Street Scene at Sunset

After a long spell of absense I have returned! The world has changed much for us all since I last posted, but life goes on, and soon Christmas will be upon us. Therefore, I've chosen a somehat festive photograph of my local neighbourhood as my first post for a while; a street scene and a sunset. Plenty more to follow!

Location: Oslo, Norway

Window Shopping

Christmas is a-coming and day by day more and more windows take on a festive look. I've just completed doing my own decorating at home because I like to be as early and capture the Christmas mood in my own surroundings before being bombarded by it everywhere else. This year though will be a little different as I will be spending Christmas is hospital, most of December too; so it has been doubly important for me to have a little Christmas at home first.I wish that part of that involved eating my way through the many gorgeous-looking cakes displayed here. I was struck by the daintiness and the colours and the sparkling silver branch; the collection was somehow exciting, appealing and because nothing is really symmetrical or rigidly formal (which so many other window displays often are), there is a carefree lightness to the picture that I find rather infectious.There is a little bit of everything here, and that, to my mind, is just how Christmas should be!

Location: Norwich, England

Reflection

Though ice on the roads and pavements can be a tiresome hinderance to normal movement at this time of year, it does sometimes create some interesting effects of light and texture. This is a street very close to where I live, and a chic cheese and groceries shop far too exclusive for my meagre wallet. It's always very pretty and inviting though, and here the golden light of its interior is reflected in pools of melted ice on the other side of the street street. Roads are dreadfully dull things usually, so it is refreshing to see their texture transformed a little. I like the curves and lines in the light here, and the slightly magical look of the otherwise ordinary urban landscape. It is early evening and lights in the windows are beginning to be turned on. In one of the windows a star can be seen, for this picture was taken around Christmas time. The warmth of the shop with its bright lights is some distance away, adding, I think, to the slightly melancholy beauty of the picture.

Location: Oslo, Norway

Gathering of Nisser!

With Christmas rapidly approaching here's a feisty collection of "nisser", or elves if you prefer (gnomes, perhaps too?) with a heritage stretching back for at least a century. Many of these rosy elves are from Sweden, but one or two are German, Norwegian and perhaps even further afield. You'll notice also that they all seem to be male. Or are they? It is quite rare to see a female Christmas elf, but one has managed to infiltrate this otherwise masculine crowd –can you spot her? (clue: she's the one without a beard!). The setting here is a local market that sells bric-a-brac and antiques most of the year, but close to Christmas focuses on more seasonal fare. The abundance of red gave me an instant injection of Christmas spirit, and it's somehow always satisfying to photograph a collection of things that are similar in one respect yet diverse in another. I hope your own Christmas elves treat you well, and that you treat them well in return!

Location: Oslo, Norway

Merry Christmas !

A couple of years ago, close to Christmas, the famous statue of Eros on Piccadilly Circus was encased in this magical transparent globe, which, at regular intervals dispersed "snow" like one of those fascinating table-top trinkets that used to be so popular (perhaps they still are, somewhere?). Now this effect was both delightful and seasonal, and proved to be very popular with tourists and anyone else who passed by; it was an iconic landmark given a cheerful little makeover to mark the season of goodwill in a city that doesn't experience snow all that often. What it does experience, however, is wind, and hereby hangs a tale. For, shortly after this picture was taken, this globe was no more. A very troublesome little storm brewed in the West End, and a vicious gust of wind ripped a tear in the fabric of the globe, thus causing it to collapse like a deflated balloon. But not, however, before the thousands of plastic snowflakes swirling inside had been dispersed gleefully over much of Piccadilly Circus, and got into all sorts of places for days afterwards. But perhaps such is Christmas itself -a bubble that is there for a short time only; beautiful while it lasts but gone all too quickly. May I wish you a Happy Christmas, free of strife, worry and bursting globes. Location: London, England

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

Winter Scene

I promised snow in my last posting, so here is a picture taken on Christmas Eve just outside Oslo. It was a beautiful day –blue sky, crisp air, and snow that has not yet been unsettled or sullied. The river has not yet frozen over, though it will in a few days if the present temperatures prevail. All is peaceful; all is quiet; and all is rather beautiful, I think. Location: Bryn, Norway

Oslo Christmas

The Royal Palace in Oslo on a cold, foggy morning a few days ago, with a sprinkling of frost on the ground, and some hardy tourists in front of the statue of Karl Johan. The Christmas tree is up on the balcony, but there is no snow, as yet – This came later the same day, so now the picture is already history; but then, every picture is the moment it is taken. There's already a fond sense of nostalgia for the long weeks of winter we've had so far without snow, but as I write it's white and magical outside and perfect for Christmas. My next pictures will feature snow – but who knows, perhaps by then it may all have gone, and this picture will again be correct. But somehow I think it will last. Happy Christmas, and thank you for watching this space. Location: Oslo, Norway

Snow Bubble at Piccadilly Circus

Another one from London and one of its iconic landmarks –the statue of Eros and its marvellous plinth on Piccadilly Circus. The plinth is hidden here, and Eros appears to be floating in the middle of a huge bubble set up over the statue for Christmas. It even features snow at regular intervals, resembling a gigantic version of one of those fascinating snow toys you often find in gift shops. This one went a bit wrong soon after the photograph was taken as high winds caused the plastic bubble to rip and collapse, spreading large quantities of artificial snow all over Piccadilly, but here the effect is tranquil and rather pretty. I was quite pleased with the light, both in the background and bubble and on the figures in front. Sepia seemed right, too. Location: London, England

The Start of Christmas

As today is the first Sunday in Advent I thought I'd post a Christmas picture – this one being from Trafalgar Square in London with a view of the traditional Christmas tree that has been sent from the people of Oslo to the people of London every year since the end of the Second World War as in gratitude for the help provided to Norway during that conflict. This picture is actually from last year, but the tradition continues. This was a cold day and the air was very crisp, but the sky was rather beautiful. I deliberately took the shot in such a way that Lord Nelson appears to be on top of the tree. Of course, there should have been snow... but one can't have everything. Location: London, England

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