Picture This

Another piece of fun on the Southbank is their photobooth. Step inside, write what you want on a board and have your photo taken and uploaded to Flickr. I quite liked this photo-op, a general shot of the booth is here. Me? I can't even spell my own website.

Let's Wrap It Up

The section of Southbank between Waterloo and Hungerford bridges has sprouted polka dots on all the trees; part of Yayoi Kusama's exhibition in the Hayward Gallery called "Walking in my Mind". Over the weeks they've been here I've grown quite fond of the toy-like atmosphere they create, and the dots themselves are now host to a myriad of messages. See some other pictures and messages here. There's a two-for one offer to the exhibition on their site or through my facebook

Can You Dig It?

This is the patch of sand on the Thames Southbank, featured here before on several occasions. On this oneI cam across a treasure hunter, busy digging up bottletops. Or maybe, treasure. Who knows?

Talking of treasure, I'm collecting for Breast Cancer Care and asking for people to sponsor my 200Km overnight ride on http://www.bmycharity.com/londondailyphoto. ;-)

Bondi on Thames

I'd love my job to be sitting around drinking beer all day. For a few people, today, it was. Australia seem to be having a major promotional push in the UK a the moment, and converting a corner of the southbank to Bondi Beach (cough cough) was one of the gimmicks of G'day UK. You can even win a trip to Sydney if you want.

Moove over darling

It was just an udder day in London and I was steaking out the Southbank, listening to the moosicians, taking in the scenery. All of a sudden I came across this scene, which took me cowmpletely unaware.

Turns out that they are promoting Udderbelly, a performance venue by the London eye, picture here. And if the title struck a chord, here's Tracy Ullman's version.

Sandy Shores

Just along from the jetty yesterday, just by the Oxo Tower, there is a patch of sand that is exposed at low tide. Of recent years it has spawned a surprising numbers of sand sculpture buskers, like here. I reckon this must be another unique London feature compared to other capital cities around the world.

Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

As London basks in sunshine people look around for somewhere to sit and eat their lunch. Curiously, the piers on Southbank rarely get crowded. Go on you know you want to hear it.

Shell Building

This sculpture is probably the most elegant thing about the Shell Building. But how many others - like me - cannot pass the building without thinking of the Shell Oil Junior sequence in Some Like it Hot?

Pull up a deckchair

This week has seen an explosion of optimism in London: spring is well and truly sprung. Sunny and warm, a short week after a bank holiday Monday makes everyone feel happy. So pull up a deckchair (outside Foyles on the Southbank) and relax.

Shadows Part II - The Globe Theatre

This was my alternative for the "Shadows" theme day:

"If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream"

Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre should be on everyone's "must see" list. There is something quite special about watching the plays as they might have been four hundred years ago. and you rapidly realise - if you hadn't before - that they didn't have aeroplanes 400 years ago. "The Globe Theatre" is also the answer to the trivia question - "Name a timbered, thatched building in the centre of London".

London's Vantage Points - the Oxo Tower

The top of the Oxo tower is an exclusive bar and restaurant, but also a free public viewing gallery. I've passed by the sign hundreds of times, I've eaten in the restaurant, but it was only today that the words sunk in and so I went up to have a look. Nobody else seems to have noticed, either, but it must be the highest, free, central London viewing area.

Wild Poland in London

If you like Nature Photography, take a stroll along Southbank. For the next month there is an exhibition called Wild Poland - quite a lot of great photos. I was going to crack a bear behind joke, but I managed to stop myself - almost. What was really nice to see was the way all manner of people were engaging with the pictures.

Sherbet Dab Swivel

"'Ere, anyone called a sherbet?" (Sherbet is Cockney rhyming slang for a cab - Sherbet - Sherbet dab - Cab)

This is a temporary installation outside the Royal Festival Hall, by Ujino, the Japanese artist in residence. Inspired by the many equestrian statues he found around the city, he based his work on a heroic figure on horseback. I must find out about Ugly Knitting and report back to you all.

Spring comes to Southbank

It was superlative in London today - Spring was well and truly sprung, the sun was in the sky and all was well with the world.

I wandered out on Southbank at lunchtime to see if I could capture some of the feel to share with you, this is my favourite. The "also rans" are here.

This is how it's done.

I was walking past "Grafitti Alley" on the Southbank when I came across Shiz creating this piece. You can see the finished thing on his website, here. Lots more of his work there, including his car - he takes commissions.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map
For the first 200 Map places, click 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.

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

Is this a dagger I see before me?

Towards the end of last year, a statue popped up on Southbank to commemorate Sir Laurence Olivier, one of the finest actors of recent years. And of course, he was one of the founders of the National Theatre

Temporary Eyesore

This is a view of a Work Of Art outside the Tate Modern. I know it's a Work Of Art because it says so on a Bit Of Paper. For a change, most of the words - the text on the Bit Of Paper and my short commentary - are on My Other Stuff. And if you think these colours are a little bit too vibrant to be real, you are right. I tried to make this an eyesore, too. I thought that might be Art.

Watch This Space

The National Theatre's "Watch This Space" Southbank summer series of free entertainment is here again - for the tenth year. As my office is right by here, normally I manage to see a few - so far this year, I haven't seen any. I hope to change this, and report back to you all.