parkylondon

I am a very happy little camper. I learned by email that I have made the shortlist for the Landscape Photographer of the Year 2010. I have no idea if that it a shortlist of 10 or a shortlist of 10,000 but it made me feel great.

The image in question is this one. I’ve checked out the winners from previous years and phew - I’m not sure this is good enough to win, but it’s the first time I’ve been shortlisted. Happy days.

 Man it was hot hot hot when these photos were taken. While I was in Kuwait it peaked out at around 52degC which was like standing in front of a hairdryer at full power.

This image was taken looking out into the Gulf at Sharq Souk, Kuwait City. I have another image taken here on an earlier trip with an Arab Dhow in, basically the same spot. 

 Arab boys fishing at Sharq Souk. I think they were after fish but they spent so much time talking to each other I think they were actually just out, away from their parents. I didn’t see them catch anything - but maybe that was the point!

 Further back down the same pier I got this. The setting sun is off image, left hand side.

 Sunset, Sharq Souk

 Looking back towards Kuwait City from the other side of the Sharq Souk

 Dubai City Skyline from the Intercontinental Hotel at Festival City.

 The Intercontinental, Festival City. It looks like this jet has just lifted off from the ramp at the top of the hotel. It would be cool but it’s just an illusion, more is the pity

I was in Florida (on business) a week or so back and haven’t been able to get these pictures posted until now.

I was fortunate enough to have a east facing room, up high, with a balcony and these pictures were taken on or around sunrise over the course of a couple of days. The large versions are at my Fickr site - just google “parkylondon” and you’ll find it.

Every so often an image gets gets me. I knew this was probably going to be a goodie the moment the shutter clicked. Hope you like it.

I went to Danson Park one evening again recently during the hot snap we’ve had here. The park was crazy mental during the as you can see from the trash laying around (it’s picked up by the clean team next morning) but it meant that some of the pictures I took were belittered with rubbish.

However, the first show here shows two young people enjoying each others company. The park was about to close so I’ve called it “The Last Kiss of The Day”.

This next shot is down by the lake looking back towards the the outflow and main road. The lake was dammed by Capability Brown when the gardens were laid out and although a river (stream) runs through it it disappears underground at the far end of the lake.

This is Danson Mansion which has recently been renovated and reopened to the public. Unfortunately it is closed when I took the shot and there is a strong porta-fence in place around it to prevent people from parking next to the mansion. All well and good but it destroys any decent photo opp. However! The security guard who was locking up the main entrances to the park took pity on me and unlocked the fence so I could get in with the tripod and take a few shots. I have a couple with the moon above the mansion but I think it distracts from the majesty of the mansion itself.

THanks. I hope you enjoy these! Comments are welcome.

I have just done my first gig shoot and, once I got the hang of the super weird lighting and bizarre exposure times I think I got some nice shots. The “motherlode” is over at my Flickr account.

A little background.”Twelfth Night”, one of of my top favourite bands of all time have played a few gigs after an hiatus of some 25 years. I was lucky enough to see them at The Albany in Deptford on that first reunion mini-tour and again at The Peel at the end of that tour. At both of these gigs I saw grown men cry - listening to some seriously great songs we all thought were gone for good.

This set of photos is taken from their May 28th gig at The Lumiere in Kilburn. Another sterling perfomance from the band and step into the unknown as they were playing as a six-piece.

Finally, I will, if you don’t mind, draw your attention to the big green wall notice below. I think ALL pubs, clubs and venues should have this displayed where people are trying to enjoy live music. That is all.

Spot the insects.

I was in Goudhurst in Kent in the South East of England last weekend taking pictures of the Parish Church there (you’ll have to go to my Flickr page to see them - google Parkylondon) when one of the congregation asked me to take pictures of her house and garden which I was more than happy to do. Here are three of the results, taken with HDR in mind but only subtly tonemapped… Emjoy. Comments welcome, as usual..

I’ve spent a little time processing the images now. Don’t forget these were hand held with a Canon S90 for 1/2 second exposures so don’t expect pic sharp. Next time I go I will take the tripod and do some long exposures and HDR….

I’m a fan of the great British Curry and so I enjoy a wonderful area of East London, known as Brick Lane; some say Curry was invented here - if it wasn’t invented here then Brick Lane is at the very least its cultural home here in London. This post is a subset of a series of pictures taken on a walk from Brick Lane into the City.

I have a large Set on Flickr with the full sized versions of these images.

The first picture is of a street light on Brick Lane. I loved the colour of the underside of the light contrasting with the blue of the sky.

This was taken (with permission from the stall holder) at the Old Spitalfields Market. I took some nice shots of a camera stall there too. Some of the stall holders were MUCH less open about photography. The Flickr set has shots of a very grumpy Chinese lady who didn’t understand the concept of “Public”.. ho hum.

The shot below was taken through the (concrete) wall outside 135 Bishopsgate. I liked the sense of movement, busy-ness and yet a casual-ness too. I used this shot as the cover for my first photobook.

This is taken at Broadgate. The chap with the sun in his ear!

Hope you enjoy these. Comments welcome.

I am off to Dubai in 2 hours so I should hopefully get some nice pictures there…