Tuesday 31 March 2015

Carter Lane & Fleet Street Photography Walk:

Date: Sunday 26th April 2015
Time: 10 am to 4.30pm
Cost: £75 per person (Maximum of 8 people, so places are limited).
Fare and refreshments are not included.

This is a walk that I have wanted to do for a long time.

Carter Lane is a relatively short distance,  it is a very old thoroughfare possibly dating from the 12 century. It’s name first appears in the 13th century when carriers used this lane in preference to nearby Ludgate Hill which could be congested with cattle and traders.

Although none of the original buildings survive this narrow twisting lane still has plenty of old world charm and mystery. Aside from the lane itself there are many smaller lanes, alleyways and a courtyard that add to it’s charms. There is the original St Paul’s Choir School building built in 1875 with it’s Latin inscriptions on the front and the site of the Kings Wardrobe destroyed by the great fire in 1666 in a lovely little courtyard. As I said there are many unique alleyways off Carter Lane to explore.

From Carter Lane we shall head across to Fleet Street, my old stamping ground in my  newspaper days. Again narrow alleys, courtyards, squares, Christopher Wrens St Brides Church and the famous Cheshire Cheese pub are all in this street. Once famous for it’s newspapers, at the far end of the street where it meets The Strand is the Church of St Dunstan’s in the West and interestingly next door is purported to be the site of Sweeney Todd’s barbershop, true or false I don’t know but it’s a spooky thought.

There are masses of picture opportunities on this walk. Please make sure your battery is fully charged and bring a spare if you have one. Any type of camera is suitable for this walk from point and shoots to DSLR’s.

As usual, I will be there not to take pictures but to give you technical support with things like white balance, exposure compensation and anything else you might need. Of course me being me I’m bound to chuck in a few ideas and suggestions as well!

This is an all day workshop meeting and leaving from Wanstead tube station at 10am, we will wrap up on location round 4.30pm. There will be plenty of opportunities for coffee breaks   etc.,  during the day. If you are not Wanstead based you can meet up with us at St Paul’s tube station.

To book a place on this workshop, please call the gallery on 0208 530 1244.

STEALING...

     World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


I have always wondered why some days the litter seems to be scattered around Nightingale Green. I think this bird may be part of the problem. It cheekily sat on one of the rubbish bins and rooted through the contents while I took this picture. It would have made a good extra in the film 'The Birds' by almost local lad Alfred Hitchcock...

Sunday 29 March 2015

SILHOUETTE..

     World © Geoff Wilkinson


If you are a regular follower of this blog you will know this bridge is one of my favourite locations. Whenever I am looking for an elevated location for a sunset or sky picture this is where I head. Anyway when I saw this guy crossing it yesterday I though it had the makings of an interesting black & white picture.

...and remember if you are interested in photography you can click on Geoff Wilkinson Photography and go to my photography website for tips, stories and information..

Saturday 28 March 2015

RESCUED...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


Wanstead's wonderful guerrilla gardner Marion Temple has struck again. This time it's in Wanstead Place, you will have noticed the concrete picket fence that runs along the side of Christchurch Green, well now Marion has planted primulas along its base. Now that will take the edge of it nicely. Best of all she rescued these plants that were about to be thrown out, recycling at it's best...

...and remember if you are interested in photography you can click on Geoff Wilkinson Photography and go to my photography website for tips, stories and information..


Friday 27 March 2015

THE DAY THAT THE RAINS CAME DOWN..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


WHERE did all that rain come from. Around one o'clock yesterday it was torrential, thankfully it lasted only a few minutes. The top of Nightingale Lane near the The Duke turned for a few moments into a mini slow running waterfall. One thing you can say about British weather it's never predictable...

On a different subject but connected.. I have started posting again on my photography website Geoff Wilkinson Photography after a break. It's got tips, stories, thoughts and information, if your interested in photography, and who isn't as a blogger, its worth stopping by.

Thursday 26 March 2015

SURPRISE, SURPRISE..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

.....here's a flower that I know the name of! This lovely Star Magnolia is in our front garden, it only blooms once a year but it's well worth the wait. Sadly the flowers only last for a short period but as I say it really is worth the wait, I hope you like it too...I've a feeling there will be a couple more flower  pictures before the week is over...

Tuesday 24 March 2015

NIGHT LIFE..

                         World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


Funny isn't it how things kind of show up a night. I like the difference in these two windows, one with the light showing through the curtains and the other with what appears to be clothes hanging up. Probably would never have spotted it in daylight...

...also had a great day at The Photography Show at the NEC, Birmingham some very interesting stuff..


  World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Monday 23 March 2015

OLD LONDON...

             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Apologies for missing a couple of days, just so much going on. I spoke yesterday at a coffee morning at John Lewis department store in Oxford Street, showing pictures and telling stories to a great crowd. I did a recce a few days ago for an upcoming photo walk next month, I shot this picture near St Paul Cathedral in a wonderful old street. When I found this lovely old lamp I just knew the finished photograph would have to be in black and white.

