Here's looking at you, kid

That line is one of the six in Casablanca voted the most memorable of all time - twice as many as its nearest rival. I don't suppose Bogey had a mobile CCTV unit in mind when he said it. It says on the side of the van "Community Safety Vehicle" but what it does most of the time is look for traffic infringements and give out tickets. View of the whole van here.

Oh? what were the other five? "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.", "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By.'", "Round up the usual suspects.", "We'll always have Paris." and "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.". So where was "Here's looking at you, kid" in all that?? (At the end of "We'll always have Paris" if you needed to know)

St James' Palace

St James Palace is fairly hidden, and the best place in London to get up close and personal for a photo opportunity with the guards, most of the time there are very few people around. You can find it here.

Damp Diwali

This Sunday, Trafalgar Square was given over to Diwali celebrations, but Diwali isn't until Novemebr the 9th. Have I missed something?

Oh yes, it was wet, too, the sea of umbrellas says it all.

Picture this

On Sundays, park railings the length of the Bayswater Road turn into an open air art gallery. Just because it's on the road doesn't mean it's all bad - but quite a lot of it is dire, especially the eastern extension of the "gallery" down Picadilly. Oh well. Looks to me like as if the woman is trying to decide which way up this piece should hang. Beats the heck out of me.

Gnome sweet gnome

I know that I had a gnome-moment a few days ago but I couldn't resist this chappie seemingly warning passers by, caught in the window of an antique shop in Kensington Church Street.

Hurry, we're late for the flower show!

These couple of flowery characters can be found on the south side of Lambeth Bridge. I'm not certain what they are doing there, probably something to do with the cycle festivities we've had in London this year. Anyone know any better?


I am away on holiday so will be unable to respond until the 27th October. Usual magic keeps things appearing each day.

Wine, Wine, Wine

England has always been at the forefront of wine trading, and london is its heart. The reason for this is that (you may not have noticed but) we haven't had the weather for growing grapes and yet we like wine. So, we have been able to source the best wine from all over the world, without any patriotic bias.

One of the most interesting places to find out about and buuy wine is Vinopolis, by the Thames on the South Bank.


I am away on holiday so will be unable to respond until the 27th October. Usual magic keeps things appearing each day.

Typical London?

Why is it I feel that a photo of foreigners can be a typical London shot? I like the waiting and the movement in this, with the girl's exotic looks. Covent Garden was the place.

I am away on holiday so will be unable to respond until the 27th October. Usual magic keeps things appearing each day.

Tower Bridge Lift

While I was at Tower Bridge, I was fortunate to be able to capture a lift. If you see it, you will wonder at just how fast the massive sections are raised and lowered.

I am away on holiday so will be unable to respond until the 27th October. Usual magic keeps things appearing each day.

Open Shutters Iraq

In the spring of 2007 a group of 8 Iraqi women and a six year old child participated in a unique creative event. Using digital photography, the women set out at considerable risk to make deeply personal and emotional photo stories of their lives in Iraq, now.

You can see these photographs outside the Mayor's offices by Tower Bridge up until the 2nd November. Their website is here.

I am away on holiday so will be unable to respond until the 27th October. Usual magic keeps things appearing each day.

Faith, Hope and Love

The guiding virtues of Queen Alexandria. Or at least, that's what it says on the label. This is a detail of a substantial memorial to Queen Alexandria, in Marlbrough Gate just beside Clarence House. This statue is completely over the top, but beautiful to look at none the less. It's one of those you may well have missed, but is worth a little more attention.

I am away on holiday so will be unable to respond until the 27th October. Usual magic keeps things appearing each day.

The Royal Arcade

The Royal Arcade is where you will find Charbonnel et Walker; it is one of the more hidden and most elegant of arcades. It's not difficult to imagine wealthy upper class Londoners shopping here - so much more civilised than all that scrummage in the shops.

I am away on holiday so will be unable to respond until the 27th October. Usual magic keeps things appearing each day.

Say it with chocolates

This is where the queen comes to buy her choccies, and if you've ever tried them you wouldn't be surprised - especially their drinking chocolate. WARNING: Visiting their website will add two inches to your waistline.

I rather liked the idea of being able to write out a message in chocolates - the possibilities are endless.

I am away on holiday so will be unable to respond until the 27th October. Usual magic keeps things appearing each day.

The Three Legged Buddha

The Three Legged Buddha is in the courtyard in the Royal Academy of Arts in Picadilly. It's a work by Chinese artist Zhang Huan and you cana read more about it here.

I am away on holiday so will be unable to respond until the 27th October. Usual magic keeps things appearing each day.

Strike a Light!

The Way We See It took me to Kensington Church Street this week and I found the shop where the Queen buys her chandeliers. I rather like the abstract quality of this shot, comes out best in the larger version.

I am away on holiday so will be unable to respond until the 27th October. Usual magic keeps things appearing each day.

