Nicola Ann Art
Aug 26
by Nicola in Architecture, Art, Back2Blighty, Cities, The United Kingdom 3 comments tags: Back2Blighty, Banksy, Banksy' Mild Mild West, BeanOn Photography, Bristol, Bristol - UK's graffiti capital, Graffiti, St Nicholas Market, St Pauls, Stokes Croft, Stokes Croft Murals, The United Kingdom

Bristol – the UK’s graffiti capital?

While I first stayed in Bristol – the UK’s graffiti capital – upon returning to the United Kingdom, April 2015, I noticed its many graffiti sprayed streets throughout the suburbs of Stokes Croft and St Pauls; however, I didn’t get the opportunity to fully capture the illegal vibrancy with my camera. Thus I returned recently to capture the vandalism, which brings me to the question:   IS GRAFFITI ART?   A survey proposing the question took place on Debate.org and 85% ruled in its favour. How is this even possible?   Of course some graffiti is staggering, talent revealing, but defacing private property turns it ugly instantly. Would you want to return home after a hard day’s work and see the walls of your property marked as someone else’s territory while, what, expressing themselves? Unless someone paid the likes of Banksy to doodle on their wall…   Below, amidst the vibrancy, is a photograph of Banksy’s “Mild Mild West”, 1999 – one of the first pieces of street art in Stokes Croft.   “The painting is a tongue-in-cheek joke at the people of the West Country being more ‘mild mild west’ than ‘wild wild west’, having said that, the painting reflects […]
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Aug 20
by Nicola in Art, Back2Blighty, Exhibition, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, Competition, London, Photography competition, Photography Exhibition, Royal Geographical Society, The United Kingdom, Travel Photographer Of The Year

Competitive travel photographer?

Ever fancy yourself as a competitive travel photographer? Well, the 2016 competition for the Travel Photographer Of The Year is now accepting entries.   To see what you’re up against, take a trip to the Royal Geographical Society in London to view the first showing of this year’s winners. Close to Hyde Park on the corner of Kensington Gore and Exhibition Road, you will find the gallery. Make sure you visit before the 5th September 2015 and when the weather is good.   The main exhibition is free; however, if you desire to pick the judges minds you can do so at a cost.   I enjoyed the sun on my back while viewing the stunning photography on large stands out in the open. The glaciers with the setting sun and colours of the sky reflecting, glistening off the frozen water especially drew my eye. Now I crave to photograph the Northern Lights; watch this space!   The categories include: Tribes; Earth, Air, Fire, Water; Spirit Of Adventure, Destinations; One Moment; Monochromal; Wild & Vibrant; Travelogue; Travel Shorts.   #iPhonePhotography
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Aug 04
by Nicola in Hiking, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, Darenth Valley Long Distance Footpath, Hiking, Lavender fields, Lullingstone Castle, Lullingstone Country Park, North Downs Kent, River Darent, Shoreham Village, The Hops Shop, The United Kingdom

Spectacular lavender fields at North Kent Downs

During this hike our intention was to view the poppy fields before they took to the winds and bid farewell until next year. Unfortunately, we were too late. However, I turned to admire the view across the gilded wheat and barley fields and a Persian carpet of vivid purple blinked at me in the distance. “Look!” I exclaimed. “We have to go there!” What spectacular lavender fields scattered among the North Kent Downs.   Back down through Shoreham Village, up past the church that’s in front of the pub where punters were already sitting outside eating meals and chatting and laughing, through the barley fields, down towards the River Darent, along the Darenth Valley Long Distance Footpath with houses either side, through the wheat fields and then there they were in plain sight. I wanted to run as fast as I could and dive in to the lavender, such beauty so soft and all encompassing.   We stopped for lunch on a hill overlooking Lullingstone Castle that dated back to the 11th century, with lavender fields to our right.   First time I’d seen hop fields with their bines climbing wooden poles, which belonged to The Hop Shop.   The […]
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