Gloves and Mittens Gone AWOL -No 18

Gloves and Mittens Gone AWOL -No 15

Yes, with autumn now upon us and temperatures dropping daily like the leaves from the trees, we once again come across single gloves and mittens that have taken upon themselves to wander freely, away from their owners, to seek a better (or at least different) existence in parks, on benches and at street corners. This rather dirty specimen has at least found a place in the sun...

Location: Oslo, Norway

Flowers in the Park

It's time for some colour. Spring, though late arriving, has rapidly blossomed all over in recent weeks and it's always an exciting time to photograph the new life that appears in flowerbeds throughout the city. Here, we're down low, almost at ground level to appreciate these blooms in Oslo's magnificent Frogner Park.

Location: Oslo, Norway

Spring Awakening

It's so nice to see a smiling, happy statue, but maybe that's a result of the joy of spring.Here we are in the grounds of the Kurfürstliches Palais (Electoral Palace) in Trier with the distinctive and ornate pink Hochschloss visible in the background, and beyond that the Basilica of Constantine. But the statue is the main subject of the picture. I don't know its history but it is one of many similar statues to be found in the beautifully kept grounds. Something about the expression on its face and the openness of its stance seem to say "welcome, and rejoice". I chose placing the statue to the side of the picture both to avoid conventional centring and so as to include the beautiful central facade beyond –without it dominating too much. The clouds are moody but the sky is blue, the grass green and all is well with the world.

Location: Trier, Germany

Gloves and Mittens Gone AWOL -No 13

Winter seems now to be over for another year and spring is almost upon us. But just before the snow melted I came across yet another glove that had gone AWOL and found its way to the top of a post, where it quickly became covered with snow. At least it had itself to keep warm!

Location: Oslo, Norway

Italian Gardens

Right at the north end of Kensington Gardens in London you'll find this fabulous feature, an Italian Garden in the heart of London. You may be heading deeper into the park but it is tempting to stop here and go no further for though just moments away from a busy road you are in tranquil surroundings and feel yourself somehow stepping back in time as you walk around these beds and basins. The gradens were originally set out in the 1860s by Prince Albert, designed by James Pennethorne and based on the gardens at Osborune House on the Isle of Wight. The gardens were fully restored in 2011. This picture is taken towards the end of spring, early one morning when I had an hour to kill after leaving my hotel and before my onward connection left. I stumbled quite by accident into the park and was enchanted by its genteel beauty. Later, there would no doubt be more colour in the flowerbeds but the grass was green and the sound of the fountains mixed with an impressive amount of birdsong were ample substitutes. I tried to capture the atmosphere of slightly heightened wonder and magical mystery that I experienced here; the big dark trees on the left seem to have turned their backs on the serenity below, yet they too form part of the whole. Essentially, I find the image a very peaceful one.

Location: London, England

The Sledging Party

With much of Europe battling unprecedented winter conditions (taken in stride in Norway) it is uplifting that people are making the most of the snow and taking to winter sports and activities with a vengeance. This group of five girls and a sledge marches as resolutely through the snow as arctic explorers heading for the pole. I like it that they are in a line rather than bunched together and the body language is interesting –is one of the girls less thrilled about the upcoming sledging activity than the others? And is the sledge-puller herself perhaps texting for back-up troops or castigating some shirking confederate who has failed to show up for the fun. I just felt it was a nice wintery sort of picture to share while we all wait for the coming of warmer days.

Location: Oslo, Norway

Gloves and Mittens Gone AWOL -No 3

The third in my series of "Gloves and Mittens Gone AWOL" -and once again one that has climbed up into a tree to display itself to the world. The leaves may have fallen, but the gloves continue to ascend -or did this one perhaps fall from the sky? Who knows.

Location: Oslo, Norway

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

People in the Park

To contrast a little the last post, here is a different park, in another country, in a different season and with people as its main subject this time rather than trees (though the observant visitor will notice a number of these too!). The point is really that contrasting two images, however slightly related, often works as a rewarding form of presentation, an interesting access point to seeing and appreciating similarities and difference, yet with a common foundation –in this case the concept of "the park" and what that means for different people. Here we have a warm summer afternoon, evening really, but the sun is still up, and you can almost feel the pleasant lazy warmth and smell the grass. Everyone is in their own little blissful world, some dozing, some having a picnic, others reading, greeting a friend, sharing a special moment. They are dotted about like little islands in an ocean of greenn; there is a communal atmosphere but privacy is respected and cherished. The elegant building in the background and the neatly trimmed bushes and beds give a sense of peace and order to the scene, but not too much; the mood is mellow and summer is glorious... ahhhh, may it come again soon. Location: Vienna, Austria

Trees in the Park

Trees always inspire me. I love their quiet, silent wisdom and grace, their noble quality of being able to shade us, embrace us, draw us in and somehow comfort us. Some trees are like old friends –always there for you, always reliable and, each year growing a little in your estimation as well as physically. I find this especially true of trees in isolation. But trees in parks, standing in some kind of order, can also be appealing, as much so in the winter when bereft of their foliage as in the height of glorious summer. Here they stand gracefully silhouetted against the sky, with the blazing sun signalling that spring is on its way. Already, there will be buds on these trees and the snow will soon be gone. Location: Oslo, Norway

