I take pictures

Canal Scenes

2009-05-19T21:34:00.005+01:00

Some images of Venice tonight linked thematically by the canal, I've also included some of the main sights too.

Venice, 30/01/2008

San Simeone Piccolo, Venice, 31/01/2008

Doge's Palace and Campanile, Venice, 31/01/2008

Venice, 31/01/2008

Venice, 31/01/2008

I'm going to do one more blog on Venice, then move on to other images.

Hasta pronto.

New camera

2009-05-15T18:29:00.004+01:00

I've just invested in a new camera and like my first proper one it's a Canon, here's the first picture that I took on it (the new one not the first proper one);

Stoke Newington, 12/05/2009

Must close, I'm cooking jamesinseoul his tea tonight...

More Venice pictures soon.

Graffiti

2009-05-08T22:26:00.007+01:00

I'm editing my digital photos at the moment in an attempt to free up some space on my hard drive and seeing all the pictures I've taken in a five year period over a few evenings makes me aware of themes occurring in my work. I'm a bit alarmed by the number of pictures of my feet or shoes that I've taken (perhaps a future blog), one constant that has also survived from back in the day when I'd shoot in black and white on 35mm is photographing graffiti.

What fascinates me about graffiti is akin to the urge scratch your name in the school desk, or even taken photo's, it's about making marks, and in terms of images you can argue that it has it's origins in the cave painting, so for someone interested in visuals I guess there's this primal link, maybe I'm thinking too much...however in the history of photography, I'm not alone in being interested in graffiti, a quick peak at my library shows that Elliott Erwitt was partial to the odd shot.

Tonight's images were all taken in Venice last year, I can't remember the exact locations, but at least two of them were taken in the loo of a bar that incongruously had McEwans on tap...

Venice, 30/01/2008

Venice, 31/01/2008

Venice, 31/01/2008

Venice, 31/01/2008

Venice, 01/02/2008

Venice, 01/02/2008

Have a good weekend. Hope you like the new template.

Venice in fog

2009-05-06T21:29:00.005+01:00

So it's been awhile since I last was here...so long that C has had another birthday since taking the pictures I'm putting up tonight...

These are some abstract images from the Lagoon in Venice in fog.

Venice, 31/01/2008

Venice, 31/01/2008

Venice, 31/01/2008

Well worth the wait, I'm sure...

Tourist Traps

2008-12-08T20:42:00.003Z

Hi there, my internet is still working, so it's time for another blog; in honour of the city currently flooded, tonight we have a couple of pictures of famous sights in Venice; the Rialto bridge and St. Marks Basilica.

The remains of St Mark are kept here and were smuggled out of Constantinople by being covered by pork to avoid being searched by customs officials, those Venetians must really have wanted those bones...

San Marco, Venice, 31/01/2008

San Marco, Venice, 30/01/2008

Apparently Michaelangelo was one of the entrants in the competition to design a bridge to link San Marco with San Polo and Santa Croce, the guy who won did an ok job I guess...

San Marco, Venice, 30/01/2008

San Marco, Venice, 31/01/2008

Up and running

2008-11-30T23:07:00.004Z

I know I'm getting old because I find myself understanding technology less and less; I used to marvel at how I could operate a VCR while my parents struggled over the operator manual. I am now crossing over into their domain because the internet is a mystery to me, I have struggled with it here for the best part of four months meaning that I have blogged intermittently and the amount of photographs I have to show grow larger by the week. It turns out that all I needed was a longer ethernet cable, so here I am back online and ready to share my photographs regularly with you again...

I went to Venice with C for her birthday way back in January, it feels like a very long time ago already, so looking at these pictures feels like preparing a retrospective rather than introducing new work...

Venice was my first taste of Italy, and I think the lasting impression (even before the sterling went tits up, or down depending on your perspective) was how expensive it was in terms of restaurants and shopping; this isn't a cheap Englishman abroad complaining about having to part with his hard earned cash, as whatever minus points accrued by how dear things are were more than counter-balanced by the free and simple pleasure of walking the streets and alleyways marvelling at the architecture and the details.

So tonight's photos will be a brief selection of things and places that took my eye, I didn't take very good notes so unfortunately I've forgotten where most of these places are...

