Walk to work

I have been trying to keep my eyes open for interesting bits and pieces to photograph on my walk to work.

There has been some beauty,

some poignancy,

some oddness,


Recently I have started cycling in again, and now I am in Borough and my route takes me past some of London's wonderful sights:



I hope to keep adding to this image set:

Rush of blood the head

...and money from my wallet.

When I bought my camera bag, the man in Calumet asked about my needs, what equipment I had etc. I told him I only needed a small bag, and that it would stop me buying any more kit. He said "Good luck with that".

Damn him.
I have just invested (!) in another three lenses:
a micro replacement for my 14-42mm kit lens;
a 45-175mm tele-zoom (also very mini);
a delicious 8mm fish-eye (a real indulgence).

So, why?
Weeeell...

I don't use my kit lens. The quality of my other (mostly prime) lenses is so much better, that whilst the zoom range is really useful, I don't like the quality, hence the new 14-42mm. Also, this lens is tiny, made for video (which I'm starting to try more and more), and looks really cute on the G2's body.

I love using my big zoom (100-300mm), but it really needs big spaces and time to use. Great for birds and the moon. But, to be honest, there are many occasions where it is just to much, and the kit lens (aside from it's other issues), doesn't have the reach.
45-175mm Sir? That will do nicely, thank you.
This is also a video lens (power zoom, very quiet), and also delightfully compact.

See. Very rational.

What? The fish eye? Oh yes.
Rather exotic, and embarrassingly expensive.
I had a fish eye extension for my LX3, which I loved. When I saw there was one for the G2 I thought "that's for me". Until I saw the price. Too much for a bit of fun.
Then I saw a video made with it. Wow. I started saving.

So, now I need a bigger bag.
Photos to follow.

UPDATE (1.2.12)
Video taken with 45-175mm:

Noah's First Birthday

Okay. So this is a very late post. I have forgiven myself. Please do the same.

We decided that Noah wouldn't really appreciate presents on his first birthday so (except for a Stephen Einhorn pendant which he can have when he's older), we didn't get him a present this year, but I took the day off work and we had a wonderful family day together.

Nadine and I had some champagne (of course), the weather was delightful, we opened family gifts in bed, Noah made beautiful music on his xylophone, we ate drop-scones for breakfast, crepes for lunch, then went for a walk in the amazing Camley Street Natural Park, which is nestled in behind King's Cross Station.

Delightful day. Lovely space to walk in, which Noah had just started to hesitatingly do (that was a birthday present).

We finished the day with a wee cake complete with candle.
Perfect.

Here are some piccies:

Peace Toddle

Noah and I took a lovely trip around Battersea Park whilst Nadine was teaching in Chelsea this weekend.

I wanted to show Noah the Peace Pagoda, so took him for a toddle around with Buddha (who he seemed to be familiar with...).

Burry Man

About 20 years ago, whilst I was studying theatre and ancient performance traditions, I found a postcard that really caught my eye and imagination. It shows a rather odd trio: two men in formal dress at a bar, holding up a third man between them, dressed head-to-foot in a green costume, made of some kind of organic matter.
The title on the back of the card said "Burry Man, South Queensferry".

I have carried this card with me as a treasured possession since.

I happened to mention this to my brother-in-law, Steven, a while ago, and he said "Yeah. The Burry Man. He's my mate".
My jaw must have hit the floor.
Turns out, Steven had been one of the Burry Man's two official helpers for the last few years.
Could he arrange for me to meet this Burry Man?
"Aye."

So this August, thanks to Steven and John Nicol (the Burrry Man himself), I traveled up to South Queensferry to witness the procession and take a few photos.
For John, the Burry Man is clearly a great responsibility, but also a burden. 11,000 burrs make the costume into which John would be sewn for over 10 hours, as he walked (unable to lower his arms) miles around the town. After 13 years of taking the role, this would be John's final year.

In the end I took several hundred shots, which I have finally edited down to 35 which I think give a flavor of the day.

Let me know what you think.

View on Flickr

Down Syndrome

Something many parent's have to think about when tests are being offered during pregnancy.
Should you have a test?
What to do if the result is positive?
Lots of emotional turmoil even thinking about it.

We had a test, unsure what we would do if the result was positive.
How could you know until you are there?
In life, I like to say that we are exactly how we are, to avoid value judgments when I feel them creeping up on me.

Noah was born without Down syndrome. We didn't have to think further.
However, it is still worth thinking about, and I just read a very good article that talks of a new test which makes screening easier and earlier, raising a variety of issues.

I thought this quote from a mother, whose daughter Penny has Down syndrome, really brings those issues down to a basic question:

"Can she live a full life without without ever solving a quadratic equation? Without reading Dostoyevsky? I'm pretty sure she can. Can I live a full life without learning to cherish and welcome those in this world who are different from me? I'm pretty sure I can't."

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/11/29/are-kids-with-down-syndrome-on-the-road-to-extinction/#ixzz1fIJa85Ot

Slimbridge Wetland Trust

We recently went to Slimbridge Wetland Trust in Gloucestershire to show Noah some ducks.
He loves ducks!

We saw plenty of ducks, geese, lots of flamingos, and even otters.

I took a few photos which I would like to share...