Category Archives: Diversions

Back garden poppies

04 Saturday Aug 2018

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Nice light on a summer’s morning in my back garden. I should probably have deadheaded these weeks ago but have been holding off in order to dissect the heads and show my daughter the seeds, something I have a vague memory of doing as a child myself.

I enjoyed shooting these but was a bit discomfited by how many shots I had to discard due to camera shake: either it’s the increased camera resolution, or I can’t hold the camera as still for macro shots as I used to be able to. Of course, I could have just been not so lazy and taken the short walk back into the house to get the tripod…

Westcombe Park blossom – April 2018

13 Sunday May 2018

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A belated look at this year’s incredible blossom display in my neighbourhood (an effect of particularly cold weather followed quickly by very hot weather? I don’t know, I’m not a scientist).

Seen on a short walk to the Vanbrugh Tavern, travelling in the hope of seeing Newcastle United beat Everton and leapfrog them in the league. It wasn’t to be, but the beer was nice and the company good.

And here’s a bonus shot of the amazing double-blossom tree at Blackheath Standard by night (is there a name for the phenomenon where a tree produces two different coloured blossoms?):

The First Proper Weekend of the Year – January 2017

15 Monday Jan 2018

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Friday night: a drink or two on the way home from work at the newish neighbourhood; a small venue ideal for the January nights when not many people are venturing out. Bexley Redhouse Pale going down very well at 4.2% and not overburdened with novelty hops or any of the other look-at-me extremes of many small brewery offerings.

Saturday: the return of the weekend routine – taking daughter to singing and dancing. Peering at the pavement in Blackheath.

The Christmas tree down; decorations put back in the loft.

A quick walk into Greenwich and a purchase from Casbah Records (Gil Scott-Heron’s Winter in America); a couple of photos taken but nothing to write home about. A look at the dismal public realm of the new Creekside developments, and a gawp at Deptford Creek.

Sunday – the first swim of the year at Charlton Lido; brilliant as ever.

All I know about January in my 42nd year: we just have to get through it, and take what we can from it with low expectations. There is some blue sky.

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Between Christmas and New Year 2017

08 Monday Jan 2018

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A gentle tour of the north east between Christmas and New Year, not dashing about quite as manically as in some previous years.

Back to Newcastle (after a quick wander around on Christmas Eve) on Boxing Day for the sales and a look at Fenwick’s windows (best I can remember – animatronics have come on since the days when all the characters seemed to be based on the classic cobblers’ shop window model).

A look at the Tyne as the sun was going down:

A wander around Ouseburn on a sharp, bright morning.

A trip to the Angel of the North under cold blue skies:

A brief walk round Durham:

Then back to Newcastle, and genuine, real snow, the like of which we’d not seen for a long time.

A good break before heading back to London and a New Year’s weekend of playing guitar with the band.

Saturday diversions; October 21st 2017

22 Sunday Oct 2017

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Flowers outside the florists in Blackheath village, autumn 2017

Across to Blackheath Village first thing Saturday for a haircut. Nice autumn light shining on the display outside the florists by the station.

Over to Charlton Park next on Charlton Champion duties to photograph the official opening of the new skatepark, built by Greenwich Council and funded by developers taking over the old skatepark site in Woolwich (amid much inevitable controversy).


Full set of skatepark pics at The Charlton Champion.

I’ll definitely be back there soon to take more photos; the light wasn’t ideal (sudden brightness between downpours as Storm Brian passed over), and a longer lens would be better  – I had assumed that my 14mm would be ideal for capturing the whole skate bowl scene but, as always seems to happen when I use a wide angle lens, it was quickly abandoned for the 35mm. Next time I’ll take the 60mm for more portraits.

The evening was spent playing guitar with Ronnie Ripple & The RipChords at Genesis cinema in Mile End; a fun gig performing after a screening of Back to the Future. I really should have used it as an excuse to face down my 30 year fear of playing the intro and solo for Johnny B Goode, though. Hopefully there’ll be another chance there soon.


Low tide at Deptford Creek and other diversions

14 Saturday Oct 2017

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Low tide at Deptford Creek

An hour free to take photos around Deptford Creek and all my Fuji gear in the camera bag…but no memory card. I suppose I should be grateful it doesn’t happen all that often. Here’s an iPhone shot of a particularly low tide, looking down the creek from the Laban centre towards Ha’penny Hatch.

Recent diversions:

Alec Soth’s Sleeping by the Mississippi at Beetles & Huxley: stunning prints, on display for free just off Piccadilly.

Giles Duley interviewed on A Small Voice podcast: Ben Smith’s podcasts rarely disappoint, but this one I thought was outstanding. Giles Duley tells his extraordinary story incredibly articulately, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Brian David Stevens’s Beachy Head photobook – a somber but not melodramatic look at a difficult landscape; fine work at a democratic price point.

The new Four Tet album: maybe his best to date (though maybe I’ll revert that accolade to Morning / Evening in a while).