Tate Britain - The Forbidden Staircase

I was in London last weekend. With the prospect of yet another wet day, I headed to Tate Britain. While I do enjoy all the art on offer, what I have always loved about Tate Britain is the building itself. It has some beautiful spaces. This time I was taken by one of the staircases and spent some time taking abstract shots. Eventually I drew the attention of one of the security guards. Apparently I wasn't allowed to take photos of the stairs. It was okay to shoot all the art, but not the building. That required 'a pass'. When questioned, he was a little vague of the reason and detail for any of this. Luckily I had what I wanted, so went on my way. Although I might take a few more photos of these stairs. next time I'm in.

 

Lackford Lakes

so far this year, there has not been much in the way of clear skies and sunshine. Certainly not on a weekend. So when there was a brief window of good weather on a Saturday, I used it for a trip to Lackford lakes. I was keen to see a starling murmuration, and I had read that Lackford was a good location. I arrived around lunchtime. The reserve was busy and I was lucky to find somewhere to park. I passed the afternoon photographing small birds around a few feeding stations. 

People stated gather for the murmuration from about 3.30pm. The starlings started to gather from around 4.30pm. Much of the time the birds were overhead. On the plus side this, the sound of all those wings beating was very clear. On the minus side it was tricky to get it all in frame. I regretted not bringing my wide-angle lens. There were no raptors around, so the starlings only began to tightly bunch in the final few minutes. Pretty much on the stoke of 5pm, the birds dove down into the reed beds and the show was over.

iPhone End of Year Roundup

Here is a selection of my favourite images from this year that I shot with my iPhone.

 

Glencoe and Rannoch Moor

I stayed at the Kingshouse for Christmas again this year. After a very grey first day, for the rest my stay there were blue skies and sunshine. Temperatures never reached much above freezing so the boggy parts were firm and easy to walk on. Sadly the lack of cloud meant that I didn't see the stunning sunrises and sunsets that Scotland is capable of, but then, you can't have everything. 

 

Mayfair Christmas

Last weekend, I was in London for lunch and a show. In between, there was time for a stroll around the posh bits. Starting in Berkeley Square, our walk included New Bond Street and the Burlington Arcade. The Christmas decorations were just as lovely as you would hope could be achieved with a awful lot of money.

The Grafton Centre

The Grafton Centre in Cambridge had been in a slow decline for many years. It is now about to be partially demolished to make way for a 'laboratory space, offices, a new hotel and a reduced shopping experience'. Currently it is still open, but all that remains are half a dozen shops at the front and a gym at the back. Because of the Gym, it is still possible to walk through the length of the centre, despite most of the shops being shuttered and boarded.

I thought it worth taking a few photos, to document the passing of this once major shopping destination. In its nearly closed state, it made an eerie sight. Shops boarded up, but escalators still running. Also slightly depressing to think how it would of been in previous Decembers, covered in Christmas decorations and packed with people.

Zurich and Paris: End of the Line

The final two stops on my journey home were Zurich and Paris. One night in each. I would arrive mid afternoon and depart mid morning the next day. This didn't leave much time to explore, and after many days of eat, sleep, photograph, repeat, I was almost spent.

Zurich was a pretty place, but I had seen prettier. It was also a rather grey day, which didn't help sell it. Still, I did like its collection of spires.

 

It had been a long time since I had last stayed in Paris. There were places I really wanted to revisit, but there wasn't the time. My hotel was in Monmartre, so that was where I explored. Sacré-Cœur was too busy with tourists and love lock hawkers to give a decent photo. But at least it offered some good views over the city. As I was in the area, and after a decent dinner, I couldn't resist a night shot of the Moulin Rougue.