Travel
I'm lucky enough to travel a lot but I also aim to understand a place in some depth. So I like to find out about the local history, sociology, wildlife and local arts. I prepare for a trip by looking up photos of the famous sights, they're usually a good guide both about the local visual interest and also a warning of what has already been done or over-done.
I try to use the tools of modern photojournalism and photography to communicate how I feel about a place. You’ll see that I have used Portrait, Street, Interior, Historical, Abstract, Landscape, Historical, Wildlife, Phone-camera and Selfie genres at different times for specific effects.
Second stage of our 750km round trip on the regional rail network of Provence
Leaving the Vauban fortress walls of Briançon surrounded by snow-capped mountain at every turn, we took the TER (regional train) back down the valley of the river Durance through a dramatic gorge, passing the episcopal city of Embrun and the huge lake of Serre-Ponçon, bordered by the town of Chorges where we enjoyed a bike camp in the summer of 2012.
Our route branched from the route up from Marseille at Veynes-Dévoluy, one of those strange little towns that suddenly became important when the railway arrived because of its location at a railway junction, for Veynes-Dévoluy it is the junction between Marseille, Grenoble, Valence and Briançon.
Final stage of our 750km round trip on the regional rail network of Provence
Onwards to Arles on our last TER of this round trip. I’ve always enjoyed Arles, the Roman amphitheatre, the old city with narrow streets which protect against the Mistral wind and the heat of the Provence sun; there’s a feeling of discovery at every turn along these roads: anything may be along the next street, a Roman, a toreador, passionate lovers or just a kamikaze scooter.
Eastbourne on the “Sussex Sunshine Coast” is pleasant for a promenade even at the beginning of January. But still mounds of shingle burying the stairs to the beaches, despite protection from the west by Beachy Head and the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters. Eastbourne’s elegant Victorian pier is still open whilst being restored after last year’s fire. But very poor effort on Christmas decorations in the shopping streets.
Cassis: pretty pleasure port under the cliffs of Cap Cannaille. A favourite flavour for a kir and its own AOC vinyards (Appellation d'origine contrôlée).
Do you pronounce the final s or not?
Berlin will always be Berlin, or so goes the song Berlin bleibt doch Berlin. I didn’t know what to expect on my first visit here since the late eighties and early nineties, firstly as a tourist in West Berlin and (after the wall came down) as a guest of friends in East Berlin.
But Berlin this time felt like a city now living on its past; there doesn’t seem to be a vision for Berlin’s future. A vast building programme has implanted modern buildings alongside the historic architecture but I have found a solid bourgeoisie rather than free radical forward thinking.
