cracked and blue

January 16, 2022

A quick post to say happy birthday to my good friend Phil. And happy 21-year friendversary!

I took this photo during our trip to Chichester in September last year. It reminds me of a lot of his urban texture photography.

4012_2 gandhi

November 30, 2021

^{[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 23 November 2021].}

hotel ^^^^

August 31, 2021

^{[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 24 August 2021].}

under gloucester avenue

July 17, 2021

^{[I originally posted this image as early access for my Patreon patrons on 10 July 2021].}

untitled #51

July 1, 2021

^{[I originally posted this image as early access for my Patreon patrons on 24 June 2021].}

toni's ices

June 29, 2021

^{[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 22 June 2021].}

I'm looking forward to the prospect of day trips out of the city with friends this summer.

The last one with friends as a collective in the UK was to visit Cambridge in 2018.

I took this photograph in Cambridge, but it was during a road trip with Mum and Dad on their last visit to the UK in 2017.

It was definitely my Mum's last international trip but, hopefully, Dad can come back to the UK sometime soon.

That trip was stressful and emotional as it was the first time the development of Mum's dementia was unmistakable. Previous travels with my parents had been stressful and emotional, but for other reasons.

But it was still enjoyable for the places I could visit or revisit and the time spent with my parents in the calmer moments. And, obviously, the photographic opportunities.

Where are you looking forward to spending your days out this summer? Answers on a postcard ;)

untitled [tacheles, berlin, germany, 2001]

first we take manhattan...

June 22, 2021

^{[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 16 June 2021].}

So, a mere ten days ago, I wrote about feeling like my heart had been torn out of my chest. It turns out he didn't get it all the first time, and today I learned that the hard way.

Yesterday was hard. I was tender and tired and anxious but simultaneously hopeful and cautiously optimistic.

Clearly, I had no idea what today would bring.

I thought the worst would be less time between drinks. I didn't know last drinks had already been called while I was away powdering my nose.

And today, all the fight has gone out of me.

I didn't get to post a photograph from my travels before I had to take some time out last night, so I'm sharing these 35mm film photos of Tacheles in Berlin that I took in 2000 tonight.

Memories from 20 years ago that might have been revisited with another. But apparently, that's not to be.

Tacheles, as it was in 2000, feels like such an appropriate metaphor for how I feel right now: half-demolished, half-derelict, yet full of art and creativity, and somehow still standing despite everything. Somehow. It also had a beer garden.

I scanned these today from glossy black and white prints with the Photomyne app on my iPhone. For me, it's no substitute for scanning negatives with a proper flatbed scanner. While it may be worthwhile for some, I think I'll save my money to put toward an actual negative and photo scanner so I can share my older work with you from time to time.

Also, after a long week or so of sunshine and warm weather, today is closing with rain as it was ten days ago. I believe a thunderstorm is coming our way.

The rain and The Cure are intermingling to alternately calm me and punctuate my sorrow.

direct your energy

June 16, 2021

^{[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 10 June 2021].}

Note to self.

I had a productive day today.

I managed to keep my focus for much of the day, though distraction caused by life slowed me down twice during the early afternoon and evening.

After focussing on work for clients for much of the day, I was looking forward to some photo editing but struggled to find the right image that I wanted to share.

I initially wanted to create and post a new lost in her own world collage. But I was struggling to find the right image to add to my template, so I moved on. I didn't want it to be forced.

Then I kept bypassing albums to review for a photo because they were images suited to #TravelTuesday or #SepulchralSunday posts or my Love letters to London.

As I was about to give up and have a cheese and cracker supper while watching some TV, this one popped up. So I edited it on the spot to share.

It's a promo for the gym in an archway in Thamesmead, here in London. But the lines, the light, the colours and the message caught my eye when visiting there in August 2019.

Perhaps I need to get it printed on a canvas to hang in my bedroom/workspace to help me on days when I feel like I'm wading through molasses. On days I'm struggling to see past the latest (emotional, mental, financial) hurdle placed in my path.

rear window (you can see hollywood from here)

March 30, 2021

^{[I originally posted this image as early access for my Patreon patrons on 23 March 2021].}

underpass overpass

September 28, 2020

^{[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 21 September 2020].}

This is another photograph I submitted to issue #149 of Shots Magazine.

Extras role in the background for the Albert Road gasworks.

untitled #47

September 27, 2020

^{[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 20 September 2020].}

I took this on a photo walk with my friend and fellow photographer, Scott, on my birthday in 2018.

It was taken in Bloomberg Arcade, a spot which is very close to two of my last workplaces but that I rarely passed through. I think this was only the second or third time I'd been there.

This was one of two photographs of Bloomberg London that I submitted to Issue #149 of Shots Magazine.