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

September Theme Day - Sister Cities

Today's worldwide City Daily Photo theme is "Sister Cities", and London's sister city is New York, so what else could I show? Ultimately, this is the sight that so many have dreamed about over the years that there could only be this choice. I took the photo when I was there in 2002.

There are three New York City Daily Photo blogs: 1 - 2 - 3

148 other blogs have said they will join in this theme; some will forget, some are in other time zones, you can see other's offerings Click here to view thumbnails for all participants or click about through these:
Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Aurora, South Africa by shelagh, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Busan, Korea South by iamnbinb, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Shantaram, Chennai, India by Ram N, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Darmstadt, Germany by Elsch, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Edmonton (AL), Canada by , Evry, France by Olivier, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Gothenburg, Sweden by Lo/David, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Hanoi, Vietnam by Jérôme, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Istanbul, Turkey by mustafa34, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jerusalem, Israel by Esther, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Anthony, Mashhad, Iran by Meead, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Muizenberg, South Africa by Pentaxjunkie, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Nice, France by Angelaj, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Elsa, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Andrew Foderaro, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Rancho Palos Verdes (CA), USA by Sarah Adams, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, Schenectady (NY), USA by Buck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, South Pasadena (CA), USA by Laurie, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Turin, Italy by Livio, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Villigen, Switzerland by z, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

My Holiday Snapshot

As you may have noticed, I was away on holiday last week with Mrs Ham, and we spent it in a very relaxing part of France. Despite unseasonable grey skies we had a great time. Given the excellent names of the towns in the district, you will excuse this holiday snapshot I am sure.

Tomorrow is a theme day, on the subject "sister cities" so it will be Tuesday before I settle back to London pics.

Memories of the Past

There are quite a few places in London where, if you look, old stonework has been inset into new. This one dates back to 1669, shortly after the Fire of London and is in the maze of alleys of Cornhill. REgrettably, I have no knowledge of its background, but I still like it.

The Knocker White Thames Tug

Isn't there something strangely attractive about rope, in a way that just doesn't carry over to polypropelene cord? This stanchion is on the old Thames tug boat, the Knocker White, moored outside the Docklands Museum. You can't even see it in the full shot, but the funnel hinged and folds back to allow the boat to travel under bridges at high tide.

Tools Heaven - Buck & Ryan

I know that this title will make some of you switch off, others will perk up, but bear with me, please. Because, Buck & Ryan is a London institution. For longer than I can remember, their name has been synonymous with good tools. For years (since 1824) a family business, it is still a place where you can go and chat to the cousin of Donald Campbell.

Looking down on a jungle ... the Barbican ?!?!

Just back off holiday, but haven't caught up with myself yet.

I think I am divulging one of London's best kept secrets today - the conservatory garden at the Barbican. You can see the 10 meter tall bamboo ( a variegated Phyllostachys) from outside the Silk Street entrance, but you probably wouldn't realise that it was part of rambling conservatory garden with around 2,000 varieties of plants. Or, that you can wander in and around there on a Sunday (or on any other day when they are preparing the conservatory room for a function, if you ask the gardeners nicely enough). Even if you aren't that interested in green growing things, may I recommend that you have a look one day, if you can? If you don't like it, I'll give you your money back (it's free).

Singularly difficult to capture the lushness in a photograph, this is my best effort.