London Archives - Nicola Ann Art

Oct 23

by Nicola in London, Nature 0 comments tags: Autumn, Autumnal Colours, Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath in Autumnal Fire

Autumnal leaves on my doorstep, something I’ve come to appreciate more and more as the seasons change year after year. Having lived most of my life in Durban, South Africa, I realised I never did get to relish the changing of the seasons. It was either hot, humid and hot, wet and hot or mild. Don’t get me wrong, I had never wanted for anything different. I didn’t know different. I’d have to travel a few hundred kilometres to the Drakensberg mountains to experience the changing of the leaves. This autumn, I found the leaves to be especially striking. Perhaps I’ve learned to appreciate nature more, feel more of a connection because of the crisis this world is in. Autumn’s falling leaves teaches how to let go, a natural process of Life. “Change is the only constant in life,” Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher once stated.

Jun 06

by Nicola in London, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Berkeley Square, COVID-19, Crawling, Lockdown, London, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Beykirch, Sophie Ryder

London easing out of lockdown…

It still felt as though the city was abandoned; a ghost town, never seen before in my lifetime. Mmm… The sound of silence. I could count the total number of people passed, social-distancing, of course, on both hands. From Regent’s Park, we headed to Great Portland Street, Oxford Circus, Marble Arch, Hyde Park, Mayfair, Maddox Gallery and Berkeley Square where I marvelled at “Crawling” by Sophie Ryder. ‘To me it encompasses so many emotions. The lady is strong and confident and she is moving along which makes one wonder “where is she going?” ‘She is a bronze that I scaled up from the maquette by eye from very small, straight to very large, which is a very difficult process as normally its done in several more stages than that. ‘I worked on it for a long time, 16 hours a day back in 1999. The first attempt collapsed on top of me in one big crash! I was a bit bruised and battered but learnt then that my structures needed to be better thought out. I had wasted a couple of months of work but gained years of experience. ‘Sculpture should adapt to its surroundings and be good from every […]

Mar 29

by Nicola in London, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Blue Bells, Hampstead, Hampstead Heath, London, nature, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Beykirch

blue bells blooming early Hampstead Heath

The blue bells blooming early this year, due to the balmy weather, in Hampstead Heath during lockdown. A treat to see them each day, as long as they lasted, while ‘participating in one form of daily exercise outdoors’, as instructed by Boris. “Moments of solitude with Mother Nature is sunshine to a soul.” — Anthony Douglas Williams

Mar 15

by Nicola in Art, London, Street Photography 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Fire dance, Graffiti, Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel, Waterloo

London’s Free-for-All Brick Canvas at Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel

Overhearing a couple animatedly talking about the best graffiti they’d ever seen near Waterloo, I had to find Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel for myself. Rough and ready, the tunnel sparkled with colour. Artists bending over their cans and preparing themselves for their next masterpiece. A queue of boldly dressed people patiently waited to enter The Vaults, a place that offers everything to those that dare. Once I’d immersed myself in the vibrancy of the art, people and atmosphere I headed the way I came in and noticed two teenage girls playing with hula hoops. Approaching them, I asked if they were practising for a show. “We’re going to be putting on a show, firing up our hoops. Have a butchers,” the one encouraged. With my camera perfectly poised, I eagerly awaited their fire dance… I had no idea Banksy launched Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel to fame in May 2008 with an exhibition called The Cans Festival. With a comical play on The Cannes Film Festival, Banksy invited international street artists to adorn the blanks along Leake Street tunnel with their signature art, as explained further by Leake Street Arches here.

Oct 20

by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Cities, London, The United Kingdom 2 comments tags: Architecture, Back2Blighty, Battersea, Battersea Power Station, BeanOn Photography, Chelsea Bridge, England, The United Kingdom

Iconic Battersea Power Station

Feeling inspired after relishing other people’s art at the Affordable Art Show in Battersea, I ventured along the Thames and happily explored the in-progress renovations of Battersea Power Station. I lived in Battersea many years ago and walked over Battersea Bridge to work, ran around the Battersea Park most days and dined weekly at a cheap and cheerful Thai place where I was known by name. What a delightful surprise to return and find an elegance of eclectic architecture, sonorous and arousing; the beauty of lines. Captured by the reflections, I wanted to include only them in the post; however, all the rest of my images are as charming. A completely different space to when I last visited fourteen years ago. I vow to return to sample Mother, oh please feed me mother, all artisan products sourced directly from Italy and apparently their pizzas are to die for!

