Guest Post - A 21 Bum Salute

Courtesy of Ineke of Rotterdam Daily Photo, here is a photo of the Horseguards on Horseguards Parade.

Obviously prime tourist photo stuff, but why my title? That's because in four years time you will be able to watch beach volleyball right here.

Guest Post - Gabriel's Wharf

Today's picture is a guest post, courtesy of Ineke of Rotterdam Daily Photo from a recent London visit.

The photo is one of the wooden chainsaw sculptures by Friedel Buecking, whose work you can see and buy in Gabriel's Wharf on the Southbank. As it happens, I have a piece of his work from twenty years ago, when he was carving using wood from trees blown down in the 1987 storm.

Recycled Information

It's not often that London takes the lead with innovation (and I suspect this may not be so in this case) but I've never seen these sort of info-mobiles anywhere else before. Perfect for cities like London, they can get right to the heart of an event without difficulty. Add to that helpful, cheerful assistants like here, and you have a recipe for increased visitor happiness. (This shot was taken at the Thames Festival)

Am I being a bore?

Just next door to the Bookart Bookshop (yesterday) is the most fantastic hat shop. Or do I mean, a shop selling the most fantastic hats? Whichever, Weave Toshi is a Japanese hat maker with 18 shops in Japan - and this one in London. I enjoyed the "Daydream" on their website, too.

In there, I met a plenitude of hats in all shapes and sizes, the manager, Hikaru Sagura, and his wife. Her portrait is here, and the portrait on this site is NOT he.

Yet another reason to venture into Pitfield Street.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Ants Have Sex In Your Beer

If you like your bookshops to have huge piles of bestsellers and a coffee shop, DO NOT visit my recommendation today. Otherwise, if you like bookshops you will be in for a most pleasant surprise.

The Bookart Bookshop is a veritable treasure trove - just the place to go if you are looking for that unusual present for a friend - or yourself. They specialise in low volume, sometimes handmade, books by artists.

The title of this post is a book you'll find in the shop by David Shrigley, an artist who's done a lot of stuff, including the odd video.

The Bookart Bookshop online is worth a visit, too.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Art Spotted Under Bridges

There are quite a few bridges in Southwark where the council must have been negotiating with the Trolls, because they have been brightened up with artworks. The recent spate of installations have all been done with lights, making the entrances to the Bankside area much more inviting.

You can see a wider view of the scene here.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map.

The Smallest Garden

It's not often a building merits two entries here, and Bracken House had it's Astronomical Clock featured a while back. But, their excellent window boxes caught my eye, and I noticed that they had won twenty awards with them. The boxes are changed four times a year, courtesy of the building owners, a Japanese Bank called Mizuho. Thanks guys, you really help make London a brighter place.

Climate Change

You can enjoy this garden for what it is, another of London's secret green spaces, or you can read and discover how much more of a story a few square metres can reveal.

Cleary Gardens is on a WWII bomb site, and the exposed levels follow London's history from Roman times to the present. With a wide variety of trees, plans and shrubs it's a haven for nature, you can listen to the sounds here , and examine more of London's nature here (try clicking the "browse" feature).

Much as I believe current climate change is being influenced by man's activity, we shouldn't forget that climate change is a natural, cyclical thing. Vines used to grow here in the middle ages, the rebuilding of the garden was sponsored by Loire Valley Wines. Mmmmmmm a nice a Vouvray will do nicely, thank you, or maybe St Nicolas de Borgueil.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map.

Wren's Lantern

Yes, it is a clock, no it isn't a lantern, but I couldn't get in the church and I wanted to show you the richness of this small spot of London.

Still in the same place by Lower Thames Street, you can find one of Wren's Churches - and this one is special. Rebuilt after the Great Fire, Wren transformed the building and made it so bright and airy it became known as "Wren's Lantern". Read about its history here. I'll have to go back and take the inside photo one day - hopefully on a sunny one. A wider view of the deceptively plain exterior is here.

Swanning About

As promised, here's some of what you see from those seats under the trees. And a more idiosyncratic London theme you won't find. Because this is a statue of a Bargemaster and Swan Marker of the Vintner's Company, the person responsible for Swan Upping. Which, for people who can't be bothered clicking is the annual census of the swan population (which belong to the Queen) on a stretch of the River Thames. The ceremony of Swan Upping dates from the twelfth century and takes place during the third week of July every year. It has always been the duty of the Sovereign's Swan Marker to count the number of young cygnets each year and ensure that the swan population is maintained.

We're not done with this tiny corner of London yet - still some more secrets.