Aldgate Pump

This rather angry fellow is actually Aldgate Pump. There has been a pump here for centuries, here is a picture of it still in use in the 20's. As with a lot of London water sources, this pump was associated with a vicious outbreak of disease, that killed around 200 in this instance. Another picture here

The Terracotta Army

The British Museum is currently holding an exhibition of the First Emperor and the Terracotta Army. The exhibition isn't cheap, but is well worth the entrance price. The story is entirely engaging - the reality of these figures is inspiring. The information provided covers the mundane to esoteric, For example, the enterprise was almost certainly the first example of mass production techniques. The clay warriors were fashioned in factories that used to make drainpipes, so all the legs are basically drainpipes.

It does get crowded, but if you walk around rather than stand in line, you will find that just about everything is accessible. Most (all?) of the stuff has been sent over from Chinese museums, and provided invaluable background to the time of the First Emperor but I was amused by the attention everyone was giving to it - which they would never have done in the ordinary way in a museum. Maybe it was because they had paid.

Two more pictures here.

Celebreate, me?

Today two things happened. For the first, I went to the London Cycle Show and England beat France in the Rugby, and this photo combines them both. The car is one of the 1952 Tour de France team cars - I reckon the bikes could probably go faster back then. And my commiserations to the French, it must be a disappointment.

A video of some amazing exhibition cycling is here, 2nd bit here

Buckingham Palace

I don't often do the tourist shots, so I thought I ought to fix that. Here's one of the most common sites in London, Buckingham Palace. Hang on a moment - where have all the crowds gone?

Learn Photography in London

So yesterday I provided a gentle hint about photography, today we go the whole hog. I saw this group in Covent Garden and it was obvious that it was a tuition group. They appeared to be well organised and having a good time,so I found out that it was the London School of Photography. I had a look at the tutor's site, too, which I enjoyed. But as ever, one thing leads to another and one of her links was to Cartier Bresson's definitive book, "The Decisive Moment", which you really need to see.

A good photograph is knowing where to stand

Or, so said Ansel Adams. I can tell you, in St James Park early on a sunny morning, you really can't go wrong.

The Spiders from Mars

The Spider is back, now outside the Tate Modern. Louise Bourgeois sculpture is called "Maman" and indeed you can see eggs inside it. Last here in 2004 it gives rise to a lot of curiosity.

Of course I couldn't helpbut think of David Bowie's Album, so I've looked out a few videos for you, of hte songs on that album. First, Ziggy Stardust then Starman (check out the audience dancing, and the sweaters) and finally Suffragette City. Good, wasn't it?

Whatever happened to Swampy?

Swampy was a briefly notorious "eco-warrior" whose nickname lives on as shorthand for the sort of person prepared to live in a tree for what they believe in.

A few years back, in 1994, Wanstead briefly appeared in the limelight when a new road was being built. Part of the plans saw the destruction of an old chestnut tree and a large number of people got sanctimonious and made our lives more difficult for a while because they believed that the road was bad and that they should stop it happening.

Well, several years later and the dust has settled. Regular visitors here will know I am far from wedded to the car, but I can report that this was a good road. The traffic that used to bring our streets to a standstill is now diverted, it's safe to cross the road at any time and there are still a large number of old sweet chestnuts, including these, standing guard over our green. So, folks, just because you are sanctimonious doesn't mean you are right.

Curiously, the remains of the tree that caused all the fuss are still on the green. You can see a geniune english oak tree here

The Ultimate Busker

I've seem some original buskers in my time, but this one stands out from the pack. A CHESS busker, for goodness sake! And, he was good. As it happens, I used to play chess to a repectable level, I also used to frequent the Prompt Corner in Belsize Park (long gone, or I would have taken a photo), a bohemian cafe where chess was a currency and lightening chess was the negotiable instrument. So I decided to avoid ritual humiliation.

His pitch was a free game, 3 minutes on the clock. Good sounds blasting out his iPod, and a hat for the people who thought he deserved it. I didn't see anyone that stretched him, so if you fancy your chances he will be around charing cross tomorrow - 8th October. (And if you are he, do say hi in the comments box)

This is the moment of winning, with 2 out of the 3 minutes still on his clock. The game start is here

When England Meets France....

In the rugby World Cup, I reckon it will end up a photo finish. What's that you say? You only get a photo finish in horse racing? Shame.

Last week, England met France, or at least London met Paris and here is our photo finish. I had the pleasure to spend a week in Paris, and I could not do anything but meet up with Eric, the originator of the City Daily Photoblog format and bulwark of the worldwide CDP community. We met in Au General La Fayette, an authentic French bistro, for a leisurely lunch.

And what has this to do with London? Well, it was finding Paris Daily Photo that gave me the inspiration to start London Daily Photo, so all thanks to Eric. Which is he? Le Bleu, obviously.

Pump it up - London's Water

London sits on a natural water basin, with water draining from the surrounding hills. This was great for drinking and industry in times gone by, all you needed to do was put a pipe in the ground and pump up your water, like this pump in Bedford Row. These days, nobody uses it like that any more, and the rising water levels threaten to flood the tube all the time. You won't be surprised to hear that Thames Water are working on how to use this water.

The Gnomes of Bond Street

You've all heard of the gnomes of Zurich, well here are the gnomes of New Bond Street. This window display caught my eye, I suppose it's a shame that the name of the shop didn't.