Photographic Encounters with Surgical Masks

As I write in the midst of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic there have been over 800,000 cases worldwide resulting in a death toll exceeding 40,000. The UK has officially been in lockdown for over a week; the government advice is to stay home. The only exceptions are going out for daily exercise and shopping for food … Read more

Signs: dress code and etiquette

I’ve just returned from a short trip to Venice. One of the photos I took was of this sign, seen outside a parish: I noticed the sign and misread it at first; I didn’t realise it was advocating a modest dress code policy. I initially saw the X above the guy’s cap as some kind … Read more

Barber Signs and Imagery

The other week walking down London’s Kingsland Road in Dalston I took an illusionistic street photograph involving a barbershop window that regularly catches my eye. In the mix is a striking, monochromatic bearded profile with pronounced eyebrows as well as a beautiful, shrouded female figure with crossed hands. Rather than hipster qualities I associate his … Read more

Gotta photograph that hat!

A few days ago I went for a walk to Swains Lane in Highgate to take take some pictures and try out my new camera lens. It was a lovely autumnal day. On the way back I saw  a woman leaning against a tree waiting for the bus. Her hat caught my eye, a warm … Read more

Autumn Leaves, Sculpture and other juxtapositions

I like seeing how sculpture interacts with the environment.  The following two images were taken on a trip to Japan a couple of years ago. The first was taken in Hiroshima. A mother and child; the mother’s hair flowing behind her. They seem to be perched on a crescent moon, and are surrounded by an … Read more

Japan: tradition and modernity in popular culture

I recently saw an advert on the London Underground from the Japan National Tourism Organisation who have launched a campaign entitled Japan – where tradition meets the future and it reminded me that I’d been meaning for a while to write a post on this very theme. I wanted to examine this theme using images … Read more

SIGNS OF DANGER

This week I’ve been thinking a lot about warning signs and particularly signs of danger and our relationship to these signs. Which signs do I notice or pay attention to?  This has come about for a couple of reasons. A few days ago a good friend remarked she was surprised that I didn’t include any … Read more

Smoking in Japan

Unlike in Britain and the USA, smoking is still permitted in bars, hotels and restaurants in Japan. However, things are beginning to change. Here are a couple of images I took in November of designated smoking areas in Shinjuku, Tokyo I liked this bilingual pavement sign seen in the Chuo ward of Tokyo, and found … Read more