Green Oasis

After yesterday's sombre message, I take pleasure in bringing you the diversity of London. Hardly ten feet from the thunder of Lower Thames Street is a small oasis that typifies the contrast you find in London. Cheek by jowl with a murderous road, you'll find benches to sit under some of my favourite trees, sit a while, have your lunch, think, whatever.

I'll show you some more of this area over the next couple of days.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map.

Ghost Bike

Ghost Bikes are small and sombre memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque. They serve as reminders of the tragedy that took place on an otherwise anonymous street corner, and as quiet statements in support of cyclists' right to safe travel. This ghost bike is in Stamford Hill, and commemorates the life of Lucinda Ferrier, killed on the 23rd June this year.

On my ride to work this morning, I passed by a crash that killed a cyclist only minutes after it happened, here, not 50 yards from where another cyclist was killed a few years ago. Makes you think.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

These Boots Are Made For Walking

While I may have pointed out here and elsewhere that cycling and photography are the best combination, walking remains the best way to explore London's streets in detail. So I'm quite happy to give publicity to Walk London who also had a stand at the Thames Festival (hang on - shouldn't that be "a walk"?).

Their website has shedloads of ideas for walks, and you even have plenty of warning to join in their "Autumn Ambles" on the 27th/28th September.

You want to hear the original? OK, here. And you can laugh at the lip synch, too.

City of Tears

Let's not forget that, among the celebration and festivity, there are always people deep in sorrow.

London can be an uncertain chapter in many a life story, as for Andrew Gosden. A year ago Sunday, aged 14, he came to London and disappeared from sight. I met friends of his family who were distributing leaflets in the hope that someone might have seen him.

What else could they do?

Read his story here. There's not one reading who won't think "Thank all that's holy it's not me". Then see how many are missing in London.

The Thames Festival

As I mentioned, this last weekend was the Thames Festival, two days of fun and good times for all on the banks of the Thames. I could have chosen any number of pictures of people enjoying themselves, instead I chose this. You could be forgiven for thinking it is just a poor photo of the Millennium Bridge, but it is actually about what I learnt on Sunday.

I'd never realised that the name "lightermen" came from the fact that these were the people that made ships lighter - they ferried cargo from the ship to wharves without it having to pass through the (expensive) docks. Moreover, they and the Watermen (Watermen carry passengers, Lightermen carry goods) are the only remaining trade where, to this day, you have to serve a five year apprenticeship, harking back to an unbroken tradition of nearly 500 years.

Unpowered, they travel on the tides, steered by men with oars. As part of the fun on Sunday, they held races such as in this scene, where the RMT barge in the lead.

What do you get if you cross a Nobel scientist with a fabric designer?

It's been a busy weekend for me with lots of photos, so here is one you need to know about first.

The caption isn't a joke, it's a question to which this photo is part of the answer.

For the last two years, there has been a collaboration between Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design - a London college with an international reputation - and the Medical Research Council; pairing 5 Nobel Prize winning scientists with 5 textile designers. The results of this can be seen in a week long exhibition in St James Park.

This work is by Phillipa Brock in collaboration with Sir Aaron Krug. It explores methods of transforming 2-D weaving approaches into 3-D models creating self-folding/forming experimental textile pieces taking inspiration from things like the Tobacco Mosaic Virus. This photo is of the edges of the fabric hanging down. I turned it through 90 degrees because I thought it looked good as a seascape.

If this sort of design interests you, the free exhibition will excite you and you will be well advised to pay it a visit.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Walk & Explore!

The Children's Society have come up with a fantastic fundraising idea - "Walk & Explore". Countrywide, they are getting people to, well, walk ... and explore - the title says it all. I endorse the sentiment wholeheartedly.

Today, hundreds, maybe thousands of people were walking the London event, supporting the cause. It was arranged as part of the Mayor's Thames Festival, which is on tomorrow as well. (The festival, not the walk) Can I encourage you to join in? I'll be there tomorrow with Mrs Ham and we are sure to have a good time. More on the festival to follow throughout he week.

The Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is a London institution and an amazing concert venue, so it's odd I haven't shown you it before now. Tonight, though, is the last night of the Proms, so you can go along and join in the fun in the park, unfortunately it's not free.

Every Picture Tells a Story

Just goes to show - I've been passing by this for three years without taking any notice. The hoardings behind the Tate Modern are covered with what looks like old press cuttings about the local borough, Southwark - I just thought it was done by the local history society or something and I didn't take much notice. I stopped and had a look, and started to realise that not all the cuttings are genuine. My curiosity piqued I found myself absorbed for quite a while while the border between fact, fiction and history blurred before my eyes.

Turns out it is an artwork by Elsebeth Jørgensen and Pia Rönicke titled Unofficial Deposited Records (2005). An overview is here.

