The cleaner at the royal palace # 7/2012

Another shot taken in Muscat at the white marble colonnade in the ceremonial palace.

Diagonal - # 114/2011

Another abstract impression of a glass and metal marvel opposite the Lloyd's building in the City of London.


Here's the original shot.  Sunlight shines on the aluminium and glass and produces are a wonderful effect.  London is no longer city of heavy grey stone, blackened by smoke.

Iron work - # 102/2011

I've left you somewhat bereft for a while. There are reasons for that, but none of them bad.

Walking around London these days one sees that (not withstanding the nasty riots in certain areas - which will pass, and which for various reasons happen as history wends its way forward, always looking back) this great city is looking remarkably good these days, and will be looking even better by the time the Olympic Games open next year. That's an understatement: it's going to look super!!!

I'm taking a close photographic look at the architectural forms and how they work to create supporting structure and also to please the eye.  Things went a bit wrong in the 1960s and 1970s but they are much improved now, and '60s-'70s monstrosities are fast being demolished.

Massive ironwork from the 19th century Canal and Steam age manages to endure and look eternally pleasing. Here is a detail of the ironwork in a bridge over the Grand Union Canal in Little Venice, near Paddington railway station.  Take the Underground to Warwick Avenue, and walk 200 yards down to Little Venice. 

City stunner - # 95/2011

Nothing posted for a week.  Naughty.  But a good excuse.  Weather, stuff happening etc.  However, here's a little something I did recently while working up a project based on London and The City (you might have guessed).

It's a detail from a very fine Victorian building in the City.  I'm keeping it anonymous. I'm more interested in the image abstract than the precise reality.

The Coastguard's cottage - # 79/2011

I've taken you back to Seaford Head and the Cuckmere Haven where a few days ago we saw the bad weather closing in on the Seven Sisters white chalk cliffs.

I couldn't resist capturing this image of the old coastguard cottage with its red door and blue window frame set against the super-grey English Channel.  It's hard to belive that if you keep on going south for about 900 miles you'll reach the sunny scenery of Menton DP. Ah, well; you can't have everything.

2 hours later - # 58/2011

2 hours after dawn the sun is at a good angle to capture the magnificence of Old Menton, and the light begins to release the essence of the place.  Of course an early morning walk out to the end of the harbour breakwater to catch the colours as they change minute by minute and to take in the whole width of the town is what dedicated "real" photographers would be doing.

The 1930s - # 51/2011

I regularly walk past this doorway which is typical of the calming, elegant style of 1930s Britain.  It's hard to imagine that at the same time the industrial towns of Britain and continental Europe were still, by today's standards, quite horrible.

Contrasts with Muscat 5 - # 31/2011

The late Victorian Terrace.......there are millions of houses in streets like this all over England.  The remarkable thing (for me, at least) is the attention to pretty details.  In one sense the rows and rows of little boxes all close together are a bit scary, but look at the pretty details.  "Elegant Living" for the masses, decency and church on Sundays: imperial confidence.   

Muscat Moments 15 - # 11/2011

Oh, look! It's another colonade! Sorry, but this one was impossible to resist (I know it's rather a cliche, but.....).   This one is purely decorative and no doubt outrageously expensive, but on a hot day - 50 degrees C - you would love it.  It's part of the Sultan's palace.

Muscat Moments 10 - # 6/2011

I don't want to bore you with too much "architecture", but I want to show some more colonade studies, and dwell on the pleasing form of the Arabic arch. Here's another very attractive use of the technique at a mosque near where I'm staying.


People shots will be coming again, but mosques and landscapes and townscapes must have their outings as well.

Muscat Moments 8 - # 4/2011

The Arabic arch and the long shady colonade set the scene for this "Happy Families" shot. An Omani family enjoy the cool late night air and are walking the colonade for pleasure. Typically, as far as it seems to me, the Father is carrying the baby, (or happily pushing the buggy). This night shot is hand-held so a bit skew-whiff, but nice nevertheless.  We are down in the old Muscat harbour area known as Mutrah; a fine natural anchorage used for millenia by sea-farers on the Indian and Arabian seas.  

Muscat Moments 7 - # 3/2011

The rather soothing and definitely pleasing form of the Arabic arch leads us forward into the great castle at Nakhal.  Oman is full of forts and strong points, hinting at the turbulent times in its long history. (Not a perfect photo - more of a snap - but as usual the harsh contrasts in light and shade force compromises that would need a full lighting crew to balance out.) After several attempts this was the shot that best captured the effect of the natural light on the arches.

Wet day in Richmond - # 95/10

It's Sunday, but everything is open except for the specialist and second hand book shop (there's more than one small flourishing private book shop in Richmond - some of the rare surviving miracles of 21st Century "developed world" commerce).

The damp weather is keeping customers away from the stainless steel imported Italian-style cafe tables.

Enlarge the picture and enjoy the green moss on the tiny tower-top beneath the cross on the church which was "renewed" in the 18th century. Admire also the original late Victorian white painted window frame on the Alhambra Cafe.

Another "glimpse" of Richmond - # 65/10

A couple of days ago we had the "glimpse" of a boat house.  Here is a glimpse of Orleans House - c1721  Orleans House link.  Both "glimpses" can be seen from the riverside car park close to Ham House. One could visit Orleans House, and then cross by Hammerton's Ferry to see Ham House, and combine it with a walk along the river and a visit to a chosen Richmond cafe (all featured in RuTDP at some time over the 3 1/2 years of its existence).

Those of you who like to see such evocative photos of Richmond might like to look at Steve Morgan's work . He specialises in beautiful images of the Park.

These harmonious 17th and 18th C buildings sit so wonderfully in their landscapes.  But it's easy to forget that this loveliness took 300 yrs to create!  

The Bar-Fly goes cultural - pine staircase c1902 - # 25/10

Yes, indeed! This is another in the much applauded RuTDP occasional Bar fly series.  It's about pleasing shapes and arrangements (in the bar or pub); so let's admire this lovingly restored pine staircase - an example of the period around 1902 when the so-called "arts and crafts" movement was active in British architecture.  The Dysart Arms pub in Petersham is a good example of this style.

Camera: Olympus E3.  Lens: Olympus 14-35mm (28-70) f2.0. 

Something else worth seeing - # 09/156

Following along after yesterday's "delight",  here are two little late 19th Century villas, well cared for in Canbury Park Rd, Kingston.  Please enlarge the picture and spend a few moments noticing the tiny details and little differences.

Richmond roofline 10 - # 09/150

Richmond roofline 17 - # 09/107

Campanile...........no, we are not in Florentine Italy (although right now I could do with some genuine Tuscan weather: or even some genuine English summer weather would be nice. We've got heavy cloud, rain, hot sun, more cloud, wind, more rain, more sun and high "un-English" temperatures - all within a two hour cycle. All very weird and infuriating).

Last night I went for a little walk and caught this at sundown looking towards Richmond from the river bank along Cholmondeley Walk.

Richmond frontline - again - # 09/102

Back on Teddington High St. again we admire the elegance of the 19th Century shop front.

Boat in the window - # 09/97

Snapped in one of the old cottages beside Teddington Lock: I just liked the look of it.