Mar 20

by Nicola in Back2Blighty, Black & White, Hiking, London, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, blizzard, England, Hampstead Heath, Hampstead Village, ice, nature, snow, Sunset

Let it snow London

Let it snow London; blizzards of heavy snow hit London three times this past winter, from December 2017 until end of March 2018, almost springtime. The last time I experienced snow settling in London was during January / February 2011. What a pleasure trudging through Hampstead Heath, up towards Kenwood House and around the ponds and the village during all three snow-dumps.

Oct 05

by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Cities, London, The United Kingdom, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, England, Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel, Great Britain, Millennium Wheel, South Bank, Sunset, The London Eye, The United Kingdom, world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel

Coco-Cola London Eye – Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel

United Kingdom’s most popular paid for visitor attraction happens to be the Coco-Cola London Eye. Offering an unrivalled experience while absorbing the stunning vistas of the city, what’s there to beat it? Actually… Recently the 244m The Shard with its The View from The Shard has surpassed the 135m London Eye, but The Shard, is after all, not Europe’s tallest building as the London Eye is Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel. One can definitely boast with “Guess what I’ve just done? Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel!” Exactly! Without having to queue, being afforded a dedicated entrance with ninety percent fewer people, a Fast Track ticket was definitely worth its weight in gold. Especially during a balmy autumn afternoon below an unblemished sky an hour before sunset, how could it be resisted? Having experienced “the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel”, sometimes known as the Millennium Wheel, many years ago – twelve to be exact – I didn’t expect to feel as in awe of the trip this time round. Alas, with my expectations exceeded, I relished in appreciating every second of the rotating Coco-Cola London Eye, taking thirty minutes, while displaying the surrounding beauty that creates London. I feel […]

Jan 22

by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Cities, London, The United Kingdom, Uncategorized 2 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, Canary Wharf, London, Piccadilly Circus, The Shard, The United Kingdom, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Trafalgar Square

London Calling

The entire day spent photographing around London (two days before I left for South Africa) and I didn’t manage to shoot all on my list. I’d run out of time. Perhaps it’s a sign for me to return, use that return ticket of mine and enjoy the UK’s summer. But only the summer… At Canary Wharf my friend asked a security guard, one of many security guards spotted strolling around the wharf, about photographing the shopping centre. Apparently, all in the name of terrorism, we needed a permit to take photos inside and outside of the mall. Obtained from the management of the shopping centre, we had to apply online – advised in order to avoid a hefty fine up to £100k, depending if they could prove we were using the shots for promotional purposes. “You have pro equipment and look like pros,” he said. Out in the open, I spotted a security guard standing outside a building I wanted to photograph, and so I asked him if it was okay; as long as I wasn’t going to be filming, and we were not hanging around taking millions of photos. Just as I’d finished setting up and leaned forward […]

London’s South Bank and more

My experimentation with long exposure, night and HDR photography took place recently over 2 days and a night along London’s South Bank and more. I shan’t be repeating the night photography stint, lasting from 10pm until 2am, in a hurry. I’m surprised I still have my fingers and toes attached. I’d even donned three layers of clothing on every major part of my body and it felt as if I was wandering around naked, while the temperature played around 4 degrees. I just don’t believe my body functions optimally in the cold, perhaps. One problem that nearly drove me to fling my camera in to the River Thames was trying to get Elizabeth Tower supporting Big Ben in focus. Albeit doing everything by the book. Tripod, focus set to infinity etc. And still no such luck. Return I shall to practice, but only in the summer. Why I didn’t capture the night shots during the summer months is beyond even me. I don’t believe any of the photographs requires an introduction… I loved the different looks by night and by day, and how lights at night can transform the dullest of dull structures, such as the […]