Changing London - # 122/2011

"As solid as the Bank of England" used to sum up just about everything in the architecture of  The City - massive, grey, somewhat dirty and still a bit smoke-scarred by WW2 bombing and not particularly "uplifting", but definitely "resilient".  I liked working in The City but I didn't enjoy the built environment very much. That's changed. New Change was the site of some typically massive offices once occupied by the Bank of England (I believe) - the bank building itself is a little further down the street.


New Change was knocked down and this year replaced by a steel and glass marvel that prays to the gods of shopping as well as commerce: the circulation of money rather than the careful stewardship thereof.


I like this 6 floor miracle of modern architecture in the new City of London. Interestingly, the whole structure seems to fade away into nothing when given certain kinds of photographic treatment. Is that also symbolic of our modern, post 1945 consumer-capitalism.........an economy based on consumption rather than solid investment? 

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.

All change at New Change 112/2011

I'm experimenting trying to "see" things differently.  Here is my vision of the magnificent glass and steel creation on the No. 1 New Change site that opened this year, opposite St.Paul's.


Below is what it looks like to the "unimaginative" eye.  I really like the light, ethereal, ultra-smooth, smokey-glass structure. Packed inside is an Aladin's Cave of shopping and commercial delights. The previous post showed how it offered a new and enjoyable view of its neighbour, St. Paul's Cathedral.

Split St. Paul's - # 111/2011

Another new, unexpected vista created by the new architecture in the City of London.  "New Change" was a large office block and is now a major new shopping centre and commercial area.  Looking out towards St. Paul's Cathedral the glass structure creates this vision.

Lost in the City - # 110/2011

Over the last 20 years the City of London (the Square Mile - financial and trading district) has continued to go through a rapid and radical and highly expensive period of building renewal and transformation.  Here, glass and stone and natural light work together to create a new vista, and a new way of seeing things in a very old part of London close to the spot where the Romans founded their first London quayside.

Batman's London - # 96/2011

You'll have noticed a lack of "content". While looking about for a bit more inspiration and something "different" I've been spending some time trying to take a look at "the new London", and trying to see what I can make of it. Richmond itself will come back one day, but I need a rest.


This week end took me to the area around Tower Bridge and London Bridge where they are building  the new "Shard" tower  all around there is stunning new architecture with creative view points and vistas. This is indeed 21st Century London, straight out of a 1950s Marvel Comic; and one expects Batman to turn up at any moment, or maybe Superman to snatch somebody to safety, away from an oncoming red London Transport bus. I like it.


And it's very photogenic.

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.

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 4 - # 30/2011

A small alleyway in Kalbuh.  Being English I am naturally overwhelmed and delighted by the play of the sunlight; it's what we see and like about the towns and sights in Italy and the Cote d'Azur, France. Kalbuh is a tiny little enclave close to Mutrah, the main harbour area of Muscat. It's a strange little spot - it's nothing but a few houses, but, for me at any rate, it has an overwhelming charm and quietness with a view to the sea. It's worth clicking on the photo to enlarge it and then just letting your eyes roam over some of the little details.

Contrasts with Muscat 1.1 - # 25/2011

London suburbia (vintage 1935); winter. Enough said.

Contrasts with Muscat 1 - # 24/2011

Now that I'm back in Richmond I thought I would play a little game making comparisons. It won't last long but it will give me time to "bed-in" again.

I like this house - or rather the two (white behind, brown in front). Unfortunately poor camera management means that the image is not as crisp and sharp as it should be. (I was experimenting and forgot to reset the camera, and perhaps I should have attached my polarising filter, but I was too lazy - "Oh, the heat, the heat, Carruthers. This damned eternal heat. Why did I ever sign up for this service?").

Anyway, these are two "patrician houses"; the small brown one carefully restored to celebrate the old style, and the one behind, in the typical Omani "fortress" style with what looks like a Portuguese style balcony, reflecting the 17th century Portuguese influences in Muscat - I'm guessing. I'm going to try and contrast them with similar houses here in Richmond.

The houses are in a tiny spot, called Kalbuh, close to the main harbour area called Mutrah.

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 13 - # 9/2011

Inside the souk at Mutrah (the port area of Muscat) it is surprisingly cool thanks to old traditional construction methods that naturally encourage ventilation and shade.  It's the original "shopping mall" but without the need for electric air conditioning. Although thick with people, and hot outside, it's fresh and inviting.

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.

Memorial Sq through to Church St, Kingston on Thames - # 92/10

Come to think of it this would make a very nice B&W print.  However, it's done now, so I'm not going to change it.

This is one of my favourite views of Kingston town centre.  I really enjoy the harmony, the proportions, the human scale and overall shaping of the buildings and the way the street curves and gives a glimpse into the next one, and so on. When I'm in Kingston I like to just stop for a moment and slowly take it in.

It's getting late on the 29th October, so things are rather grey. But the town is still lively. 

An edgy "glimpse" of Richmond - # 67/10

The two previous "glimpses" were of the charateristically "soft" kind.  Here's a glimpse of the German School at Petersham, close to Ham House and the river.  As we wind through the trees along the secluded Douglas Footpath we catch glimpses of this excellent modern building.  This was taken at 400mm telephoto length at f3.5, and I confess that I have dramatised it (but not excessively) on Lightroom to emphasise the impact of the lead cladding and the strong impression made by the cupolas in the glass roof.  I suppose we could hype up the sinister imagery of the security cameras, but on the otherhand, the lead cladding attracts "enterprising traders" who must be deterred.  My intention is simply to note and appreciate a glimpse of a good building within its Richmond "Arcadian" setting.

Glimpse of boathouse on Twickenham bank - # 63/10

One thing about the river views around Richmond is the delightful way that things with pleasing shapes peep out from behind screens of trees or around bends.  This is just a little boat house, typical of several along the river here.  It cheers me up to spend a few moments just looking, and appreciating.

Disney-Land in Kingston upon Thames - # 09/155

After more than 60 years of familiarity with Kingston I have to confess that I had never noticed this group of houses until today.  To be fair, it is at a spot where, although I passed frequently, I was always on a bus or driving a car, or too tiny to pay attention to such a marvel.  However, it just goes to show how much we miss, or fail to learn about our surroundings.

This group is at the bottom of Kingston Hill near the traffic circle at the junction with Park Rd.  Amazing!  Enalrge the photo to appreciate some of the detail.

Richmond roofline 10 - # 09/150