Venice, 30/01/2008

Venice, 31/01/2008

Venice, 01/02/2008

Venice, 31/01/2008

If all goes to plan, I'll be back in the next few days.

Fare thee well

2008-10-13T23:43:00.001+01:00

Apologies for the delay, I’ve been having trouble with the internet. Tonight, I’m going to round up my Scottish pictures with a brief but haphazard selection of my favourite remainders…

Stonehaven, 21/09/2007

This is a table top in a small café in a town called Stonehaven, it’s on the East coast of Scotland and is about half way between Aberdeen and Arbroath give or take a few miles. I won’t go as far as saying that this is my contribution to Abstract Expressionism but what drew me to take this picture was the resemblance to the works of Jackson Pollock or Cy Twombly embodied in the random doodlings of children.

Arbroath, 24/09/2007

Arbroath, 21/09/2007

Next, on to Venice...

...has a lot of catching up to do.

2008-09-17T22:12:00.003+01:00

Needless to say, the brief hiatus was a lot longer than anticipated, but I am online now, but the connection is slow...

Enough of my rambling, to the pictures! Over the next few weeks I will be bringing you up to date with my photographic adventures of the past few, well it's been a long time.

We'll be visiting Venice, France and there'll be some visits to London as always, but let's start where pretty much where we left off, in Arbroath...

Arbroath, 24/09/2007

Arbroath, 24/09/2007

Arbroath, 24/09/2007

Arbroath, 25/09/2007

Arbroath, 21/09/2007

I hope you enjoy the above, see you soon.

...is going on a brief hiatus...

2008-01-19T08:57:00.000Z

After 10 months or so in south east London ITP is heading north of the river (today!), and will be away for as long as it takes to get broadband set up in the new place, in the mean time, here are some recent favourites that I haven't got around to sharing with you...

Arbroath, 21/09/2007

Arbroath, 23/09/2007

Riseley, 26/12/2007

Riseley, 29/12/2007

By the bus stop at the Hayward Gallery, 13/01/2008

See you soon, I hope you're all well.

...is a lazy so and so...

2008-01-06T21:56:00.000Z

I must endeavour to post more often. I must endeavour to post more often. I must endeavour to post more often.

Here's a picture of a shark that I took...

Carrefour, Cité Europe, Calais 15/12/2007

Arbroath Abbey, part 2

2007-10-11T21:33:00.001+01:00

Some more shots...

Arbroath, 26/09/2007

Arbroath, 26/09/2007

Arbroath, 26/09/2007

Remember to leave comments; I'm happy to answer any enquiry.

Arbroath Abbey, part 1

2007-10-11T21:12:00.000+01:00

Maybe it's the two and a bit glasses of red wine, maybe it's admitting defeat in attempting to download the new Radiohead album today, maybe it's watching "Stop Making Sense" knowing I don't have to give it my total attention to enjoy it, either way the time is right for a proper full size blog for the first time in ages...

I recently spent a week on the east coast of Scotland, the next few blogs will be a selection from this. Tonight, some pictures of Arbroath Abbey.

Arbroath, 26/09/2007

Arbroath, 26/09/2007

Arbroath, 26/09/2007

Arbroath, 26/09/2007

Arbroath, 26/09/2007

Photographic evidence that it's safe to say that the abbey is rust coloured.

"And what did you do this weekend..?"

2007-10-07T20:10:00.000+01:00

Portsmouth, 07/10/2007

Portsmouth, 07/10/2007

Happy birthday W.A.S.

More photo's from Scotland soon...

Firth of Tay

2007-10-05T20:26:00.001+01:00

Firth of Tay, 23/09/2007

Firth of Tay, 23/09/2007

Oxford Street

2007-09-19T21:06:00.000+01:00

With apologies to the original photographers, but if Sherri Levine and Richard Prince can appropriate other peoples work...

Oxford Street, 19/09/2007

Oxford Street, 19/09/2007

Picnic on Hampstead Heath

2007-08-11T19:49:00.000+01:00

Just got back from a picnic on Hampstead Heath, we had pork pie from Borough Market and pate from Sainsburys...

Here are a selection of pictures, I wanted to see if I could do a blog the same day that I took the photographs, I hope you enjoy...

