Photography
Skyscrapers and tower blocks of flats seen across the shining metal rails leading to Clapham Junction railway station, “Britain’s busiest railway station”. Waterloo has more passengers arriving or leaving on trains than Clapham Junction but Clapham has the most trains moving through it. Either way, most passengers are usually too busy changing trains to appreciate this magnificent view up the rails to London city.
The famous view of the St. Pauls and the City of London from Richmond Park. This line of sight is protected both by the foresters of the Royal Park and the planning authorities. Photographing it this afternoon I have tried for a classic painterly landscape “look”, the highlight on St. Pauls is serendipitous and the colours of the woods as they are, no filters; it would be possible to paint out the gate and the skyscaper but so far I have chosen not to. The story of the view is that King Henry VIII was looking to see a rocket fired from the Tower of London along this sightline, the signal would indicate that Anne Boleyn had been executed for treason.
Thanks to Joe for pointing out that King Henry was watching in 1536, before the Fire of London (1666) and before construction started on this St. Pauls (1675).
Nestling in the trees on the bank above the north bank of the meandering river Eden at Carlisle is the Institute of the Arts, the Brampton Road Campus for the University of Cumbria. The reflections of the trees in the glass-fronted atrium lead the eye in sections upwards via the continuity of the main branches from the banality of academic facilities within, a metaphor for the aspirations of arts education.
I've reworked this image since I originally posted it to idealise the geometry.
One of the piers at Keswick for the launches and boats on Derwent Water in Cumbria. It’s raining - as in much of the UK today - so only the gulls are around. No big idea behind this image but I find it a pleasing composition. It’s also another rain picture, not usually the most promising conditions for light or subject but freely available at this time of the year and another strategy to move on from landscape pictures with a “conventional aesthetic”, ie pretty. Note the rich colours of the timber and the texture of the water surface dappled by the rain.
See also Lowgill Viaduct
Ice in the fountains in Trafagar Square despite the afternoon sun this chilly January day. It's become unusual that winter gets this cold and for this long in Central London.
