The United Kingdom Archives - Page 2 of 2

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 […]

Farewell to Windsor

On Friday, 13 November, I bade farewell to Windsor; my work assignment ended and I have temporarily returned to London. Until the next adventure! I spent a last few hours strolling along the River Thames, admiring the birdlife – the path I took to reach The Long Walk, from Windsor Castle, George IV gateway, along the double avenue of trees to The Copper Horse on Snow Hill. I didn’t quite make The Copper Horse as time eluded me, which caused a silent curse. I don’t know why I didn’t enjoy the 4.25 kilometers walk earlier, when I had more time. King Charles II had the double rows of Elm trees, over 1600, planted the entire length of the route. The king desired to remodel Windsor in a renewed style and The Long Walk was a tick from his lengthy list of improvements. In 1710, Queen Anne had a road constructed down the centre of the tree lined avenue to ensure the coaches enjoyed a comfortably smooth surface. The royal carriages still use The Long Walk every year as part of the route from Windsor Castle to the Ascot Races at the start of the summer social season. […]

Nov 05

by Nicola in Hiking, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Autumn, Autumnal Colours, Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, Exploring, Landscape, the River Thames, The United Kingdom, Windsor, Windsor Castle

Windsor in its autumnal glory

What delight being able to experience Windsor in its autumnal glory. Over a two-week period from late October to now, I immersed myself in an array of foliage in rich tones of scarlet, gold, bronze and copper along the River Thames in Windsor, from Eton towards Stains-upon-Thames. Decorative trees and shrubs in their changing coats of fiery colours reflect and dazzle in the still water of the river. The warm colours of Windsor Castle appear to echo the burnished leaves and rusty colour palettes. Soon the autumnal landscape will lose its leaves, paving its way for a barren, stark winter.

Sep 21

by Nicola in Back2Blighty, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, canal path, Early morning, mist, misty morning, nature, swans, the River Thames, The United Kingdom, Windsor

Misty morning in Windsor

First thing this misty morning in Windsor (yes, I have returned), I grabbed my camera and rushed out to photograph the sun breaking through the moist air. With hardly anyone around, I freely captured the dim, blurry freshness of the ending summer. A few days to go before autumn officially begins. Oh how I look forward to nature’s colours when the leaves change.

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 […]

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

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 […]

Quintessentially charming Windsor

As a recently self-appointed self-employed contractor – sole purpose to experience as much of Blighty as possible at every presented opportunity – I now find myself luxuriating in everything the quintessentially charming Windsor has to offer. Many years previously I’d before only visited Windsor Castle; drove to the castle, explored inside and out and then back to London. I missed the chance to discover further afield; however, now I have returned and, for a total of 3 weeks, I am making up for the miss. With less than a ten-minute walk to Windsor’s town centre and of course the castle, I absorb myself in the surrounding beauty, mostly along the river’s edge, at least two hours every day or evening. At weekends it’s a bit longer. This past Sunday, my friend travelled from London to join me on a hike amongst Maidenhead Thicket, a twenty-minute drive from Windsor town centre, through cool woodlands and golden wheat fields. Back to Windsor, we next explored Windsor Great Park that appeared to be lightning struck land. With dead silver bark spiking the threatening sky in such vast openness, I couldn’t help feeling connected to nature. And then the heavens […]

Jul 06

by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Hiking, Nature 5 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, countryside, derelict, Exploring, Hiking, Kent, nature, Shoreham Village, Stockland's Retreat House, The United Kingdom, West Kingsdown, wheat fields

A haunted derelict, Stacklands Retreat House

Lately, I’ve been relishing hiking Kent’s countryside especially now while the weather has been warm with perfect blue skies and when discovering a haunted derelict, Stacklands Retreat House. This most recent exploration took place from Shoreham Village. At the start of the walk, just past the church and through green wheat fields, about 60 wide steps greeted us – not easy to climb when having to take extra large steps, sometimes two strides to get up to the next step. However, once upon the ridge the view of the village below and fields of poppies in the near distance made it worth it. Across an abandoned golf course, up another steep mound, through meadows with horses, cattle and working farms we reached the eerie building I couldn’t wait to photograph. Through thick shrubbery and trees I could just see the Stacklands Retreat House, a haunted derelict at West Kingsdown: Three large buildings close to each other sprayed with graffiti and strangled by ivy. Watch out for the broken glass, tiles and asbestos littered all over the grounds. “Apparently, this is where priests came to reform after sinning in the church. One of them – known to be […]

Jun 07

St Ives in Cornwall

End of April (for my birthday), I ventured down to St Ives in Cornwall and explored the seaside town, on the coast of the Celtic Sea, and its surrounding areas (St Just, Lands End, Mousehole – don’t get me started on the pronunciation of such place – and St Michael’s Mount) for a few days. The moment the sea filled my vision when arriving at St Ives I felt my jaw drop – the stunning colours of the water caused awe to wash over me. “Is this really England?” I’d asked my friend. I’d never known England to present such exquisite beauty before. About 12 years ago I first visited Cornwall and I did not recall it to be as vividly pleasing. Unless it’s taken my eyes and mind thus long to be fully open and aware and appreciative… Another delight took place while dining at the Porthmeor Beach Café, less than a 5 minute walk from St Ives’ harbour. The heated booths outside on the balcony overlooked the beach without any interruption, and the tapas of fresh fish couldn’t have been cooked better elsewhere. The dramatic sky added to the ambiance of the place, to the […]

May 06

by Nicola in Adventure, Art, Back2Blighty, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Art, Back2Blighty, Boats in the woods, Bristol, England, Leigh Woods, Luke Jerram, The Clifton Suspension Bridge, The United Kingdom, Withdrawn

Leigh Woods, Bristol – Withdrawn

I’ve been back in the United Kingdom for just over two weeks now and have relished every moment discovering the new and returning to rediscover the old. I’d lost all my photographs – unrecoverable from a smashed hardrive – 11 years worth of all my adventures while living in Britain and travelling as much as possible. And now I return to capture everything with an upgraded DSLR camera and fresh pair of eyes as eager as a leopard stalking an impala. So many photographs to review, edit and upload, I don’t know where to begin. Perhaps I shall begin with one of the most fascinating discoveries of recent days… Can you imagine seeing boats in the middle of a forest? Well, they are there in the middle of Leigh Woods, Bristol – Withdrawn – an art installation by Luke Jerram. What are the boats doing in the middle of the woods? How did they get there? Why would someone put them there? Why is there no smell of the sea? What is the point? Many questions flood my brain, more than normal *wink wink*, at just the thought of viewing […]