Friday 20 March 2015

A QUIET SPOT...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Sadly no sign of the eclipse, too much cloud cover but here's a nice picture anyway..

The river Roding forms the eastern boundary of Wanstead. Most people know that it's there but I'll bet not that many have seen it in all it's beauty. Many people may glimpse it as they drive over the bridge near the Redbridge roundabout but it really is worth a stroll along it's banks. This picture shows it passing  through Wanstead Park, see what I mean about the beauty...

Thursday 19 March 2015

IN HIDING..

     World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved
I spotted this tiny flower as I returned to the Gallery from the post office yesterday. As you can see from the smaller picture it was in a stone wall in Grosvenor Road, hidden unless you really looked. It was only about half inch across, when I got in really close I could see the tiny stamens, such a delicate and beautiful little flower. 

Wednesday 18 March 2015

EYE, EYE..

                          World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


I found this swan on the lake in Wanstead Park. I wasn't that close to him/her but as you can see it kept a very wary eye on me. I particularly like the water drops on the feathers and the two dripping off the beak.

Tuesday 17 March 2015

'MUD, MUD...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


....glorious mud, nothing quite like it for cooling the blood'. I think that's the chorus of the 'Hippopotamus Song', I know you were just desperate to know that. Hopefully this the the last inclement weather picture that I'll be publishing for a while. Not that I actually mind this shot, I quite like this black and white image of the mud and stuff.

Monday 16 March 2015

A DAY OFF..

    All pictures World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

It was so nice to have a Sunday off, especially as it was Mothers Day. We had a very nice breakfast at The Wolsey in London, have a look at the picture of my tea, sorry I didn't take it when the cup was full. There also happened to be the St Patrick's Day parade moving along Piccadilly later in the morning on its way to Trafalgar Square. It was too good an opportunity to miss, the pictures are below. Ended the day back in dear old Wanstead, had hot chocolate in The Manor House, delicous! Ah well back to the grindstone today...just as well I love it...
















Sunday 15 March 2015

MOTHERS DAY...

                            World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


I'm pretty sure I questioned last year whether Mothers Day was a world wide event, I still don't really have the definitive answer. Anyway if you do celebrate it have a great day, if you don't just pop in or call your mum anyway and say hi.

I was on my way back from Wanstead Park yesterday  when I spotted this lovely arrangement in 'Daisy's' the florist at The George pub end of the High Street. Very fitting I thought and the young lady who owns the shop is called Daisy as well so there you go...have a smashing day, I'm off for a Mothers Day breakfast in town, can't wait..

Saturday 14 March 2015

HOT LIPS..

             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

....I'm pretty sure there was a song with that name, I just can't place it, never mind. As you may have guessed this picture was not taken in Wanstead. I had to make a journey into central London the other night to drop off a package. Walking back to the car I passed the office of the luxury lingerie supplier 'Agent Provocateur'. I am so pleased they had a glass door, otherwise I would have missed this spectacular sofa.

Friday 13 March 2015

HORIZONTAL..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

....no that's not me falling over. I thought I'd give you a break from Spring for a moment, I'm sure there will be more pictures to come quite soon.  On a completely different subject. I'm always drawn in by bold horizontal lines in pictures, I couldn't walk past this fence and garage door without taking a couple of shots. If you stand back and photograph them from a distance quite often they don't really do anything, however if you get close and shoot along them that's quite a different story. It is for me anyway... 


  World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Thursday 12 March 2015

COLOURS..

     World © Geoff Wilkinson

This is another picture that I took last Sunday on my 'spring walk'. I go my jeans dirty kneeling down to get this angle, it was well worth it though to shoot through the grass from ground level.


Wednesday 11 March 2015

LONE BLOSSOM TREE..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


You may have seen the close-up picture of blossom on yesterdays blog. Well this is the tree that it was on, I thought it an odd sight. When I came across this lovely tree in blossom everything else around it seemed to still be thinking about coming to life. With the power lines in the background it looked like the solitary beacon for spring in an otherwise drab landscape, nice sky though...

Tuesday 10 March 2015

SPRING IS IN THE AIR...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


...as the song goes, actually I think it's now a bit more than in the air now. I had a stroll on Sunday and came across this lovely blossom on a tree. I think it's on an apple tree but I could be wrong, I found it on that funny bit of land behind the rugby club that eventually leads to the river. Now I know we have had a little but if we could only have some  more sunshine..please...

Monday 9 March 2015

A SELFIE..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


Bit of a double meaning with this picture. Firstly it's a celebration of  the first proper sunshine in a while, enough to throw a decent shadow anyway. Secondly a couple of people have asked if I could include a little photo information with the pictures. Well yes of course, I'm happy too, I can't promise it will be every day but when I can I will...

