words? WTF?!

After turning this blog into a bit of a photo journal, I thought I would take a step back from the vision, and revert to words backed up with links.

Taking photos is becoming an obsession, one that started over 25 years ago when I first began buying secondhand old cameras, taking them apart and making periscopes with the mirrors. L. bought me this book last night which has step by step lessons around your camera, which is reinforced by a series of projects at the end of each chapter. Good fun!

For a more hands on experience I found this in the Tate: Whats on April-May booklet. The Shoot Experience organise treasure hunts, workshops but the idea that caught my idea as the Tate shoot.

Teams are given different parts of a story and sent into the local streets to
find inspirations and take photos that respond to or represent each phrase or
word. At the end of the day all photos are collected and compiled to make an
unique photographic story board that will be projected onto the big screen in
the Turbine Hall.

You need groups of 4 and its 50 quid each group to enter. How about it?

St Patrick’s day this weekend. Trafalgar Square should turn green, but in light of the recent military clashes Boris is hoping to dedicate the festivities to Peace. With a parade and a festival I certainly hope this ends up being a very peaceful and festive day.

I however shall miss all of this and go for a walk along the Thames Path.

Another week, another blossom shot

The thing about London this time of year, is that nature offers tantalising glimpses of Summer, with punishing reminders of Winter. No one ever knows what to wear in London, is it raining or is it shining, oh great- its both. However There is nothing like, after a week of rain and grey, walking in the morning with a blue sky above you, your jackets collar turned up against the rain, and the streets lined with the first years blossoms. Its a good way to start a working day.

Protected View Series

On a burial mound deep in Richmond Park, is King Henry's Mound. It has a protected view all the way across one of the most sprawling and constantly developing cities in the world. I know you cant really see it in the pictures (*!) but trust me, that fuzzy grey area is St Paul's Cathedral.

Richmond Park Guided Walk 2

We were up early for our guided walk around Richmond Park, but we had a chance to catch an egg and coffee and hash browns at the River Cafe opposite Putney Bridge Station.

There were about 60 of us in all, the average age probably about the same number but there was a polite friendliness going around. The talks concerned park management, soil nutrition, rhodadendrons and herons.

We saw wild deer, heard great spotted woodpeckers and saw pipe smoking tweed cap wearing naturists.

The weather was changable, with looming clouds making way around the blue sky. Although it was cold it soon became obvious that beer oclock was looming.

And we saw a live wild rabbit, munching on the park like it was one big salad bar.

The Seven Sisters Road

The streets of North London were just starting to fill again after the football.

The local team had just won due to a penalty shoot out and the sound of car horns rang into the night.

The neon signs of take away food joints projected the promise of shadowy nourishment.

I walked with my camera down the Seven Sisters Road.

photos of the day

A walk in the park

We gathered at the Hampstead Heath Museum for a guided walk called "reading the landscape". It was taken by the author David McDowell who has written walking books including the Heath and Richmond Park.

In a very geological minded walk we discovered that 60 million years ago this part of the world was under the ocean, which is why so much sand sits next to the London Clay, and that pebbles washed up were from a giant river that flowed from Devonshire 40 million years ago.



Interspersed were some interesting stories about how the landscape was cut away from the heath to make bricks (1860 circa) or how the viaduct was to be the start of a handsome avenue but the good members of the public who wanted to keep the heath as it was stopped this by some canny land purchases which prevented drainage. All quite dry yet interesting information. We found parts of the Heath we had never seen, but as we should, stopped into a pub at the end!(NB This is an awesome pub but you have to book for sunday roasts! (imagine!) we got a seat but watched many people leave dissapointed.

A Monday walk into work

A beautiful Monday morning this morning. Springtime in London hits hard! Took my time coming in and took a few snaps for your perusal!








I liked how the over exposed sky turned out? seems like a polaroid half way thru developing or something?

By Kings Mall in Hammersmith every Thursday there is a market. Looks like these guys have got here a little early, this man was setting up some leather belts.

And here though they look delicious, it was a bit early for me to be eating olives.

plynth out city

I know I have been useless about the morning photo a day. but they havent been very good.
heres my one from today.

And yesterday


But that is not the best thing about this post. No. I have saved that until last!
As you all know Anthony Gormly had the brainwave of making people art, but its not until today that you can enter! so please, enter now and become the fourth plynth in Trafelgar Sq.!

Getting to work in the Springtime

Thats right! I said spring time, when these little beauties arrive I think its the very begining of the herald of spring. Which made me think that I will try and take a photo everyday of my way to work. I am meant to be biking tomorrow so it will be of different london locations. it might be too borring to make it to the site, or I may have to start another blog for it, but at the moment, just this one for now!
Above is Pimlico and below is ravenscourt park.

Raclette!

Know it sounds funny
But I just cant stand the pain
Girl Im leaving you tomorrow
Seems to me girl
You know Ive done all I can
You see I begged, stole
And I borrowed
Ooh, thats why Im Cheesy

Cheesy like sunday moooooorrrrrrrrrrning

Delicious Drop of Goodness

Had a nice weekend, all in all and especially enjoyed watching a bit of tv with L. sharing a bottle of "The Crossings"

We watched masterchef, being human (spoilers!) and the dark knight.

a click and this smile is yours

Well, a collector of smiles.