Hampstead Heath, 11/08/2007

Hampstead Heath, 11/08/2007

Hampstead Heath, 11/08/2007

Hampstead Heath, 11/08/2007

Hampstead Heath, 11/08/2007

Made in Portugal, part 7 (Creatures)

2007-08-07T18:21:00.000+01:00

This blog was going to be called "Insects", but with 4 pictures in tonights edition and two of them containing either a gastropod or a chilopod, that was hardly the most encompassing of titles now was it?

I'd never seen so many creatures - be they insects, spiders or lizards (no decent pictures of these I'm afraid) - as I had during this holiday, one thing that struck me was how wasps would leave you alone, something I'm pining for now that our belated summer has begun here...

Chilrão, 02/06/2007
We christened these insects 'stupid bugs' for their tendency to fly kamikaze style into walls, swimming pools and holidaying Englishmen.

Chilrão, 03/06/2007

Down the valley from Pé de Frio, 07/06/2007
Easily the biggest centipede I ever did see

Chilrão, 09/06/2007

Made in Portugal, part 6 (The view down the other valley)

2007-07-22T23:22:00.000+01:00

This other view is from behind the villa and looking westward. These pictures are mainly taken as the sun was setting, with the first image illustrating the scene during daylight.

Chilrão, 09/06/2007 (1055)

Chilrão, 08/06/2007

Chilrão, 03/06/2007

Chilrão, 04/06/2007

Chilrão, 06/06/2007

One night that I took pictures of this view, I got three mosquito bites on my legs. Oh! the price of creativity...

Made in Portugal, part 5 (The view down the valley)

2007-07-22T21:02:00.000+01:00

You wait ages for a new blog, and then two come along at once...

Tonight, I'm going to share with you some landscape pictures. Rather than being a selection of different Algarve views, each blog is dedicated to a seperate view at different times of the day; the first one is based on the view looking roughly south from beyond the pool back down the road towards Nave and Caldas de Monchique (the photos are also presented chronologically).

I've been planning to do these blogs for a while, but had trouble editing them, (plus free time seems to be even more of a sparse commodity than ever). However, I feel it's appropriate to do blogs of photos based around a single theme with obituaries for Bernd Becher appearing in newspapers this week, click here to read the Guardian one.

The work he produced with his wife Hilla inspired me whilst studying photography at university in Nottingham; it's simple, sparse and repetitious, but their attention to detail is second to none, he also tutored two of my favourite photographers, Andreas Gursky and Thomas Struth, at the art college in Dusseldorf.

Bernd Becher, 1931-2007.

Chilrão, 07/06/2007

Chilrão, 07/06/2007

Chilrão, 08/06/2007

Chilrão, 06/06/2007

Chilrão, 08/06/2007

Made in Portugal, part 4 (The pool)

2007-07-02T22:02:00.000+01:00

One of the major attractions of the villa was its swimming pool; great to jump in when the heat got too much, wonderful to sit by and watch the swallows attempt to catch insects from the surface...

Chilrão, 09/06/2007

This is on the last morning, the only time it rained on our week.

Chilrão, 02/06/2007

Taken during my first dip in the pool and the inspiration for the title of this series.

Chilrão, 03/06/2007

Air bubbles round my ankle, producing a strange affect...

Chilrão, 03/06/2007

Chilrão, 03/06/2007

Night landscape looking south (I believe), the camera was perched on the poolside and I held my breath to avoid camera shake.

Made in Portugal, part 3 (Villa interiors)

2007-06-19T21:21:00.000+01:00

We rented a little place up in the hills (Serra de Monchique to be precise), a million miles from home and a million miles from the busy resorts on the coast. There is a peacefulness here that I don't know where to begin looking for in Britain.

Tonight, please find some still lifes and interior shots of the villa.

Chilrão, 08/06/2007

Chilrão, 05/06/2007

Chilrão, 03/06/2007

Chilrão, 02/06/2007

Chilrão, 03/06/2007

Made in Portugal, part 2 (Cidade Velha)

2007-06-14T23:05:00.000+01:00

The pictures tonight were all taken in Faro Old Town on the last day of our holiday.

