Dreaming of Summer

It's that time of year when the winter weather is starting to get tiresome and one finds one's thoughts turning longingly to warm summer evenings, beaches, lazy holidays and a place in the sun. And plans for the summer may happily be made while outside the wind blows and snow turns to sleet. It's a good time for looking through pictures of summers past too – sometimes the lapping of waves on an empty beach seems almost audible, and beckoning with a whisper of warmth and the prospect of a table by the sea for an evening meal... ah, well, we must be allowed our dreams. And summer will come again; I promise. Location: Corfu, Greece

Model Trains

Ok, trains are a passion of mine — travelling by them, of course, but really everything to do with them. And model trains can be as fun as real trains, except that you can't get inside them and be drawn away somewhere, except in one's imagination. I had a fabulous train set when I was younger – I still have most of the rolling stock, but they're now stored away in boxes. But I was inspired to set them up when I saw the rather beautiful exhibition of model trains at the wonderful German State Railway Museum where I took this picture. These two trains are in glass cases, and though shooting through glass can sometimes be tricky, the effects of the fractured reflections gave an impression of speed which I found quite exciting and certainly apt. The models became "alive", busily hurtling to some unknown destination. Location: Nürnberg, Germany

The Coastal Steamer

This is one of the ships that traverses up and down the coast of Norway, from Bergen to the far North. These voyages have traditionally been essential ways of supplying myriad small towns and providing a "bus" service for coastal travellers, but over the years taking the whole voyage, one way or both, has become a hugely popular venture for visitors from abroad, hungry for arctic adventure, views of stunning coastal landscapes and magnificent glimpses of the Northern Lights. The sturdy ships have improved immensely as a consequence, providing wonderful meals, comfortable cabins and all manner of "necessary" luxury. I have yet to take this voyage myself, though occasionally, as here, one of the ships visits Oslo to give people a taste of what to expect. I liked the colouring of the ship and the graceful slope of the stern, and after taking a tour of the ship was very, very tempted to stay onboard... Location: Oslo, Norway

London Street at Night After Rain

Ok, so it's a little bit blurred; my camera is not the best at taking night shots, but I had a go when I saw the coloured lights reflected in the puddle. Wet surfaces always appeal to me, and uneven pavements with lots of detail make for interesting viewing. Also, as this is a pedestrian-street, there are no cars, giving the view more of a timeless quality. It's also my favourite street in London – Cecil Court, home of numerous niche bookshops and treasure-houses of prints, memorabilia, old maps, coins and more. The coloured lights were up for Christmas and along with the other lights from shops and lamps merge in a washed-out effect, almost like a painting. It's also rather moody, which I like. Location: London, England

Central Station

The interior of certain buildings fill me with instant excitement –libraries, museums, theatres, and most cake shops – but perhaps most of all I am captivated by railway stations. Some of them may be small and quirky and almost ghostly; others are cathedrals of breathtaking wonder, buzzing with activity. I like them all, because they're inevitably a pulsating blend of history and adventure: of arriving, departing, greeting people or saying goodbye. Big stations are especially thrilling. The noises of trains coming and going, doors slamming, shrill whistles and unintelligible announcements echo through vast halls that once housed magnificently romantic steam engines. Some people find airports romantic and exciting too; I can quite understand that, though I personally find them stressful and rather sterile. Railways stations are different: There is an immediacy about them that airports never have, because railway stations are often right in the heart of a city and can be stepped into directly from the street. In fact, it could be said that that a railway station is the heart of a city –the rails being the veins and arteries that spread out from or lead to myriad platforms. Naturally, I find such places to be wonderful for photography, so this year I will be posting pictures from some of my favourite stations. This one is from Amsterdam Centraal – a beautiful, airy tunnel of a hall. It's quiet at the moment; one train has just arrived and people are waiting for another further down the platform. The light coming through the curved roof was quite magical, showing off the wonderful simplicity and beauty of the engineering, and I've rendered it in monochrome because, at heart, I am a romantic. All aboard! Location. Amsterdam, Holland