The Illustrated Building

We're all used to scaffolding being covered with an image of the building being refurbished, this time it's different. The building scaffold has been used as a giant canvas for an original artwork.



As you might recognise this is by Quentin Blake, and part of the project "Art At Kings Cross" and can be seen outside St Pancras International. You can see a view of the building here.



See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Annabel's Club in Berkley Square

Aristotle Onassis once danced there with Jacqueline Kennedy, and it is said to be the only night club the Queen has ever visited. There's not a lot to see on the outside, just a stairway to the basement, but like everywhere else, these days smokers have to go outside - silver trousers'n'all. This is still the most exclusive nightclub in London - possibly the world and a great place to find paparazzi. Which is why I didn't stay around. Useless fact of the day: it was named after the wife of the founder.

A Good Job Well Done

Going through Trafalgar Square the other day, I came across a policeman and a "Heritage Warden". I wondered what that could be for a while, then I realised they must stop people nicking our heritage, like Trafalgar Square. He's doing a great job.

How Now Brown Cow?

No, not a city farm but free ranging cows in London's Epping Forest. Before the BSE crisis in the early 90's commercial farmer's cattle used to be left to roam free through the forest, it was a common sight to see them wandering in the roads where I live. Which is why, a local major road had to be built with cattle grids on its access roads. Here is the aerial view of my area, which is the southernmost tip of Epping Forest. When the BSE crisis hit, it was no longer viable to rear cattle in this way and so they all disappeared. Recently, they have been reintroduced into the northern part of Epping Forest for old time's sake, which is where you can see these.



See where on the London Daily Photo Map (Zoom out from there to see how Epping Forest reaches right down into London)

The Wind is Mooving to the North

Walking around Smithfield, London's ancient meat market, for The Way We See It, you cannot but be struck how the local business interest has influenced the architecture. I particularly liked this weather vane, high above the street. Note also the stone cow, one of many adorning the building (which is now a restaurant).



See where on the London Daily Photo Map

August Theme Day - Metal

The August City Daily Photo theme day is Metal.

Most areas of London and every cemetery have a monument to their local war dead. Like this one here, recording the names of those who died in the two World Wars. As you can see, this simple stone monument is enhanced by the elegant bronze cross on it. What do you mean, you can't see a bronze cross? Ah. That'll probably be because it has just been stolen by some despicable lowlife for the cash they can get for it as scrap metal. In London - and probably in many other places these days - everything is getting stolen and melted down. Manhole covers, church roofs, gates, you name it.

This month, 183 blogs have said they will join in the theme day, some may forget, some are on other time zones, but click around to explore the world by its corners or Click here to view thumbnails for all participants Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Baruch, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Brantford (ON), Canada by Nancy, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chesapeake (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Cincinnati, USA by Erik Laursen, City of the Blue Mountains, Australia by Richard, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Edmonton (AL), Canada by , Evry, France by Olivier, Folkestone, UK by Piskie, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Gabriola, Canada by Snapper, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Hanoi, Vietnam by Jérôme, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jerusalem, Israel by Esther, Kansas City (MO), USA by Cate B, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Leipzig, Germany by weltbeschreiber, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Lynchburg (VA), USA by June, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Mashhad, Iran by Meead, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Menton, France by Jilly, Mesa (AZ), USA by Mesa Daily Photo, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Scott, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, 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 Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Stephanie Craig, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Pretoria, South Africa by Sam-Ruth, Quezon City, Philippines by ann pablo, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Rancho Palos Verdes (CA), USA by Sarah Adams, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Schenectady (NY), USA by Buck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, South Pasadena (CA), USA by Laurie, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, 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, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

A Darker Docklands

As I said yesterday, there was a lot to see and do in the Museum of Docklands. I thought of showing you a picture from the Old Time Music Hall performance, as I took a short video, too. Then I thought, a shot of part of the re-creation of old Docklands scenes, but I realised that you wouldn't be able to experience the smells that they had added (!!!) that transform the experience.

Instead, here is a reminder of the casual racism that was part of the warp and weft of life until not that long ago. One of the things this museum does particularly well is its handling of slavery and its consequences. No over-sentimentality, no beating of chests, just the story straight down the middle, well illustrated by artefacts. It is all the more powerful for that.

The Museum of Docklands

This last weekend, the Museum of Docklands was celebrating its fifth birthday, and there were quite a lot of things going on, including free admission. I've long been interested to see it, but as a cheapskate that thinks museums should be free, I had to avail myself of this opportunity. (Normal admission is £5, valid for a year)

The story of the Thames and Docklands IS the story of London, and I'm pleased to report that this museum does it justice. These people are examining a model of the old London Bridge, crafted in amazing detail, including skulls on spikes. There is a lot to see in the museum, for all ages, and they cover a range of subjects interestingly and engagingly. So much so, I may well feature another aspect in coming days.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Frank Gehry at the Serpentine Gallery

It's taken 77 years of Frank Gehry's life for the first of his buildings to come to London and England, the Serpentine Gallery is the site. I thought it would be an interesting challenge to photograph the newest structure with my oldest camera - the 1937 Voigtlander Bessa.

