Januhairy 2021

In recent days whenever I look down at my bare knees I think to myself that these could do with a wax. On the other hand, why bother? It’s January, freezing cold, and we are in Tier 5 lockdown. I then remembered that there’s a campaign called Januhairy which started in 2019. Women are encouraged … Read more

Spotted in Soho: Street Photography in the Days of Covid-19

During the pandemic I’ve tried to always walk around with a camera, even if I’m just going to the local grocery store. I have a lightweight digital camera which has pretty much become part of me. That’s me in the picture below, walking down Frith Street in Soho last summer. I’m wearing one of my … Read more

Flying and Freedom: Images of Urban Birds

It’s quite rare for me to photographs birds so when I realised I’d captured birds in flight on two occasions in the past week it made me stop and think … why? Late last night I finished reading Cuban musician Paquito D’Rivera’s memoir Letters to Yeyito. In the coda he writes: the bird, which represents, … Read more

Red October – A Visual Diary

In recent weeks I have been doing my usual thing of walking around with a camera and photographing whatever catches my eye as well as developing and editing several ongoing photographic projects. Looking through the photographs I’ve taken this month I was struck by one of the themes that came through – the dominance of … Read more

Motivational Signs and Rosh Hashana: Part 2

Two years ago I wore a piece about Motivational Graffiti and Rosh Hashana, featuring photographs of graffiti that felt relevant in terms of the Jewish New Year, traditionally a time for renewal and reflection. Tomorrow is the eve of the new year – the year 5781 in the Hebrew calendar-and I’ve been thinking about images … Read more

Visuals of Sad Faces and Downturned Mouths

I was in Venice last week for my birthday, staying on the Lido. On a visit to the mainland I photographed a section of a shop window that caught my eye: On the left, the mask has a downturned mouth. On the right the face has big bushy white eyebrows and deep grooves chiselled in … Read more

Multiple Exclamation Marks in Graffiti, Signs & Stickers

The use of the exclamation mark in writing is generally discouraged. In my experience, an exclamation mark in academic writing is perceived of as frivolous. My husband says he was taught to use one in every ten thousand words. The late Terry Pratchett is attributed to have said “Five exclamation marks, the sure sign of … Read more

Signs of the Times

I’ve gathered a selection of signs and messages that I’ve encountered during the past month. They date from 20 March, 2020, several days before London lockdown was announced to images taken this week. Some are official, some intimate, some are signs of gratitude and hope. They range from examples of orders and restrictions created by … Read more

Defaced Posters: Eye-Gouging and Oedipus

I take many photos where the representation of eyes are a key element. Indeed I have blogged about this theme on several occasions. Usually, the eyes I am drawn to are all-seeing and observant. Sometimes it is a single eye, a fragment of a torn or folded poster. It has also been a mystic 3rd … Read more

Ciao Ciao, Europe

Today, January 31 2020, is Brexit day. At 11pm tonight the UK will leave the European Union. Like with all goodbyes to relationships that have meant something to me, I feel sad. I’d like to mark the day with a few thoughts and images. I was thirteen years old when I discovered the BBC drama … Read more