Tempelhof

I was thrilled to recently visit and tour the now-closed Tempelhof airport in Berlin –one of the world's most unique airports– and to wander through empty departure halls, baggage rooms, bunkers, corridors, tunnels and hangers; empty that is only of passengers and aircraft, because much of the interior has been frozen in time. The airport has a wild, colourful history and was never actually finished –mostly because of the war. Parts of it were just left as they were back then, other parts were abandoned in the seventies or after the cold war ended when the US military left and boasted interiors very much from these times, and much of the rest remains just as it was when it closed for civil air traffic a few years ago. I am so glad that it was not torn down or redeveloped –now the vast building is used for corporate events, art exhibitions, product launches and kick-offs. And the whole place is a photographer's dream! Perhaps nowhere more so that below the curved roof of the departure gates –so unlike any other airport. I felt that black and white worked best here –a little because I had seen so many such images taken here during the Berlin airlift, but also because the contrast worked so effectively. And there is a spookiness about the picture –the planes that would once lined up here are made so much more potent by their absence. It's as if the emptiness conjours up their ghosts. Location: Berlin, Germany

Cute Van

Being more of a train and ship kind of person I'm not really into cars or road vehicles, so you won't have seen many photographs of them on my blog. But some vehicles are just too cute not to be given a spot. Like this one –a delightful little ice-cream van that I found parked outside the British Museum in London. Its has a beautifully evocative colour scheme and charming lines, undeniably retro but with plenty of attitude too –the light, creamy sort! Its profile reminds me a lot of certain fish that you find in tropical waters, the window resembling an eye and the front a sort of snout. I like the way the wet flagstones and puddles reflect the blue of the wheels, and the stance of the rather bored-looking ice-cream man inside as he waits for customers. Above all I love the cleanness and cheerfulness of the little truck contrasted with the sombre and rather grey columns and facade behind it. A cute van indeed. And very British. Location: London, England

Dealey Plaza

Today marks the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Though this event happened before I was born it has always moved me greatly. A couple of years ago I took this picture of Dealey Plaza from a train I was on travelling from New Orleans to Chicago via Dallas. It had slowed down almost to a snail's speed to enter Union Station, and from the window I was able to see this surreally familiar landscape -instantly recognizable from all the news footage and the many documentaries about the assassination that I had seen. Apart from the modern glass building in the background everything seemed uncannily the same as it had in 1963. It had a profound affect on me –the train took about as long to pass as the presidential motorcade would have taken to pass down the street. Looking at my photograph again now there seem to be curious echoes of that day in 1963 –the black cars heading down, the people on the grass, the book depository in the background, and as it happened to be a bright day in November, the similarities were doubly potent. Location: Dallas, USA

Something Spectacular

The city of Birmingham in England recently opened its new central library –an incredible building quite unlike anything anywhere else, both inside and out. It's a futuristic set of blocks piled on top of each other like Lego bedecked with gold and intricately crafted metalwork, dominating the skyline and so audacious that one thinks one has been transported into a future world. A year or so ago I visited the city and saw it being built and thought it was hideous, but now that it has been completed I have changed my mind completely. Because boldness is a virtue, and this building is nothing if not bold. But it cherishes its past too –the golden round structure at the top of the building contains within it the original Shakespeare room of the city's old Victorian library, lovingly restored and reconstructed within this magical temple to books and writing and learning. This picture was my first view of the completed library, taken on a windy day that sent clouds carouseling across an otherwise bright sky. The light was interesting, to say the least, and formed a rather magical backdrop to a magical building. Location: Birmingham, England

Lady Selling Treats in the Park

A walk in the park, any park, is a delightful and rewarding experience in any city in the world. Parks may be different, some grand, some lowly, some ornate, some sprawling, but they all share the quality of being a retreat –from traffic, bustle, noise, stress and the myriad frustrations of city life. They are a city's lungs, playgrounds and pleasure grounds, and are wonderful for really getting to know a place. It is easy to strike up a conversation because people have time, and there is always something going on and something interesting, amusing or fascinating to see –or is it that our eyes are open to more when relaxed? I think all our senses are sharpened by a walk in a park. Here, a lady has set up tables bearing treats –sumptuous toffee-apples, wafer-cakes, popcorn-clusters– and waits patiently for passers-by to indulge. And of course we will!Location: Bucharest, Romania

Death of a Camera

It had been raining in London earlier that day and there were still some puddles about. The garish neon lights of Soho reflected in the water and off metal surfaces and windows in this curious alleyway. It is early evening so there is still some blue left in the sky. There are people about, but not too many and not too close. Intent on capturing this indeterminate phase between day and night, when people had finished work, but it was still too early for night life, I snapped away and took some interesting pictures. This was the last. Yes, it is a little blurred; I would have perfected the image with the next shot, but that was not to be. Because exactly one second after this shot had been taken the camera somehow slipped from my hands and crashed onto the pavement. Usually I am very careful, and lucky, but in this instance the camera hit the ground in such a way that the lens casing was knocked crooked, the electronics went ballistic, flashing messages appeared on the screen, and then all went dead. Nothing I tried, from gentle persuausion to frustrated violence could bring my camera back to life, or even realign the lens casing, and it has remained stuck and crooked in my bag ever since. Ok, it was not an expensive camera (it was a Canon PowerShot), but it had become a trusty companion over the 20 months I had used it. Easy to use, dependable and packed with power and life –but not immortal. Now it rests in a cupboard with numerous other cameras that have died or broken or just given up; I can't bear to get rid of them. But nor could I be without a pocket camera –I felt instantly naked and cut off without one, so the next day I purchased a Canon Ixus 135, similar in size and quality but still a little unfamiliar. And you can be sure I am handling it very, very carefully. But this picture will forever be a reminder of –and a memorial too– by dear little PowerShot! R.I.P. Location: London, England