The Two Commandments

A "first" for London Daily Photo today - two photos in one day. But there was no option, was there?

This is a work by Dr. D

I'm away for a few days, posting will continue.

More Light, More Power

Today, another thing that caught my eye in Rivington Street. This crest is the old motto of Shoreditch, the area we are in. Doesn't it echo the aspirations of that time when anything was possible, England ran the world; London was the heart of England and therefore the world?

I'm away for a few days, posting will continue.

I Gassed Myself

After several weeks absence, I rejoined "The Way We See It" for the foray to Rivington Street, in the heart of the East End, there were a couple of things that caught my eye I'll be showing here.

Today it was the disturbing image on this sticker on a sign that drew my attention. I wanted to know more about the ambiguity of the image. Was it the National Front? Something else? The link igassedmyself.com (warning: politically charged content, may offend) led me to the blog of Mike Marcus, an artist making a powerful statement - that the Israeli nation should know and do better than to put any people through anything like what the Germans did to them. I'm rather proud he's a Londoner.

I'm away for a few days, posting will continue.

Bevis Marks Synagogue

Bevis Marks synagogue is hidden away in the City of London, where it has been for more than three hundred years. If you don't make it to Open House, you can visit, or maybe go for a service. Or, see pictures and history on the web.

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

I am a photographer not a terrorist!

I am really frightened. We don't even have the vocabulary to deal with this frightening erosion of our personal liberty that's happening around us and to us. Forget ID cards, this is the real thing. As of today, you can be arrested for taking a photograph of a policeman or soldier, and for those who say that the law is only there to get the bad guys, remember that six months ago we used anti terrorism legislation against Finland Iceland. And if you thought it was OK before this law, read this.

Many photographers (an exposure of photographers?) gathered outside New Scotland Yard to take pictures of as many police (or other interesting things) as possible and see what happened. Predictably, nothing except making it onto the news. And of course it's too late as it is already law, and I know it is just another facet of a ruling class out of touch with the people (I don't believe either main party is better than the other), but I'm still frightened.

I tried to think of a protest song that covers this sort of thing, but as I said, we just don't have the vocabulary. Here is what I came up with: Woody Guthrie, Your Land is My Land, The Clash - Clampdown ("We will teach our twisted speech to the young believers"), Billy Bragg - World Turned Upside Down, Bob Marley - Get up, stand up. To be a little less depressing, here's Style council's Walls Come Tumbling Down Any other suggestions? A short video clip from the event is here. A longer video here.

Ordinary Londoners - No 20 in a series

The eagle eyed among you yesterday spotted a cove in a topper, that individual is Ray Frensham, today's Ordinary Londoner.

A Screen Writer extrordinaire, Victorian Stroller,blogger, Londoner and all round good egg he is just the sort of person this series set out to showcase: there is no such thing as an "ordinary" ordinary Londoner.

The Ordinary Londoner Series is here.

Looking for love...

...in all the right places. It was Valentine's Day and this is Valentine's House in Valentines Park, and this is the queue to go into Valentine's Mansion on the first day of opening after refurbishment. It's rather strange having a 17th century mansion house on your doorstep.

Read about it on the Diamond Geezer today.

Out for a Ruby

In London's Cockney rhyming slang a Ruby is a curry - Ruby Murray - curry. Just about eveyone knows that. I wonder if they know she was singer and if anyone who uses that phrase has ever heard her sing? Good job we have Youtube then.

The Cyclosaurus

In honour of Charles Darwin's 200th Birthday, I present the Cyclosaurus. It's a sad fact, but London eats bikes. On my way into work, my chain snapped. Riding home in the cold and wet I had a visitation from the Puncture Fairy. And you want a happy photo?

(And in case you are wondering, yes it is still better than going by public transport)

Learn how to drive with London Daily Photo

How to navigate a mini roundabout in two easy lessons. 1) Give way to traffic on your right 2) If you decide NOT to give way, just don't choose a London Bus to argue with: you will lose. If you can't work out what happened, the bus came from the left of the picture, the failed car came from where the grey car is driving towards, and got it wrong.

Low Tide

Getting a new angle on the familiar is always fun. At low tide, you can walk along the southern bank of the Thames, and see things with a new perspective.

A terrace with a view

I'll end my night-time jaunt around here with a sit down outside the Founder's Arms. Those funny looking glowy-things are actually patio heaters, so you can sit with your pint of Young's or coffee, or whatever in any weather. And, as you can see, people do. Not surprising, given the view.

