Embankment Views

Some more handheld shots on way home after the Fascinating Aida gig.

Fascinating Aida

I couldn't resist taking some shots of the Christmas decorations outside the Royal Festival Hall on our way to watching the magnificent 'Fascinating Aida'.   

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAg0lUYHHFc ).  No tripod to hand so I had to ramp-up the ISO, hence the 'noise' but still worth taking the shots.

Ice Spy

Yesterday morning, while walking in Clayhall Park, I noticed the first signs of ice.  Unfortunately by the time I had returned home to pick-up my camera it had started to melt and so the shot was not as good as I had hoped.  I had forgotten the basic lesson of photography….always take your camera with you !

Seasons Greetings

Good to see the bright Christmas decorations lighting up the December evenings.

Stratford City shapes

Spent this afternoon watching a very good film ('Nebraska') at the Picture House in Stratford.  On leaving the cinema I  was glad that I had my camera in my shoulder bag so as to photograph this surreal art installation and part of the bus station roof….not easy given the crowds leaving Westfield shopping centre and coming my way.

Another wonderful sunrise on a clear December day.

Cutty Sark

A trip to Greenwich reminded me of the fabulous intricate rigging on the now restored Cutty Sark.  A very overcast day so I decided to shoot in B&W.

Pink Mannequin

I spotted this shop window on a cold, windy day in Loughton.  It seems a strange idea to use a naked mannequin in a shop that sells clothes…..still it is eye-catching.

Hanukiah in Loughton

Hanukah or Chanukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights.  It dates back to two centuries before the beginning of Christianity.  

The word Hanukah means rededication and celebrates one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history.

The festival reminds Jews of a time over 2500 years ago when Antiochus tried to make the Jewish people worship Greek gods. A statue of Antiochus was erected in the Jewish temple and the Jews were ordered to bow down before him. The Ten Commandments forbid Jews to worship statues or idols and so they refused.

A small group of Jews called Maccabees rebelled, and after a three year war they recaptured Jerusalem. But the temple was all but destroyed.

The Jews had to clean and repair the Temple, and when they were finished they rededicated it to God. They did this by lighting the lamp (Menorah) - which was a symbol of God's presence. Only one small jar of oil was found, enough for one day, but miraculously the lamp stayed alight for eight days.

Hanukah is celebrated by lighting one additional candle on the Hanukiah (an eight-stemmed candelabrum) each day.

Wanstead Park (with Monet's garden at Giverny in mind)

Wanstead Park still retain part of its layout as the former grounds of Wanstead House.  Apart from the lake system there is the Temple and the Grotto, both built in about 1760 (now listed buildings).

Happy Hanukah

Traditional doughnuts baked to perfection at Shalom Bagel Bakery in Gants Hill.  They also make some delicious custard-filled doughnuts.

Winter skies

It's definitely worth getting up early to photograph the clear blue skies of winter.  The plane vapour trails enhanced the scene this morning.  Time to think about booking a flight away.

Twilight at The George, Wanstead

I wanted a dark blue 'twilight' sky but perhaps took this photo a litle too early in the evening.  I'll try again in a few week's time when the trees have lost their leaves.

Rush hour in Wanstead

After a relaxing tea in Wanstead we emerge from the cafe at rush hour.  Camera on tripod for a slow shutter speed shot.

Red Sky at Night

A red sky ends a much drier and brighter day in Clayhall.

Autumn is here

A bright and chilly day brings the stunning autumn colours out on the trees.

A Day for Indoor Photography

It's blowing storm-force outside.  Time to get my camera out and play around with some indoor shots.

Zebra crossing

Strange to see a life-size zebra outside a nursery in Wanstead.

Grey day in Wanstead

This morning started very grey and wet.  This shot of the United Reformed Church in Wanstead reflects the sombreness of the weather.

The former Doctor Johnson pub

The Doctor Johnson pub on Longwood Gardens has been closed for several years now with no sign of any development taking place.  Interestingly, this morning while I was taking some shots, another guy was taking photos of the pub on his phone.  I wonder if we will see some future for this 'eyesore' of an unloved and somewhat derelict building........

Here is part of the entry for the pub on the CAMRA website:

"One of the best examples anywhere to show how a typical, large, 

1930s housing estate pub might have looked. It is in the popular, 

loosely neo-Georgian style combined with 1930s Art Deco 

streamlining – whence with broad curve which turns the corner 

from one elevation to the other. The Doctor Johnson opened in 

1938 and was designed by the architect H. Reginald Ross for 

Courage."

Staying with the fungi theme............

More wet weather in late October.  Great for the fungi....

Why did the fungi leave the party ?

Why did the fungi leave the party ?  Because there wasn't mushroom !  Sorry about the poor pun.  This photo was taken on Hampstead Heath where the fungi was out in force after the recent wet weather.

Trick or treat........

Halloween must be getting near.  It always amazes me how parents tell their offsprings not to accept sweets from strangers but then let them take a treat on Halloween.  This tradition is possibly an American import we could have done without ?

248 yards ahead.......

Did someone really measure the distance to the width restriction......surely an approximation of 250 yards would have done ?  Does the younger generation still measure in yards?    7' 0" must baffle a few people as well ......

It's raining again............

It's raining again...........oh no, its raining again !  That Supertramp song is perfect to describe the last few days.

Last day of summer..........

The leaves on the Sumac tree in our garden are displaying a range of autumnal colours- signifying the end of the long Summer.