Just up from the Arco da Vila, Faro, 09/06/2007

Orange Tree, Largo de Sé, Faro, 09/06/2007

Rua do Arco, Faro, 09/06/2007

Let Sleeping Dogs..., Faro, 09/06/2007

Câmara Municipal, Faro, 09/06/2007

Made in Portugal, part 1 (Praia da Rocha)

2007-06-13T22:37:00.000+01:00

Tonight I'm proud to present the first part of my photos taken during my week in Portugal.

The following blog is made up of pictures taken at Praia da Rocha on the Atlantic coast.

Praia da Rocha, 06/06/2007

Praia da Rocha, 06/06/2007

Praia da Rocha, 06/06/2007

Praia da Rocha, 06/06/2007

Campfire remains resembling a "!"

Praia da Rocha, 06/06/2007

Eggs

2007-06-10T14:15:00.000+01:00

After a great week away (photographic evidence to follow shortly), I'm back in England. The below occurred whilst cooking brunch today;

Camberwell, 10/06/2007

According to this it occurs only once in a thousand eggs, although I'm not sure of the accuracy, I certainly don't remember the last time I saw a double-yolked egg.

Time for a break...

2007-06-01T17:29:00.000+01:00

I take pictures is going on holiday and will be back in a week.

In the meantime, here's the most recent picture I've taken up to now...

Camberwell, 01/06/2007

A Weekend in the Country

2007-05-28T20:50:00.000+01:00

As this wet bank holiday draws to a close, and I have returned to London after a relaxing weekend in the country, it's only apt that I should do a blog entry about it after watching 'Old Joy' which is about a weekend in the country (but is also a cool but very short film).

Anyway, here are some shots from this weekend.

Riseley, 26/05/2007

I've been thinking a lot more about bees recently since reading this, so understandably I got a lot of pleasure from taking the above picture.

Riseley, 26/05/2007

Riseley, 26/05/2007

Tracks in wheat field, Riseley, 26/05/2007

On the way to St Neots, 27/05/2007

Colour Light Abstracts

2007-05-16T22:29:00.000+01:00

Camberwell, 24/04/2007

Camberwell. 11/05/2007

Gingerbread Man

2007-05-16T22:24:00.000+01:00

Beaconsfield, 29/04/2007

Return to Wandsworth

2007-04-28T23:07:00.000+01:00

Wandsworth Common, 27/04/2007
Compare this with these;
another brief interlude
one last interlude

New camera

2007-04-22T15:48:00.000+01:00

For my birthday, my friends bought me a new digital camera. The following is a selection of favourite images I've taken so far...

Camberwell, 25/03/2007

Denmark Hill, 31/03/2007

On the steps of Tate Britain, 07/04/2007

Admiral Hardy, Greenwich, 21/04/2007

St Paul's Cathedral, 21/04/2007

Recent favourites

2007-04-22T15:25:00.000+01:00

Please find a selection of some recent work that I've liked;

Little Venice, 10/02/2007

Waterloo, 11/02/2007

Ceiling, Camberwell, 24/02/2007

Little Venice, 25/02/2007

Brighton, 26/02/2007

Japan: postscript

2007-04-22T15:09:00.000+01:00

Just off Coldharbour Lane, South London, 21/01/2007

Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" transported to Camberwell

Unusual views of outstanding sights, part 9b

2007-04-22T14:30:00.000+01:00

Nagano, 24/10/2006

Untitled, 25/10/2006

Shibuya, 28/10/2006

Nagano, 27/10/2006

This poster was one of the first things I saw in Nagano; apparently the man is a local politician and who was obliged to humiliate himself in public when he lost an election. Maybe it's a cross cultural thing but his pumping fist gesture is rather unsettling...

Nagano, 27/10/2006

This was taken on my last night in Nagano.

Unusual views of outstanding sights, part 9a

2007-04-22T13:16:00.000+01:00

To conclude my Japanese photo's, two parts of miscellaneous images that I like a lot, but didn't quite fit into any of the previous themes.

Matsumoto, 26/10/2006

I've never seen bigger carp than the ones in the moat at Matsumoto castle...

Nagano, 20/10/2006

One of the things I've missed about Japan since my return is the vending machines everywhere; I recently popped into the Japanese supermarket in Soho and was very pleased to see them selling Pocari Sweat (but sadly not Blendy coffee).

