Study in texture and colour - # 62/10

Click it, take it to full screen size and let your eye travel over the surfaces.

Street musician evokes image - # 61/10

Snapping a street musician in Kingston, I was surprised by the result. 

Nipper's grave found - # 35/10

Back in March I showed the Toilet Gallery and mentioned the art exhibition around the theme of the famous HMV Records "dog listening to gramophone logo" which features the faithful Nipper.


It took some time and a small amount of effort, but at last I have discovered the site of Nipper's grave.  It's down inside there - through the entrance archway between the shops. Tomorrow I'll show you.  Meanwhile, enjoy a photo of a street of shops in Kingston upon Thames.  Jilly in Menton loves dogs and wanted to see a photo of his grave.  Keep looking, Jilly!

When we walked on streets of gold - # 09/165

And do you remember when we walked on streets of gold?

Out late last night to photograph the party season crowd milling around the night club area.  The severe weather warning came true and left Trevor and me slaving over a freezing cold camera seeking sites that were a bit sheltered from the icey blast.  The car traffic was down to a miserable trickle and the bouncers were cowering in the entry doors.  Trevor struggled to keep the umbrella in a position where it shielded the lens, stayed out of shot, and was not at an angle that allowed the wind to catch it and whip it away.  Just remember one thing..........night shots are fun.  (Note and afterthought: wives were a bit quiet and unwelcoming when we finally got home. Must get to the bottom of that.)

Camera: Olympus E3. Fully Manual settings. ISO 100 f11.0 Shutter various around 3.5 to 10.0 secs.  Lens Olympus 14mm - 35mm f2.0.  White balance auto, tweaked later to slightly enhance blue and gold.  The B&W version lacks impact, so chose colour. 

Richmond frontline - again - # 09/102

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

Rushing homeward - # 08/279

Just a snap looking from Kingston Bridge (one of the oldest bridge crossings over the Thames - even a Roman bridge? I must check it.) towards the centre. As you know I generally don't "do" people, but I like to show an ordinary street scene now and then. As a town with both a university and higher education colleges Kingston has a large population of youngsters around about. It's also a major retail shopping centre. The street scene reflects all this.

Late opening - quick fix - on the Town!- # 08/275

How do I look? How am I doing? Where am I going? Who will I meet? Such trivia! Such style! We are not savages, you know!

El Mariachi! - # 08/274

I really must go. But Baby, it's cold outside. I really can't stay. But Baby, it's cold outside. ...............Ahh, but it's cold outside.

Camera: Olympus E3. Lens 14-35 1:2.0 Hand held. Total weight 2.0 Kg. Clothing: extra thick padded winter trousers; 100% wind proof coat with special padded inner layer worn over thick Shetland pullover; touch sensitive, thin, warm high-tech gloves for camera operation; cotton, wind proof sailor's cap. Sometimes I ask myself "Why?"

Planet China! Richer Sounds! Japanese accompaniment - # 08/273

Moving forward, changing pace, changing gear, increasing power, focusing and concentrating. Chaotic yet ordered. Following visible instructions and navigating by instinct. Richmond upon Thames Daily Photo is evolving into its next phase, gathering new images, striking out into new areas of experience - slowly but surely.

The Birch and the Eucalyptus Tree- # 08/263

Just a "Happy Snap" from my front window. It's interesting to see how the North European Birch reacts to Autumn compared with the huge Australian Eucalyptus.

It's so nice to watch these trees throughout the year, in all lights and weathers.

Relaxing - # 08/171

'roony's thoughts will be elsewhere for a little while, and photos will not be "daily".

It seems most of you liked yesterday's "night shot". I had mixed feelings about it, but one cannot deny that the building is very attractive, especially when illuminated so well.

Street scene - # 08/164

Workmen at lunch, the two Japanese tourists, the tourist taking photos, the officer checking out a group of youths wearing the standard youth's uniform, the passenger coming out of the station.

No cracks in the wall - # 08/156

Just getting the "Edwardianer" out of my system before moving on.

Go on! Enjoy yourself! - # 08/147

Relax and enjoy the sunshine along Kew Station Parade. (Trouble is, it's gone a bit dull and cloudy again......are well, that's England).

Watching and waiting - # 324

You will have noticed that I don't normally show people or lively street scenes. I find them notoriously hard to do, and for some reason (at least for me) they often don't seem to "work" and so I don't attempt them. I think it also has something to do with the nature of English streets and the way an English crowd "poses" itself. But I won't blame my lack skill onto others.

Nevertheless, here they are. The English squad of the British Isles....British Subjects, Citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland...........not a lot of people know that, and indeed, very few British actually know it. They haven't a clue these days what they are, and so the Government suddenly embarks on a tortuous and controversial process of trying to explain and instill "Britishness". This is totally the fault of successive Governments and people who should have known better who have failed ensure that this particular aspect of identity was nurtured and cared for. (Well, that's my opinion....but let's not get too upset about it).

Anyway.....it's good to be British, it's a privilege.

Street cafe trading opportunity - England 6th December 07- # 314

Climate change (a modern term for "it's sunnier and warmer than it used to be") has brought to England the benefits of the street cafe open air life style. However, there are still some limitations. In part, these limitations are related to the fact that this year "it's a great deal less sunny and far much wetter than it used to be".

Old tricks & new ways to turn a penny - # 81

Warmer, sunnier weather has encouraged and enabled traders to make productive use of the space in front of their shops. The Natural Cafe (Post # 31) has set up some tables and started to promote their delicious rustic bread specialities. The pavement is narrow and the road is busy, so I'm sure that there's a delicate balance of things to settle to make it possible and successful in our modern, regulated, society. It's an enjoyable and welcome new sight on the street.

Soft! But see how out of mist of thought, with winning sighs, temptation shows its form. - # 79

Have a good week and make all around you happy.