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.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map
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Anthropomorphication

Walking across the Millennium Bridge the other night, it struck me how much St Paul's Cathedral echoed the shape of a person. That's all.

Coffee and Football

The coffee in the Bar Italia used to be better - it is still good but rather expensive. However for a place to go and hang out, it has few equals. A piece of classic London for the last 60 years, open through the night. Just don't visit when Italy are playing a match.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map
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Mind the Gap

For one reason or another I spent last week on public transport, rather than on my bike, and thoroughly unpleasant it has been, too, although there are some that revel in the tube.

"Mind the Gap" has become synonymous with London, here's the background. But what surprised me was the small print - "last year 74 accidents".

Ukulele tales

I love London. Where else would you find a weekly ukulele jam session?Karauke is a weekly ukulele get together which, on the evidence I saw, is rather fun. I think their aspirations are towards the Ukulele Orchestra, featured here previously, but none the worse for all that.

A short video showing the fun to be had.

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.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map
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Deep and Crisp and....

... almost even. As London shivers to a halt with a few inches of snow, I bravely ventured forth in search of a photo. I was looking for something a little different to illustrate the scene, and came across this scene in the nearby City of London Cemetary. The bumps are the floral tributes left.

And of course, the link.

Chinese in the New Year

It was Chinese new year last week, and the London celebrations were this Sunday. I didn't make it to that, but here is a picture from my Chinese lessons in the Bishopsgate Institute on Thursday. Here, we are learning to write Chinese characters (my own effort is in the front of the shot). I'm hoping to learn Chinese before going there on holiday in July; I managed to order a Chinese meal "by numbers" in Mandarin so I'm quite optimistic.

February Theme Day - Passages

February theme day for the worldwide City Daily Photo community is paths and passages. London is a city of passages and this is my favourite photo (from my Bronica, on film).

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants, how this theme is expressed round the world.

A Family Group

This group of statues in the Broadgate Centre is on the ordinary side by day, but by night they loom rather finely, I hope I've managed to capture some of that quality for you.

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

Starbucks Snake Spotted in London!

In the name of Phriday Phun, I present the Starbucks Snake for your viewing pleasure.

The Starbucks Snake is a generally shy, nocturnal, animal but can also often be found in the vicinity of IT workers. Little is known about its nutrition requirements, although there is speculation that it is able to directly convert radiation from PC monitors into food. It's scaly skin resembles the cup protectors handed out at a coffee store, making it ideal to survive the rigours of office life. They mate freely in captivity, as can be seen, this grand specimen is accompanied by one of its offspring.

At a loose end?

Then here's an idea: visit an auction room. They often have interesting collections of art and other stuff, and they are free to view. This is glass on sale at Bonhams, in New Bond Street who have been doing it in London for over 200 years.

Pikes & Muskets

I was passing by Mansion House two nights ago when I came across the Company of Pikemen & Musketeers forming up to go inside. They are the personal bodyguard of the Lord Mayor of London, you can see them walking by the coach in the Lord Mayor's Parade. And talking of Pikes, there can only be one link.

Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation

That's the motto of the BBC, and this is the scene today with protesters outside the World Service HQ - somewhat calmer than earlier when they tried to occupy the building. The issue is that the BBC are refusing to air the Disasters Appeal Committee appeal for funding for Gaza.

I've said it before, I'll say it again, the Middle East is a mess. It does give me cause for wry amusement that, actually, the DEC are getting much more airtime and publicity this way than they would had the broadcast gone ahead.....

Are You Motivated?

Last Thursday lunchtime I went to a very damp and dismal London Eye. To watch Mr Motivator lead half an hour of aerobics in the pouring rain. Only in London, eh? The event was organised by those nice folk at the London Eye, who were giving away a pair of free tickets to anyone who turned up. As you cen see, quite a few did, including Peter Moore, the London Town Crier.

If you were there, you may want to see all the rest of the photos here.

The Burning Question

...is, was there ever a worse screen accent than Mel Gibson in Braveheart? It's Burns Night on the 25th, so I thought I'd show you the memorial to William Wallace, close to where he was executed and on the "must see" list of any visiting Scot.


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

The Millenium Bridge

I've played with the colour a bit, and I can't decide whether the shake gets in the way (it is 1.3s exposure, hand-held, after all) but I still like this. It's a long term aim of mine to try to express the "Blade of Light" architectural hyperbole photographically. This is the closest I've come yet. Hope you like it.

To view the same way as I did, think of the blade diving into St Paul's, and the light-blood spilling out. Now, where did I put those pills?