(warning: photographic ramble follows)

This is an astonishingly challenging building, both to experience and to photograph. The whole edifice (which doesn't leak) strains your ideas of what a building should be. And yet, it is there: wood, steel, glass, massive and foursquare. I didn't look at any photographs before I visited and looking at them since, most fail to convey the sense of the place. My digital effort is here, (from a similar angle) but this shot on film using a seventy year old camera with a fixed lens is my favourite. Not just because it is the only film shot I took - I walked and looked for a while before shooting - but because it seems to contain an sense of the improbable, that combined with the richness of tone from the film greyscale make it for me.

Do you prefer the film or the digital version? do let me know. I'm particularly interested in what you think if you've seen it - do let me know (don't forget to click and look at the larger version, please).

Which version of the photo do you prefer?
	The B&W film one
	The colour digital one
	Neither are very good
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Buckingham Palace

Let's start the week with a tourist shot - there can be few views that scream "London" as loudly as this. What's more, it makes a pretty picture.

There's been increasing controversy recently about the bearskins (the hat) which are made out of real bear. Moves to replace them with synthetic versions have been unsuccessful thus far. PETA staged several naked demonstrations to highlight the cause.

Although they are best known as worn by the Guard's Regiments, it turns out that eight other countries also use them, including the USA.

Pump it Up

There are old Victorian waterpumps scattered beside roads throughout London, from the city to the suburbs. For some reason, they have been left in place, although little information is available for them. Unusually, this one has a plaque on it that tells us: "...(it was) rescued in 1962 when the 1771 bridge was being replaced". Hard to think that one time, this would have been a life giving source to man and animals. These days, they are more likely to be ornaments.



Go on, you know you want to see the video and hear the music.



See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Chapel Market

This week's TWWSI took me to Camden Passage, a place I have been before. So, I dusted down my trusty old OM1 to see what images I could make.



Just about all the film shots I post are shown full frame, as scaned without any post production.

A bespoke Tailor

Time was when you would find a tailor in most localities; having a first suit made was a rite of passage, Not many places like this now. It's hard to image going into Marks & Spencer and ordering a custom made suit as you could from Burton's. This tailor is hidden away from view in the alleys, behind Cornhill (see yesterday) - Castles in Castle Street.And todays useless fact is that "Bespoke" just means to order - to bespeak - the suit.

Step Back in Time

If you read Victorian novels about London, you will have built an image of a city of narrow, huddled, alleyways. You may have thought that they've been swept away, apart from the odd one here or there, but behind Cornhill there remains a maze of tiny streets and alleys, pedestrianised now, that you would miss if you weren't looking for them. Worth a meander if you haven't done so before, I felt this antique treatment gave the right feel to the picture.



In this shot is the Jamaica Wine House, which stands on the site of London's first coffee house (not the Dutch kind!!) opened by Pasqua Rosee in 1652 - twenty years before he opened the first one in Paris.



See where on the London Daily Photo Map

A New View on Lloyds

The iconic Lloyd's building has featured here before, but it is one of those buildings difficult to photograph any other way that to say "here's a load of pipes". Passing by the other day I was quite excited to discover this image in the parabolic building just next door, like a world in a looking glass..

The Supply of Information

Paul Julius Reuter, as much as any other single person, helped shape the world we live in today. Born this day 192 years ago (as I write this), his early life seems to have been built on shifting sands. It is an irony that his organisation went on to become a byword for reliability and speed. His early news gathering used carrier pigeons, moving rapidly to the telegraph: whatever it took to get the news first. If the mood takes you, you can read more about the man here (Wikipediaa), here or here.



This memorial to him stands behind the Royal Exchange. See where on the London Daily Photo Map.

London's Elephants - No 25 in a series

'Tis elephant time again! This time, not just one, but a herd of topiary elephants are in Regents Park. They are on walkabout as part of The Survival Tour, an event seeking to highlight the plight of the elephant as its habitat disappears worldwide. Not to be confused with the herd of elephants currently rampaging through Norwich. If you want to see what the elephants are like photographed on film using my old OM1, that's here.

They're in Regent's Park through the end of July, when they move to Selfriges (!!) - you may have seen them already in St James Park.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

London Community Life

I've mentioned in the past that I'm fortunate to live in an area with a great sense of community - something all too rare in London and most other modern cities. Saturday was one of the highlights of the year - Music in Wanstead Park - a day of fun and music for all the family. These ladies were helping out at one of the food stalls, supporting the local Primary School PTA. When Diamond Geezer walked through on his Redbridge foray, he commented "this fascinating park ought to be seen and enjoyed by far more than an audience of local dog walkers" - well, I'm pleased to say it is. Another photo here.

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.