On the way back from Yudanaka, 24/10/2006

Nagano, 20/10/2006

Unusual views of outstanding sights, part 8

2007-04-22T12:56:00.000+01:00

After a lengthy hiatus, where I take pictures moved home and took way too long to set up his broadband, I return today with the
concluding parts of my Japanese adventure. First up, a brief selection of cats;

Nagano, 20/10/2006

Shibuya, 29/10/2006

Ikusaka, 25/10/2006

Unusual views of outstanding sights, part 7

2007-02-28T18:35:00.000Z

Tonight, my pictures are on the theme of Flora, if anyone can identify any of these plants (apart from the thistles and the daisies!), please let me know, it will be much appreciated...

Myoko-san, 22/10/2006

Myoko-san, 22/10/2006

Myoko-san, 22/10/2006

Myoko-san, 22/10/2006

Ueno Park, 01/11/2006

Unusual views of outstanding sights, part 6

2007-02-26T22:59:00.001Z

Following on from Cityscapes, tonight's work features Street Scenes.

Shibu, 24/10/2006

Shinjuku, 28/10/2006

Shinjuku. 28/10/2006

Roppongi, 30/10/2006

Unusual views of outstanding sights, part 5

2007-02-22T21:11:00.000Z

Also tonight, Cityscapes.

First morning in Tokyo, 28/10/2006

Shibuya, looking south, 28/10/2006

Looking north from Obasute, 26/10/2006

Nagano, 26/10/2006

Tokyo Harbour, from Odaiba, 31/10/2006

In an introduction to a book of photographs by Fay Godwin, John Fowles wrote, "for me there is no substitute with landscape for being there in reality", looking at these photos after a brief hiatus, I couldn't agree more.

Unusual views of outstanding sights, part 4b

2007-02-22T20:56:00.001Z

Landslide and Footbridge, Tsubame, 22/10/2006

Jigokudani Yaen-kōen, 24/10/2006

Near Tsubame, 22/10/2006

Jigokudani Yaen-kōen, 24/10/2006

Somewhere between Yudanaka and Obuse, 24/10/2006

Unusual views of outstanding sights, part 4a

2007-02-22T20:35:00.000Z

After a few snowy interludes, we return to Japan, tonight I am featuring Landscapes.

The view from L's kitchen, Ikusaka, 26/10/2006

On the way to Yonako Falls, 21/10/2006

A brief stop before Yonako Falls, 21/10/2006

(Sadly, none of my pictures of the waterfalls were up to scratch for I Take Pictures, take my word though, it is truly one of the most beautiful parts of the world; when was the last time you went for a walk in the country and everyone said hello as they passed each other?)

Myoko-san, 22/10/2006

One last interlude...

2007-02-11T21:30:00.000Z

Wandsworth Common, 09/02/07

Another brief interlude...

2007-02-08T19:14:00.000Z

Wandsworth Common, 08/02/07

On the way to work, just after taking this picture, a strange thing happened; the bus driver got out of his cab and asked us (the passengers) to look over to our left as there was a giant snowball on the Common that kids had pushed around until it got bigger and bigger. He'd noticed it getting built earlier that morning and wanted to point it out to us, there was a murmur of laughter as we saw the snowball; a lady was taking a photo of her kids standing behind it as the bus passed. I thought of playing in the snow as a child and also how refreshing it was for a stranger to address me on public transport and the moment not to be fraught with danger or weirdness.

A brief interlude...

2007-01-24T18:08:00.000Z

Or, as I looked out my window one winter morning...

Untitled, 24/01/07

Unusual views of outstanding sights, part 3

2007-01-22T22:40:00.000Z

The photographs in tonight's post are based on the theme of architecture;

Takai Kozan Memorial Museum, Obuse, 23/10/06

Matsumoto-jō, Matsumoto, 26/10/09

Mori Tower, Roppongi, Tokyo, 30/10/06

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Nishi-Shinjuku, 29/10/06

Rainbow Bridge, Shimbashi Station, 31/10/06

Unusual views of outstanding sights, part 2

2007-01-12T23:49:00.000Z

Today's theme is food & drink, oishii...

