location: Corfu, Greece

Sunbathing Alligator

We had been out on the bayou for quite some time on a slow-moving, low-draughted river boat. The water was slugish and covered with green..something or other, so that traversing it was like sliding across a strange lawn. There were numerous logs floating about, and every time a new one appeared someone would shout "Alligator!" and we would all look down excitedly, only to be fooled again, though sometimes the distinction was none too clear. But then, just as the sun came out properly, I caught sight of the real thing – marvellously "louche" and spread over a fallen tree trunk. I was captivated because it was the first alligator I had seen in the wild. He (or maybe she) eyed us with mild disinterest while I busily took my pictures. I saw several other alligators that day, but none seemed so relaxed or commanding than this one. I was later told that it was just a young one... Location: Louisiana, USA

Winter in the Park

Another photograph from my local park, which also happens to be one of Norway's most visited attractions. On hot summer days people flock here for sunbathing and picnics, or to swim in the nearby pools. But even in winter there is a steady stream of visitors from all around the world, most of them keen to see the dozens of statues that line the park's central avenue and the unique monument known as the monolith that depicts the struggle for life, made up of figures of men and women clambering upwards. The park is a delight at any time of the year, and the perfect place for a Sunday walk. It must also be Norway's most photographed place, and I am guilty of having taken many, many pictures there over the years. One more cannot hurt! On this particular afternoon the light was rather wistful, with light snow wafting in the air, until it turned to heavy snow shortly after. The few spots of bright colour somehow draw us into the picture and I love the multitude of relationships that can be envisgaed in the way the various people are walking or standing. And amusingly roles are reversed since here it is the statues who are doing the observing, nakedly looking down on the warmly dressed visitors. Location: Oslo, Norway

Fishing

This is my personal favourite of all the photographs I took last year –a little more than a month ago now, in December. I was visiting Lowestoft on the Suffolk coast one Sunday, and found the light to be incredibly evocative and beautiful. There was a fresh breeze and lots of spirit in the water and as it was rather cold there weren't many people on the beach; most people preferred the promenade above or the warmth of cafés. The pier was closed, otherwise fishing would probably have been done from there, but fortunately for me the two people with their rod made a perfect human motif to the otherwise barren composition. I loved the variety of lines –horizontal, vertical and diagonal, and was particularly pleased to capture the crash of the wave opposite the two figures, and the hopeful stance they have adopted. No matter how much one plans, sometimes one is especially lucky in that everything comes together right for a photograph. This is one of those happy occasions. Location: Lowestoft, England

Ivy Window

It's been a particularly dull and grey day today, and though I have been out photographing snow scenes all afternoon I didn't feel particularly up to posting anything to do with winter tonight; rather I had a need for colour and the cozy glow of warm interiors. Well, I think this picture is rather bright and cheeful, and certainly cozy. It's a window of my favourite restaurant in London, The Ivy –a legendary place that seeps with theatre history and chic glamour. It's exclusive and admittedly quite expensive, so I only dine there when I am feeling particularly rich or have been invited, but in terms of food, service and elegant panache it's the tops. I took this picture on one of those occasions when I couldn't afford to go in, but could only gaze at or through the frosted windows, with their coloured glass diamonds. The lights and coziness beyond beckon, but are hazy, and the window is as much a barrier as a tempting invitation. Soon I shall step inside once more! Location: London, England

Jackson Square

A clear blue sky, lush foliage, perfectly groomed grass and the clean lines of three historic buildings -the Cabildo, Saint Louis Cathedral and the Presbytère. Also horses and carriages, wrought-iron gates, a famous statue of Andrew Jackson and a man with a bag. I liked the clean symmetry of the vista and the colours, especially the white of the carriage wheels. I was also quite pleased with capturing another photographer at work –the man taking a picture of his girlfriend in front of the statue. Yet the idyllic atmosphere has a sad element too –the flag at half mast, which somehow makes the picture rather poignant. Location: New Orleans, USA

