VISUAL HAIKU

I’ve been thinking about using my photographs to create visual haikus. The original inspiration is a Japanese poem often evoking nature and ephemera. The traditional format for a haiku is three lines containing 17 syllables (the first line has 5 syllables , line two 7 and line three 5). Here is an experimental autumnal haiku … Read more

Follow the Feathers

It’s the end of August 2022 and I’ve been reflecting on a very active Bank Holiday weekend which included a trip to the Notting Hill Carnival. A theme emerged when I examined the photographs I’d taken, where feathers were very much part of the mise-en-scène. Here’s my visual journey: Walking from Elgin Avenue in Maida … Read more

Street Abstracts & Illusions featuring London Buses

When walking around London with a camera it becomes inevitable that at some point a red London bus will become part of the mise-en-scène. Mise-en-scène is a French term drawn used in theatre and film-making. In cinematography it refers to the arrangement of objects and people in front of the camera; with some directors this … Read more

London in Lockdown Part 2: Street Abstracts and Facades in the West End

In this second part of my photo series on London in lockdown I focus on images taken in the West End. The photographs were taken during April and May 2020. Firstly a series of photos where the graphic lines of metals grilles and shutters, as well as being factual and symbolic aspects of lockdown, interplay … Read more

London in Lockdown Part 1: Street Abstracts in Kentish Town

The London Lockdown was announced on March 23, 2020. Since the initial lockdown and the recent easing of restrictions I’ve continued to take photographs both at home and on my walks. I’ve amassed quite a few so have decided to separate my lockdown images into themes; the first of which is street abstracts in Kentish … Read more

Abstract Nature / Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head

After a few weeks of unprecedented sunshine and warm temperatures in locked-down London it’s become more typically cloudy and rainy. Yesterday I was walking back home after doing some exercise on Hampstead Heath. It had been raining; my trainers were soaked and annoyingly my mind persisted in recalling Sacha Distel’s version of Raindrops Keep Fallin’ … Read more

Intense colour: some portraits and abstracts

A few days ago I went to the Afro Cuban Music night run by Bombo Productions which was preceded by a dance class given by Cuban dancer Miguel Gonzalez. Here’s a picture I took of Miguel that night: The Afro Cuban music night is a monthly event, below are a two more portraits taken in … Read more

Oriental carpets and identity

I have been adding text and photos to my ongoing project entitled Persian Kentish Town which is a personal take on street photography highlighting the decorative facades, pavements, reflections and illusions of Highgate Road in Kentish Town. The photographs in the project all include oriental carpet imagery. I’ve supplied some background information as to what I understand … Read more

Street Photography, Illusion and Tree Goddesses

Tree goddesses are usually associated with antiquity and are represented in a variety of cultures, for example Celtic tree deities, dryads in Greek mythology and  Kodama – Japanese spirits that inhabit trees. I’ve previously drawn together some images of People in Trees featuring actual people sitting in trees. This collection is different. I’ve noticed the juxtaposition of … Read more

street abstracts and vehicles

A friend of mine posted an Instagram picture today of a supermarket delivery van decorated with artwork created by a child and it reminded me that over the years I’ve been photographing vehicles with designs and settings that have caught my eye. Here are a few of them. A highly decorated London supermarket delivery van … Read more