Ramen, Near Obuse, 23/10/06

Homebrew Sake, Ikusaka mura, 26/10/06

Blendy Coffee, Nagano, 22/10/06

Japanese Tea, Zenkō-ji, Nagano, 25/10/06

Sandwiches, Nagano, 28/10/06

Unusual views of outstanding sights, part 1b

2007-01-08T22:15:00.000Z

Ueno, 01/11/06

Shibuya, 28/10/06

Matsumoto, 26/10/2006

Nagano, 23/10/2006 (after Roger Mertin)

Unusual views of outstanding sights*, part 1a

2007-01-08T21:31:00.000Z

I am proud to introduce a selection of work taken from my Japan trip last year.

Rather than presenting a chronological travelogue, the pictures have been presented around generic themes; over the next few days I shall be posting images under various subjects such as Landscape, Architecture, Food & Drink. Tonight, People.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank D&L once again for their hospitality, generosity and most of all for introducing me to this wonderful country.

(*the title comes from a work by Hokusai)

Zenkō-ji, Nagano, 25/10/2006

Matsumoto, 26/10/2006

Tokyo Rockabilly Club, Yoyogi Park, 29/10/06

Golden Gai, Shinjuku, 28/10/06

Favourite shots of 2006, part 3

2007-01-02T21:53:00.000Z

Nagano, 24/10/2006

Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, 29/10/2006

Somerset House, 09/12/2006

M25, 27/12/06

Special thanks to JT, G&B and M&B.

Favourite shots of 2006, part 2

2007-01-02T21:44:00.000Z

Tower of London, 08/08/2006

Greenwich, 10/08/2006

Untitled, 17/09/2006

Wandsworth, 16/10/2006

Favourite shots of 2006, part 1

2007-01-02T21:02:00.000Z

Aside from those already on here, please find below a selection of my favourite pictures from the last year; I wanted to do one for each month but found that I hadn't taken any good ones in January...

Ham, 30/04/2006

Eastbourne, 04/06/2006

Eastbourne, 04/06/2006 (for G&C)

Kingston, 10/06/2006

Dear Dan, part 1

2006-12-21T23:22:00.000Z

Lockers, Shinjuku station, 29/10/06

Shibuya Crossing (they were still playing football), 29/10/06

Meiji Dori, Shibuya, 29/10/06

Dōgenzaka, Shibuya, 29/10/06

Thunder Gate, Sensō-ji Temple, Asakusa, 30/10/06

Dear Dan, part 2

2006-12-21T23:08:00.000Z

Asahi Building and Flamme d'Or, 30/10/06

Shinjuku from the Sunshine 60 building, Ikebukuro, 30/10/06

Tokyo Tower from Tokyo City View, Mori Tower, Roppongi Hills, 30/10/06

Roppongi Hills, 30/10/06

Ebisu, 31/10/06

Dear Dan, part 3

2006-12-21T22:49:00.000Z

On the way to Happoen, 31/10/06

Fuji TV Tower, Daiba, 31/10/06

Odaiba, 31/10/06

Ferris Wheel from Odaiba Kaihin-Koen station, 31/10/06

Between Hinode and Shimbashi, 31/10/06

Dear Dan, part 4

2006-12-21T22:32:00.000Z

Tokyo National Museum, 01/11/06

Tokyo National Museum, 01/11/06 - Shunsōro (Hut of Spring Grasses)

Ueno Station, 01/11/06

Crossing underneath the road to Nagano, 01/11/06

Niigata from the air, 02/11/06

Preview - Japan

2006-11-13T23:30:00.000Z

I will be featuring new work taken on a recent trip to Japan soon, in the meantime here's a sneak preview...

V&A, 17/04/2005

2006-10-15T20:00:00.000+01:00

Tooting Bec Common, 13/10/06, about 9.00am

2006-10-13T23:41:00.000+01:00

Necklace, 11/09/06

2006-10-12T18:34:00.000+01:00

Books, Winchester, 24/12/2004

2006-10-10T23:52:00.000+01:00

Dandelion, Suffolk, 16/09/06

2006-10-10T19:22:00.000+01:00

First red leaves of Autumn, 7/10/06

2006-10-09T21:28:00.000+01:00