Oslo Quayside

It's a bitingly cold day, but the sky is deliciously blue and the air clean and brittle. Snow has fallen, but the fjord has not had the chance to freeze even a little, so the water looks almost enticing. At the quayside Norway's royal yacht "Norge" is moored and mostly covered up for the winter, but its flag is flying. As the short day starts to dip towards evening the pale sunlight shines through the gently unfolding red, white and blue flag. I always think the Norwegian flag looks most beautiful in wintertime, and I was particularly pleased with this shot as it seems to capture an essentially Norwegian spirit. I did hope the flag would fully unfurl, and waited a long time to see whether it (and the breeze) would oblige. They didn't, but then one can't have everything! Location: Oslo, Norway

Out of Season Pier

The end of pier show is a very British summer tradition, attracting holidaymakers to an evening's light entertainment that can often be a very mixed bag. Variety is the key word, and comedy is key. Out of season, both piers and the seaside towns themselves are unsurprisngly empty, but I am very much attracted to them at such times as they are wonderful backdrops for photographs. I am in the process of working my way around the British Isles to visit many of these seaside towns, always out of season, –though I have no rush whatsoever and expect it will take me many years as I usually only manage one or two such places a year. One favourite such seaside town is Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast. It has lost some of its former sheen and edge, but still has plenty to delight. Here is the entrance to the Britannia Pier which stretches out behind this colourful facade promoting coming attractions. I liked the brightness of the orange –a very "summery" colour against the moody winter clouds and the clean sharp lines. And I also liked the emptiness –this is a square that cries out for people, but there is no one about.. Location: Great Yarmouth, England

Puppets

I had a dream about puppets last night. I find them a little scary, even when awake, but then I have a vivid imagination as am sure they have lives of their own! The odd thing is that it is not puppets in performance that I find, well.. disturbing; it's only when they are stationary, "resting", waiting... Fortunately I do not have too much to do with them, but sometimes they cannot be avoided. This is certainly the case in Prague where puppets used to be as prevalent as people. They were frequently used in satirical performances of a political nature as they could somehow push the boundaries of what was acceptable far more than real actors. Somehow they could get away with it. Indeed, political puppetry became an art form, filled with double meanings, jabs at authority and parallels to specific events and developments, before the iron curtain was lifted on a completely new political landscape. After that puppets lost some of their edge, becoming once again toys, playthings and souvenirs. However, I would like to think that they are still occasionally employed in satirical performances. Here, beautifully crafted and brightly coloured puppets –or marionettes– hang nonchalantly waiting for fresh employment. Nice, but still somehow a little scary. Are they perhaps listening in on the two women's conversation...? Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Snow and Sun

At last it has snowed in Oslo and "everyone" is beaming. Beaming because things are finally as they should be at this time of the year. There had been surprised whispers that no snow had appeared for Christmas, and even more vociferous wonder and even alarm at the extremely mild temperatures since then. Some have naturally been pleased that there has been no snow –there are always a few non-conformists- but, for most, something has been missing in these past dark, dull few weeks. This weekend however the darkness has been transformed into a bright and gleaming winter wonderland. the temperatures have dropped severely, and people seem delighted and have been out in their droves today! Snow lightens the night sky, flings a blanket of crisp freshness over damp lawns and parks, and when the sun shines in a clear blue sky, like today, there are few things more invigorating. We worship the sun, but here in Norway we worship the snow too! This sculpture in Oslo's famous Vigeland Park seems to express both. Location: Oslo, Norway

