Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Norway

 

 
We arrived in Oslo and found all the tress covered in snow, any tiredness disappeared and we set out with our cameras to capture the trees.  Overnight it rained hard and the landscape changed dramatically, the magic had gone.  










The harbour area was pretty at sunset and where we found Grace from Rotterdam and the mystic image of a cruise liner coming in to dock. The Flying Dutchman came to mind. The Opera house was interesting architecture and we tried not to look conspicuous, some hope with our camera bags!
The venue was Romeo and Juliet and it was obviously popular.

Leknes

The wind was bitter cold and strong and tentatively we all stood on the bridge hoping for a beautiful sunrise.  





 





Sunday, 18 January 2015

London

  Mermaid statue by Sir Charles Wheeler
The Fourth Plinth - So cold even the cockerel turned blue
It was another dull, wet and cold day in London, and there was ice in Trafalgar Square fountains. Nelson's column guarded by four monumental bronze lion sculptures was designed by Sir Edwin Landseer. The bronze was obtained from melting down cannons from the French and Spanish ships active in the battle of Trafalgar. The fountains designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens (1937 - 1939)  replaced two earlier fountains which are now in Canada and the water sculptures were created by William McMillan and Sir Charles Wheeler.  There were few pigeons in the square and plenty of notices instructing one not to feed them. They are policed by four Harrier Hawk's,  one nicknamed Harry,  not that I saw any falcons only a blue cockerel!  A friend from the camera club did share a picture of one, but I am not sure it was Harry!
Nymphs in the fountain
Trafalgar Square Bronze Lions



A view of Conduit Street from the Penthouse suite at the Westbury, it was Wardrobe's last day of business after 42 years


St. Martin's in the Fields

St Martin-in-the-Fields is an English Anglican church dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours and situation at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square. There has been a church on the site since the medieval period. The present building was constructed between 1722 and 1724 in a Neoclassical style, design by James Gibbs who was influenced by the work of Christopher Wren.
In 1985 Sainsbury of Preston Candover, and his bothers agreed to finance the construction of a new wing for the National gallery. The site was a derelict area that had been bombed and a furniture shop destroyed in WW11.  I remember this beautiful gallery being opened and hunting for my favourite paintings;  I had known exacty where to find them when they were previously hung in the National Gallery.
Burlington House 
St Martin in the Field



Piccadilly in the rain

St Pancras and Large Spindle Piece Sculpture by Henry Moore

St Pancra is an example of Gothic architecture, designed by Sir Gilbert Scott  (1811 -1827). He was known for his early design of workhouses and then built his reputation for the design and building of churches and cathedrals.  After years of restoration, St Pancras Renaissance London was opened in 2011, it had formally been the Midland Grand Hotel that was opened in 1873 by Queen Victoria.  During 1935 and 2011 the building ceased to be a hotel and was known as St Pancras Chambers and used as railway offices. Part of this building was open to the public on set days as a museum. One could view the grand staircase which was occasionally used for film sets. There were odd artefacts from the old hotel,  I clearly remember the coal scuttles that staff had to use to light fires in the hotel bedrooms


Friday, 16 January 2015

Cambridge

Peterhouse Cambridge 
Clare Cambridge
Clare Cambridge

Clare college was founded in 1326 as University Hall making it the second oldest surviving college after Peterhouse.
Thomas Clarkson, english abolitionist, leading a campaigner against the slave -trade in the British Empire
William Gilbert,  physician, physicist and natural philosopher  entered St. John's college 1558.
St. John's Cambridge 

Tuesday, 13 January 2015

A dull day in London

It was a dull day to be in London looking for Fixation UK a company frequented by professional photographers with an amazing reputation and knowledge.  Canon repairs take approximately 2-3 days which is good news for me as my EF 16-35 2.8L USM lens focusing ring will not turn and there is something loose internally in the mechanics.  I followed excellent instructions of how to find this company and would never have believe such a place existed for the external appearance of the building gave no indication of what I was to discover.  I really should have photographed it. It was an Aladdin's cave and a hive of industry, nothing like any other photographic place I have been in. It rained and it was so dull but by Wednesday I should have some good news, fingers crossed!


Vauxhall Bridge

Looking down-river from Vauxhall Bridge


a Design by Eduardo Paolozzi Pimlico

 I came out of Pimlico tube station to find an elaborate ventilation tower beside the entrance.  It is designed by Eduardo Paolozzi (1924 - 2005) and one of his works from the public projects commission.  This British artist became a prominent international figure after the Second World War.  His works drew on a wide range of references from classical to pop-culture.  Although, he unsucessfully proposed a design for the gates at the British Library his figure of Newton can be seen overlooking the plaza.  I love this statue,  it is so imposing in this calm space next to Marylebone Road, near King's Cross. I love sneaking into the Plaza and spending time in the British Library, it is a great place for lunch or coffee.  I think I need to go and photograph the Newton statue! Well, maybe not such a dull day after all. 


The Royal Oak (pink)

Looking over Vauxhall Bridge from Pimlico

Vauxhall