Duelling Benches

Winter is coming to an end, even in Norway, and what little snow may have been left when this picture was taken a couple of weeks ago is now surely gone, for spring is in the air and the park will soon be teeming with life and filled with colour. My crazy imagination saw these benches as some street furniture kind of ”Jets” and ”Sharks” having a ”stand off” (or perhaps that should be a bench off?) to determine who’s going to be top bench in the park this summer. I liked the colours and the space between the benches, and the symmetry they form –a symmetry of different styles, and with the lamppost as a form of referee Perhaps the two types of bench attract different types of ”sitters”? I must make sure to check once the weather brings out the crowds. Location: Oslo, Norway

Bench in Greece

This is another one I took last autumn while on the island of Samos. Just an ordinary row of benches down by the small harbour. But I liked the unusual colour, and found it quite a nice parallel to the water alongside. The lights in the water also make a nice contrast. Often these benches are used by romantic couples at this time, but here they are empty, waiting... Location: Samos, Greece

Autumn in Oslo

Due to some computer and network problems it's been some time since I posted, and in the interim autumn has descended and is creating glorious colours all around. This is from the park behind the royal palace in Oslo. Fortunately the pond has not been drained yet, so I was able to capture the reflection of the golden tree in the water. Some of the trees remain stubbornly "summery" and the grass is still green, but soon all this will change again, and who knows - my next picture from here may be of snow. In the meantime, let's enjoy the mellow beauty of autumn. Location: Oslo, Norway

Oslo from Oslo

Oslo's name has a somewhat confusing history. The city was originally situated close to where this picture was taken, and remained there until 1624 when it burned down. A brand new city was built across the bay, and named Christiania after the Danish king who made the decision to move. The area where the remains of the old city stood was still called Oslo, but there was nothing there and the inhabitants were required to move to the new city (they initially wished to rebuild it where it had been but were lured by tax relief). The new city grew and gradually started to expand in all directions. In the 19th Century the ”Ch” gave way to the more Norwegian ”K” – thus it became Kristiania –which it remained until 1925, when it was decided that the city should be called ”Oslo”. The only trouble was that ”Oslo” still existed as the old part of the city, now swallowed up by the ever-expanding Kristiania. Thus, on the same day that the whole of the city of Kristiania was renamed Oslo, old ”Oslo” (the location of our picture) was renamed ”the old city” (Gamlebyen) –which it remains to this day. Norwegians have a way of changing names! I first visited this original part of the city this summer, and was struck by the new buildings that have only recently popped up along the area between ”Kristiania” and ”Oslo” – the striking ”barcode” buildings seen here in the background. In fact, a whole new part of the city is being formed, partly on reclaimed ground in the fjord. The links between the old and the new are thus becoming closer. One wonders whether perhaps the whole city will be renamed again some time as a consequence... New Oslo? Location: Oslo, Norway

Log Buildings

Travels and computer problems have kept me away from here over the last couple of weeks, but I am eager to post again, and here is a shot I took a week ago at the wonderful Folk Museum in Oslo, where buildings from all over Norway have been relocated, region by region, in a vast outdoor complex. I was lucky enough to have most of the place to myself and be there just as the sun was going down. These farm buildings are typical of the Norwegian style found in the countryside and looked rather beautiful in the early evening light.. Location: Oslo, Norway

A Bicycle in Berlin

I was struck by how relaxing an image this is – a bicycle parked nonchalantly by a potted flower-bush, people relaxing by a fountain, lush green grass, perfectly clean cobblestones, a great musuem to be discovered in the background. It is Berlin in the summer. It is also a trusting picture – the bicycle is not locked, but its owner is nowhere to be seen. And it’s also a picture about potential: ”Come and ride me,” the bicycle seems to be saying. ”Come and visit me” says the musuem. ”Come and step on to me” says the grass. ”Come and smell me” say the flowers... Location: Berlin, Germany

Retired Merry-go-round Horses

These horses, that once carried children of all ages on countless revolving journeys on a merry-go-round or carousel, appear now to have now been "retired" and stuck up on display but are certainly no less prominent, energetic or delightful. Indeed, they seem to be cantering still, dancing and leaping in the air and beckoning new generations of visitors to partake of the pleasures of one of the world's finest and most beautiful fairs: the Tivoli gardens in Copenhagen. I love it when things get a second lease of life like this - the horses, I feel, do too! Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Weigh in the Park

Parks are often full of suprises and places for unexpected discoveries. Just why anyone would care to weigh themselves while out for a walk may seem a bit of a mystery, but then - why not? If, upon paying your fee you discover yourself to be pleasantly lighter than expected the day will surely be even more pleasant. And If you discover that you are overweight then you're in the right place for exercise! A few rounds and a nice brisk walk leads you perhaps back to the scales, so you can see how much you have lost in one afternoon? Or an Sunday stroll with a loved one may be excited (or perhaps distracted) by a little romantic weighing – and the inevitable discussion that follows! The graffiti on the side here is clearly a comment on the scales – 5 kg incorrect or similar, maybe? I found the contraption rather delightful in an old-fashioned sort of way, a little like a benign blue grandfather clock. Location: Bucharest, Romania

Autumn in Oslo

It's that time of year again - that colourful, vibrant, magical phase of transition from summer to the first whispers of winter. Today was the first day I wore both gloves and a scarf, but I also wore sunglasses and summer shoes. And trees too are wearing a mix of summer and autumn garb, creating canvases of vivid brightness and colour as they head towards full golden glory. This is from the park of Oslo's Royal Palace (which can be glimpsed through the trees). The small building is the cabin of the guards. Have an happy autumn! Location: Oslo, Norway