Sunset and Peace

Everyone loves a sunset, don't they? Photographers certainly do, although I think most of us have to admit that they rarely, if ever, can be captured in all their beauty in a photograph –no matter how well a single picture turns out. This is because a sunset is a process,constantly changing, not a single moment. However, this does not stop us from trying! One of the most spectacular sunsets I have seen occured in San Antonio, when the whole sky seemed to flow with glowing beauty, reddening into a magnificent finale. Thousands of birds seemed to be drawn to the spectacle as much as the people, for they (the birds that is) jetted across the sky with great energy, sweeping down to land occasionally on buildings and towers. I managed to capture a mere few of them here, resting on the impressive peace monument presented to San Antonio by Mexico. Like the monument, the evening was rather surreal, and certainly unusual. I was quite pleased with the picture, especially the diagonal streaks of cloud and the two larger birds, standing like sentinels on the top of the light. But of course, in reality it was even grander! Location: San Antonio, Texas

Aftermath of Rain II

With all the rain that has fallen on parts of Europe recently it is easy to think that it will never end. But it will, and despite all the woe that water can cause there can be something beautiful too -the air is always clean after rain, and there is a freshness in smell and feeling that is quite revitalising –even in a city. Here is a picture I took in London last year on a day that went from heavy showers to blue sky within a remarkably short space of time (but such is English weather). I loved the wet sparkle of the flagstones outside the National Gallery and the reflection of the blue sky in the puddles -it was as if the whole of Trafalgar Square had been scrubbed and polished, and I found it all rather beautiful –as I usually do when it stops raining! Location: London, England

Love Locks

I'm sure they can be found in other cities, and in other countries too, but I was particularly drawn to the number of padlocks that decorated several bridges in Berlin. They symbolize the joining of two people together in a romantic courtship ritual -locking each other's hearts together. Bridges are invariably romantic anyway, or can be, and it is uplifting to see so many pledges of love fastened to their railings and decorative ironwork. From a distance they look like colourful decorations on a tree, but close up you can see that each is a personal token of two people coming together –some even have the names of the betrothed and the date on which their love was pledged. I imagine that each of them keeps a key, though I was amused to see that some practical couple opted for a combination code lock instead -after all, what happens if one of them should lose the key...?

Location: Berlin, Germany

Aftermath of Rain

The start of the new year has seen some crazy weather both here in Europe where storms, rain and unusually mild temperatures have bereft Christmas of any traditional snow-decked coziness, and on the eastern coast of the United States where winter seems to have gone mad. It was a bit like this before Christmas too when I was travelling in England –there too it was the eastern coast that suffered worst, with cliffs crumbling, high winds, extreme tides and lots and lots of rain. I visited some of the places affected afterwards, and though the fishing town of Lowestoft was not the worst casualty it was very clear to see the effect of all the adverse weather. Strangely, perhaps, there was a kind of tranquility in the aftermath, and certainly a spirit of "we will not be beaten". There was also something rather beautiful about the pools of water that formed small lakes in places that usually are dry, such as here on part of the harbour quayside. The skies were still moody with clouds, but a pale sun struggled its way through them to demonstrate that after every storm there is calm, and hope. Location: Lowestoft, England

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

A Christmas Greeting

Back in the summer, while walking down a beach on the north coast of Corfu at sunset, I came across numerous messages that people had written in the sand earlier in the day –things like "Peace and Love", "I Love..." etc. There were also completed games of noughts-and-crosses, intricate but crumbling sand-castles and sculptures and inevitably a few rauchy drawings. Clearly people had been having lots of fun, but now the beach was deserted, which was a shame because it was at its most beautiful, with the sun dipping down towards the lazy waves and warm, golden colours filling the sky, stretching across the sea and sand. It was very beautiful. I decided to write my own message in the sand, with a pebble, and bizarrely could only come up with "Happy Christmas". After taking the picture and wandering off I was amused by the thought of other people coming across it and wondering whether they had stepped into a time-eddy, but of course the message would have been washed over by the next morning. The sentiment is true though, and at this time I'd like to wish any and all of you reading this a very happy and peaceful Christmas, be your surroundings beach, snow, forest or town. Location: Corfu, Greece

