Monthly Archives: December 2017

Shades in the Water

Posted on December 29, 2017 by Brian

We leaned over the railing on the Pont d’Avignon hoping, Narcissus like, to admire our reflections in the slowly passing Rhone.  Instead we looked down on two hazy grey shadows, shades, ghosts of the people we thought we were or … Continue reading →

Posted in Travels | Leave a comment

Beechwoods – Snow 2

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Brian

The snowfall was light, directed by a gentle wind.  In the woods snow settled on branches outlining them in graphic sketches of black and white; in open places the drift painted the trunks is white, as though seen in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge, Film, The Beechwoods | Leave a comment

Beechwoods – Snow 1

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Brian

At the beginning of November I mentioned that I hoped to photograph the Beechwoods in snow.  On Sunday 10th December I awoke to about three centimetres of snow on the ground with more still falling.  Wrapped up well, and with … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge, Film, The Beechwoods | Leave a comment

A Pigeon Sat….

Posted on December 23, 2017 by Brian

A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence is a 2014 surreal black-comedy film by Roy Andersson.  The title references The Hunters in the Snow, 1565, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, which depicts a rural winter scene with birds … Continue reading →

Posted in Travels | Leave a comment

Pigeons – Trafalgar Square

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Brian

One of the most exciting things about going to London as a child was feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square.  We bought bags of food – I remember it as peas, but maybe it was corn – from the vendors … Continue reading →

Posted in Street Photography | Leave a comment

Metro

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Brian

Anyone living through the Cold War will probably remember Nikita Khrushchev as the excitable and pugnacious Soviet leader with a penchant for phases like, ‘We will bury you!’ It therefore came as a surprise to discover recently that he was … Continue reading →

Posted in Travellers | Leave a comment

The Idea of Truth 2

Posted on December 19, 2017 by Brian

‘The snapshot played, I’m sure, a hither to unrecognised role in the creation of seaside mythology.  When the sun shone – as of course it always did in our childhood memories of hot sand, warm seas, sunburn, lotion, and ice … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Idea of Truth

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Brian

It is widely recognised that Degas’s paintings have a photographic quality, especially those depicting ballet dancers, horse racing and informal social events.  He achieves this with figures that are cropped and positioned off centre, with a concern for movement and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

1,000th Post

Posted on December 13, 2017 by Brian

This is my one thousandth post; the first was a picture of Southwark Bridge on 18th October 2010.  Each post has at least one photograph, some several, so well over a thousand pictures in total (including some not by me).  … Continue reading →

Posted in Street Photography, Travels | 2 Comments

Letterbox

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Brian

Avignon, defensive letter box. Above: the Fort Saint Andre at Villeneuve-lès-Avignon built by Philippe le Bel in the first half of the 14th Century.  Below: ‘No ads* in my letterbox thank you  *Yes to the local newspaper’. Photo: Letterbox, Avignon, … Continue reading →

Posted in Travels, Urban Ephemera | Leave a comment

Sundial & Shadows

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Brian

The earliest sundials known from archaeological records are shadow clocks used in ancient Egypt and Babylon around 1500 BC. In about 700 BC, the Old Testament describes a sundial, the ‘dial of Ahaz’, in Isaiah 38:8 and 2 Kings 20:11. … Continue reading →

Posted in Travels, Urban Ephemera | Leave a comment

Avignon Trompe l’oeil in 2011

Posted on December 10, 2017 by Brian

‘Legendary characters stealthily occupy the city of the Popes. During your stroll in the historic city, raise your eyes: following a street, behind a window you’ll catch sight of the Prince of Homburg, Scapin, Macbeth, Marianne, Lorenzaccio, Harpagon, Antigone, Hamlet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Travels, Urban Ephemera | Leave a comment

U3AC Photo Forum 7 – What Makes a Good Picture?

Posted on December 9, 2017 by Brian

Gerry Metcalfe, camera club member and photo judge of 20 plus years took the Forum through the challenges of judging.  The post on 21st July 2017 covers an earlier presentation to the U3AC by Gerry.  His views on judging? ‘It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge, Street Photography, U3AC Photography Courses, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Street Photography

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Brian

Next term I shall be leading a session on street photography at the U3AC Photo Forum.  What is street photography?  Westerbeck and Meyerowitz write about: ‘…pictures of people who are going about their business unaware of the photographer’s presence.  They … Continue reading →

Posted in Street Photography, U3AC Photography Courses | Leave a comment

Purls Bridge

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Brian

‘Birdwatching at Purl’s Bridge with David W.  Chilly and grey punctuated with escalators of light; with occasional rain, which didn’t hurt us in the hides.  Good to be out in the air; good to chat.  Bird list: tree sparrow… kestrel… … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment