All the World's a Stage

Passing by this from the road, it looks like some strange interpretation of a totem pole; it is only when you look closer you see that it is an interpretation of the Seven Ages of Man.

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Discovering Elegance

Isn't it odd how you can find elegance in the strangest places, and how a photo can help show that? This small, inconspicuous statue is on the north side of Blackfriars Bridge, here is the Google Maps Streetview. Different, isn't it? Shot on my Olympus Trip, a little point & shoot 35mm film camera.

The Blackfriar

This pub is one of the finest examples of the Art Nouveau Arts & Crafts movement buildings in London. converted from an office block in 1905 it takes inspiration from an ancient monastery that used to be nearby (they wore black habits). The building is very well preserved and the detail is great, like this. The interior is certainly worth a visit, and not just for the excellent beer.

Unilever Building

Unliver Building by Blackfriar's Bridge is one of London's finest Deco buildings. Worthy of close scrutiny by day, it comes into its own at night. But I really must try to get inside.

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100 New Bridge Street

What do you do if you are an architect, designing a building surrounded by Victorian and Edwardian magnificence, and 60's London Dull? If you are modern architects, the answer is a very creative modern stained glass, best viewed from the inside, or of a winter evening with the light shining through.

After reading the Diamond Geezer's exploits at this address, I wasn't surprised when a security guard bustled out immediately I started to photograph. But, I was surprised when he apologised, said that he had to ask and was happy with my explanation that I found it of sufficient artistic merit to photograph.

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I walk the Bridge

A piece of creative graffiti spied on Blackfiars Bridge. Not a lot to say about this, so I offer you two Johnny Cash songs, 50 years apart. The first is fun, but as the second, if you haven't heard his rendition of "Hurt", you really ought to. Really.

The Ghost Bridge

You've still got a couple of weeks to get down to see the Ghost Bridge and other works in the Drift 8 series. This is a recreation of the old Blackfriars Bridge with lasers. A fascinating concept, I was there a little early in the evening for the full effect.

The lack of dark wasn't my only problem - there is a dredging pontoon blocking the lasers, too. But one of my shots was a bit of a lucky accident - here it is, in my fancy this is something Turner might have done deliberately, if he lived in the 21st century.

Trolls live under bridges

So I dug out my 30 year old Olympus Trip, worth all of £3 on eBay, and it still works. I'm quite pleased with its results. We are under the span of the new Blackfriars Bridge today and if you look at the tiles, they have reproduced the plans and drawings of the building of the original bridge. Chances are, even if you know the place, that you have just walked straight through. Stop and have a look, it is fascinating..

Who's stolen the bridge?

These pillars are what remains of a bridge for the London, Chatham and Dover Railway. From what I can make out, it was only built in the 1850's, was used for about 15 years before it was closed as it couldn't carry the weight of the "modern" trains. A common sight to a lot of Londoner's this perspective is what you can see from the north bank - the one less frequented.