Winter Solstice

In Norway they say the sun "turns" today, which is a rather charming way of putting it though it is of course inaccurate astronomically; it's the angle of elevation of the Earth that changes relative to the sun. But it is nonetheless a significant "turn" for our calender –now the days will slowly, slowly start to get longer and lighter again, and in the midst of this very dark winter that is cause for celebration. I think it is so easy to take the sun for granted, but let's face it: without it we would not be here. One thought that often strikes me when I gaze on sunrises or sunsets (such as this one) is that this same sun has been present in everyone's lives –everyone in history. Whereas the world and our lives may change, the sun has always been a constant, and its beams or rays have shone down on everyone who has ever lived, been the illuminator of every day, -and every drama, battle, picnic, sea voyage, wedding, summer holiday or funeral. Along with the distant stars it really is the only thing we can say is common to us all –man, beast, bird, plant, world. I look forward to hotter days, pale morning-sunshine bursting into glorious splendour, and to all the joys of spring and summer that as of this evening now are a little closer once again. I think perhaps this picture captures some of that sentiment –the golden orb of a December sun setting and almost snuggling between the two small towers of a Norfolk church. Happy Winter Solstice everyone! Location: Great Yarmouth, England

Into the Apollo

Like many other people, I was very upset yesterday to hear of the accident at London's Apollo Theatre when parts of the roof fell down onto the audience during a performance. It is something one simply does not expect to happen. Miraculously no one was killed. I know this theatre well, having seen many plays there over the years, and just a couple of weeks when walking past the rear of the theatre, I spotted an open door in the back wall, beyond which I caught a magical glimpse of a lighted chandelier –presumably a lighting fixture above the stage or possibly in the auditorium. Such things are not meant to be seen from outside –the interior of a theatre is a private world of magic, so peeping inside felt a little bit like half-opening a present before Christmas. I was struck by the contrast of the majesty of the chandelier and the bland normality of the brickwork of the theatre. Whereas the front-of-house and auditoriums of many London theatres are gilded temples, everything backstage and back-theatre is startlingly basic. But the lavishness of many of these old theatres, like so much of the stucco and moulding that came crashing down last night, is an illusion. They may seem solid and ever-lasting, but clearly they are not. Location: London, England

Tugboats in Maine

I've been away travelling (and photographing) for the last couple of week, so I apologize for not having posted in a while. I have decided to spend part of the Christmas holidays sorting and organizing the many pictures I have taken over the course of the last few years –which is a very wintery thing to do, perfect for dark, dull or cold days when it is cozier to be indoors. Pictures are as much about memories as anything else, and it is delightfully relaxing and nostalgic to recall former journeys, holidays or events. We tend however to remember initially only the good things. I loved this trio of tugboats that I saw in Portland and the blue sky would seem to suggest a warm summer's day; but then I suddenly remembered that it was actually October, and how utterly cold I was that day; how the wind howled and drove straight through me (I was on a boat at the time. Brrrrr- I feel it now! Location: Portland, Maine, USA

Thinking About the Mountains

Autumn has whizzed by and suddenly it's nealy Christmas. But I still haven't finished digesting the magnificent time I had in the mountains in late summer. It is as if it was only yesterday. But powerfully moving moments or periods or images tend to stay with us with far greater freshness than the hum-drum activities of daily life, and I only need to close my eyes to be back up in the mountains. Now the countryside below is sprinkled with snow, the lake is freezing over and insects, cattle and visitors are gone. But I yearn to be there now too –any time of the year is magical and special, but perhaps most of all when it is quiet -totally quiet, except for the wind... Well, until I return there are at least photographs to enjoy. I think this one captures something of the wild charm of the countryside, with the quiet farmsteads and far off peaks of the Jotunheimen range, home of the Norse Gods. The clouds here are very moody, giving the otherwise peaceful picture a sense of drama, whilst the rough road beckons you forward. Miss it lots! Location: Valdres, Norway