...and while I'm talking about photography and therefore art my friend Sophia is part of a visual arts exhibition at Queen Mary University, London. It will be well worth seeing, I'll let her tell you about it in her own words, it's on 11th till 15th March.....


Following an open call at the end of last year, ‘2015’ is the first collaborative exhibition by students at Queen Mary University working as the Visual Arts Collective. For many of the artists involved, this will be the first time their work has been exhibited. The exhibition comprises of photography, painting, print, illustration, video and sculptural works, representing the broad range of artistic practice within the university. There is no art department at Queen Mary, and instead students study and draw inspiration from subjects such as politics, geography, literature, medicine and other sciences and humanities resulting in the diverse show that we are putting on. 

The exhibition reflects the breadth of interest and experience within the student body, and we are proud to include projects on international photography, reflections on gender and mental health, political works and aesthetic experiments, amongst individual and group explorations. 

We hope that the show will inspire future students to work collaboratively and continue to hold annual exhibitions as we believe that it is important to encourage artistic practice as a part of life, particularly in higher education where it is easily neglected due to the demands of academia.

The website for the show is http://www.hundredyearsgallery.com/qm-visual-arts-collective-2015/





Sunday 8 March 2015

SNOW QUEEN..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


I popped along to The Duke pub yesterday morning, it's just a short distance from our Gallery in Nightingale Lane. It was a full house with children attending a screening of 'Frozen', the Walt Disney animation film. In case you are not familiar with the story it was inspired by Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale 'The Snow Queen'. There was face painting and cake as you can see from the picture of eight year old Caitlin with a snowflake cake. The occasion was to help raise money for the Wanstead Playground Association who would like to bring the children's playground on Christchurch Green up to scratch. We wish them well in their endeavours, if you would like to donate they have a Crowdfund site at www.spacehive.com/wansteadplayground, just click on the link, all donations gratefully received. Now back to the film...

   World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Saturday 7 March 2015

WHAT THE ...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


Abstract or what. I noticed the effect of the light coming through this glass panelled door, its a bit odd. As they say 'the jury's still out' on whether I like it or not...still it's interesting and a bit different from yesterday's picture.

Friday 6 March 2015

NIGHT, NIGHT,

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Lovely sky the other evening as the sun went down. As so often happens it only lasted a few minutes before the colours changed and the 'lights went out' so to speak. I grabbed this shot before to all happened... oh.. and I like the moon in picture as well. 

Thursday 5 March 2015

JUST A SIMPLE...

                      World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

...picture. I'm almost at the end of this set of Wanstead Park pictures. I took this one shortly before I left the park. It's a very simple picture but I like the bare branches of the trees against the sky. I'm sure on my next visit they will be covered in buds or leaves.

Wednesday 4 March 2015

POT PLANT..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


I think I have said before how amazing it is the way plants just pop up. They seem to have the ability to grab hold of any tiny piece of soil take root and start to grow. I found this one the other day, there was just the tiniest amount of soil in the pot  but it seems to be thriving with no attention from anyone. Wonderful stuff...

...and wearing my other hat, if you live in Wanstead or the local area you may be interested in this lovely experience..


Create a stunning image...
with local Wanstead artist Wendy D'Souza Daniels.

Wendy will be running a Skills Day on Sunday the 8th of March 2015 1pm till 3.30pm at 'eightyfour' here in the heart of the original Wanstead village.

You will create a stunning image using PaperArtsy acrylic paints and stamps, Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers and colouring pencils. There will of course be the usual tea, cake and chat, we look forward to seeing you on the day.


Places are limited to just eight, you can either call the Gallery on 0208 530 1244 or Wendy on her mobile 07947 662 390 to reserve yours.

The cost is just £12.50 per person including all the materials that you need on the day.

'eightyfour'
84 Nightingale Lane,
Wanstead,
London E11 2EZ
0208 530 1244

You have to be eighteen or over to attend this workshop.



Tuesday 3 March 2015

A SENSE OF PROPORTION..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


This is another picture from my Wanstead Park excursion and its one of my favourites. What I really like about it is that there is no real sense of scale. Its actually quite a small block of ice resting on a log with that lovely plant growing around it. To me it looks like an ariel view of an ice covered mountain range surrounded by jungle.. its all in the eye of the beholder..

Monday 2 March 2015

HIDDEN FIND....

                               World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I found this little gem hidden away in the garden yesterday. What a lovely find for the 1st of March, must a sign of Summer not too far away...

Sunday 1 March 2015

I'VE GOT THE HUMP..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


I came across this strange sight in Wanstead Park the other day. Its an area of ground covered in humps, there are dozens of them. At first I though they were mole hills but on reflection I think they are too large and as I say there are masses of them next to each other. I have no idea what they are but if any readers know please let me know!