Aren't Birds Brilliant?

What do you think of my flock of Peregrine Falcons? I think I might be becoming ace at bird photography - rather like the wonderful birds blog of Abraham Lincoln.

Now, I'm a bit late but I'm about to tell you about one of the more fantastic things you can do for free in London - at least for the next couple of days. Outside the Tate Modern, the RSPB have set up a stand with telescopes and binoculars for people to observe the Peregrine Falcons that are nesting in the chimney of the Tate. The telescopes will even allow you to attach a camera, unfortunately the real ones weren't in evidence while I was there. They're quite happy in London because there are quite a few pigeons for them to eat. "Aren't Birds Brilliant?" is the RSPB project to bring people closer to birds across the UK.

It's Ding Day!

The photo is from inside the Whitechapel Bell Foundry - see the DG for an excellent piece about this establishment. But the story is, today is Ding Day! Transport for London, the LCC and even Time Out have all listed it as an event, the idea is create a friendlier vibe during rush hour by encouraging riders to greet each other with a 'ding' of their bells. So if you hear the streets of London ringing a little more than usual, you know what's going on.

The Message is Clear...

...It's better by bike. There's been a lot of cycling stuff going on in London lately, I was too busy to get down to the Tour of Britain start last Sunday, which is a shame because there is a competition going on for cyclng photos over at TfL's excellent cycling site. You can see the entries here.

And really, folks, cycling is by far the best way to travel about London. It's fast, reliable and as safe as you make it.

Hatching Out

The London Daily Nature Photo had a picture yesterday of a plant that hasn't changed since dinosaur times. Which apparently is only a couple of days ago according to this photographic proof. OK, no need to worry - I confess - this a model of a dinosaur in the Natural History Museum, captured by Miss Ham on a recent visit. If you can't get there for whatever reason, they have some excellent on line dinosaur stuff.

Architectural Detail - A Palladium Column

This here is a unique architectural feature of London - The Palladium Column. What do you mean - "Isn't it a Corinthian column?" ? That just tells me that you've never seen the front of the London Palladium (currently showing The Sound of Music.

Put 'em up!

"Come on, put 'em up - who you callin' chicken?" It's not every day that you come across a chicken and a banana fighting. Just as well, really.

The Cans Festival

For those that wonder if grafitti can be art, wander down to Leake Street and the remenants of the Cans Festival. This alley under the railtrack has been covered end to end with quality art: Banksy, Faille Collective, Astekz, Inkie, Blek, they are all there and many, many more. It's been around since May and now the rising tide of mindless tags is starting to encroach. See how it was on , see how it is on my gallery.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

London in the Rain

Doesn't this shot look as if it comes straight out of a period drama? That's probably because it does. I happened across them filming Dorian Grey, and stopped to watch the fun. They were making their own rain, you can see the whole scene here. Turns out there is a trailer for the film already.

It's a Hollywood movie - I wonder how true they will be to the very dark spirit of the book - especially the ending. (incidentally, the whole text is available on project Guttenberg)

Ordinary Londoners - No 17 in the Series (Eden Lake)

"I'm not a politician or a sociologist - I want to tell a story. The horror is within." The words of James Watkins, Londoner, writer and director of Eden Lake, a new film for which I attended a screening, I took the portrait during a Q&A session afterwards.

The film is not comfortable; if you have any quantity of squeam, you may be better avoiding it. But I think it is one of the best British films made over recent years for many reasons, not least because it makes you think. Written before the recent increase in newsworthy knife and gun crime it is now ferociously topical and confronts violence head on - just where you hope you will never be. From its start it suckers you into thinking you'll be watching an ordinary schlock horror film but there are masterful little touches that turn it onto a different track and create moral ambiguity that involves you in the plot. Think "Deliverance for the 21st Century, made in England" and you're pretty much there.

It's released on the 12th September, certificate 18. I'll leave you with another quote: "If you can't be thought provoking in a horror movie, when can you be?"

The Ordinary Londoners series is here.

Cityscape

In London you are never more than six feet away from something quirky or unusual. Today, I went into the Rooftop Gallery in d'Arblay Street because I saw they had an exhibition called The City - "Contemporary artists' interpretations of the urban landscape". It is not somewhere you are likely to wander into by accident, but it proved to be interesting. This shot is detail from one of Robert Swedroe's Cyber Collages, it's one of those pieces that works well both as a whole and in detail. He is an architect and artist based in Miami, and his work reflects his vision of the cityscape. And the rooftop bit? you bet.

The exhibition runs to the 6th September. See where on the London Daily Photo Map