I trawl this web of ours like a relentless fishing vessel, bringing up the choicest cuts of information for you, and lay them out on my hastily made sales counter. Here are my wares now, just a click away.
Do not think about SFW (of course it is) or how much energy is required of the universe to transport you from this site to that. Just apply weight to your pointing finger. There are no muscles in your fingers. A simple tensing of the tendon will push you towards a smile and a feeling of happiness within your own belly. No matter how big or flabby, or hairy, or toned that belly is. No matter if you don't have the cash for food, this will fill you with a priceless meal of some not insignificant worth. This link below is one that will take you to something that will make you think- i wish i came up with that! I wish I was more creative! Wait, I could still do this!

CLICK ME

the blurring of the line between criminal and creative photography

Personally I don’t mind too much.
Western society does need to be aware of the possibility of bombs in public places. So if the police take down your name and details for taking photos then I think it’s a small price to pay to ensure that they have records of who did what. But if it comes to more than that, if they are intending to hold people with nothing stronger than suspicion, then I do have a problem. Especially as the gvt can hold you with out charging you.
So for this part of the civil rights issue that I defend and publicize and may attend this flash (heh) mob protest. The plan is to turn up to New Scotland Yard this coming Monday 11am and take photos the day this ambiguous law is passed. The law basically says

you are within your rights to take a photograph anywhere that is public property. Unless a policeman says you are not allowed, and then you are not.

On the same issue, Conservative MP Dr Rachael Joyce is on my side in this, but misses the point somewhat. She is annoyed that under the same law, PCSO’s have stopped her and a friend while taking photos outside Harrow Bus Station. She says

we were clearly not terrorists

as if there is a standard template of people who constitute terrorists. She seems to be saying that the police are wasting their time taking down the name of these particular individuals based on their physical- which must also incorporate their genetic- attributes.

Bob Marleys Birthday

Its Bob Marleys birthday . 64 you know. And its not that old. I will be 64 in 2039 which I personally find intimidating, motivating and inevitable. OF course I am so rock n roll I may not last the night!

So here is one of my favorite songs that I think rings true in this day of uncertainess and living with the wages of greed. I am going home to blast a bit of Bob Marley before I go out. All this “doobie doobie do” is motivating as well. Ride Natty Ride. *(my hair is free from nattyness, lets be clear)

'Cause now the fire is out of control,
Panic in the city, wicked weeping for their gold!
Everywhere this fire is burning,
Destroying and melting their gold,
Destroying and wasting their souls.

Go ride, Natty, ride!
Go deh, Dready! Go deh!

Tell you what: now the people gather on the beach
And the leader try to make a speech,
But the Dreadies understanding that it's too late:
Fire is burning;
Man, pull your own weight!
Fire is burning;
Man, pull your own weight!

Slim Jim's Liquor Store

Went to this lovely bar on upper street last week. "Slim Jims Liquor Store" good music, good atmosphere, I dont think there was a place for loads of people so it was more of a place for 1 or 2 at a time! worth it though if you are around upper street soon.

I really just wanted to post these photos hahaha

indulgent youtube nostalgia for Waitangi day

So its Waitangi Day, and although it has finished in NZ I thought I would include a whole bunch of NZ utube goodness.


this is my family btw






British people look out for Phillip Scofield in his NZ personality.


This is awful. Only for NZers 30+ high on nostalgia

My Furry Friends.

1 in Five people in Britain took yesterday off due to adverse weather. You are reading the blog on one of those one in fivers.
The snow is melting away, which if you are a Londoner you will know that means pain. Tubes cant handle being wet either. The fall is worse on ice, than it is on snow.



This is a picture of the park down the road from work. nice isnt it? I spent an hour in the snow taking snaps this morning and the sun rose. it was nice!
I made two friends. One is a robin.


and the other is a squirel

the egg layers and the spawned

You guys know what a Tuatara is right? These awesome little fellas are making news all over NZ at the moment.
Apparently one that is 111 years old just had babys!. And its not just going on in the zoo's but eggs have been found in the wild, for the first time in 70 years!


This rather clumisly brings me to another piece of news that caught my eye this morning, that the FDA is lifting its ban on stem cell research applied to humans. The embryonic stem cell can adapt to change into any kind of cell in the human body, which is an amazing thing when you think about it. Geron (an american company) has had its plans to test on patients with injured spinal cords due to injury. Its worked on the rats! But previously where the Bush administration has condemned the practice, the FDA has stood firm, now there is a more liberal administration the FDA has allowed what may turn out to be another historic milestone in American history. The FDA have denied that this white house shift has anything to do with anything, but well, its a coincidence and a half!

Conversely, you can isolate your own amniotic cells at home with any placenta you may have hanging around. This way you can beat any monopoly Geron may have in the future.

Crush and Lovely- 50 people one question

Fifty People, One Question: Brooklyn from Crush & Lovely on Vimeo.

Just found this. Its very nicely shot and quite inspirational. By crush and lovely apprently there is going to be a london one coming up soon, so check them out at a later date. You know these are one of those ideas you just want to steal for yourself!