Prudential Ride London 2016

How did that happen?

Head of the River Race 2016

The Head of the River Race is rowed annually in March from Mortlake to Putney  so the opposite of the famous Oxford and Cambridge boat race, on the Tideway in London. Over 400 crews of eights take part, making it one of the highest participation events in London. On a gray day I wrapped up in Michelin man type layers and ventured out to the bridge where a handful of people were watching the crews come through the finish line, and then turn back up river to the boat houses. Even on a cold gray day it was a fabulous site to see.

Peckham Coal Line_London Open House

Click on the slide show above

Following on from the Archkids Open City Event, this weekend I was delighted to help capture a day's activities with the Peckham Coal Line Project in Peckham as part of the Open House weekend of activities., @PeckhamCoalLine

An architectural student's project concept for urban regeneration using a disused Victorian Coal Line, that has captured the community and public's imagination,  and is now currently seeking to secure crowd funding to commission a feasibility study to investigate further the potential for redevelopment in further detail. The day included an introductory talk and a series of independent and guided walks.  A really inspirational group of creative people.

https://www.spacehive.com/peckhamcoalline

A grey sky day?

Oh the English summer! A grey day,  early trains cancelled, platforms crowded, commuters stressing, heads bowed, and everyone focused on their tech gadgets. The Shard however just looked stunning, seemingly designed just for such a day, the grey sky reflecting in the multi faceted facades creating a soft shimmering affect that almost blended into the clouds.  Several hours later the sky had brightened and the reflections hardened and this grey beauty had gone. It looked for a while  as if a window cleaning gantry was coming out but then thought better of it.

Never work with children and animals?

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With no intention of photographing animals,  this very new tiny puppy was so adorable it won me over,  how could I not pick up the camera?  Whilst its need for sleep made it far easier to capture these close up shots, there were more limited opportunities to explore its inquisitive nature and tentative steps. The only indication of its tiny size is the size 5 shoe that it is chewing on.

Sunny Southend-On-Sea

A very big thank you to representatives from Southend-On-Sea Council,  Essex University, and  the South Essex College, who took time out of their busy schedules to help me organise a tour for the ADP London Studio around the Forum, the multi award winning new community building that ADP, myself in my then role as Associate Architect, designed with them two years ago. A fantastic bonus to the tour was seeing the new cultural centre at the end of the mile long pier, a fascinating structure built off site at Tilbury Docks and lifted onto the pier by a marine crane brought over from Holland. The pale green resin cladding panels are so delicate in their colouration and vary with the changing light and colour of the sea. 

Prudential RideLondon_Location Putney

Putney High Street with one minute to spare to capture Bernhard Eisel with other members of British Team Sky returning into London on this stretch of road that falls down to the river crossing at Putney Bridge. Incredible athletes and gone by in a moment. The challenge with sport photography is how to get a clear focal point and movement at the same time with such a fast moving subject.

Bernhard Eisel from Team Sky. Putney High Street. 1/100 F4.0 ISO 200

On a day with newspaper headlines focusing on reports of abnormal blood test results suggestive of doping in the world of athletics, it is a reminder of the how the sport of cycling has had to overcome and move on from the scandal of Lance Armstrong.

Please click on the short slide show below:

Archikids 2015

Congratulations to Open City who organised a fantastic event across the Square Mile in London, Archikids Festival 2015.

Children and parents alike attended "Thinking Outside the Box" at Aldgate Tower, the event organised by architects ADP to encourage children to explore form and volume and think about what makes a great city environment. A silver river ran through a grid of city blocks with a series of green spaces. Every one was given a white shoebox filled with a selection of materials as well as access to a pile of recycled household items to make a building for the city.

Liz was delighted to help run the event as well as capture the activity and the amazing creations.