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An evening drive to the south side head of the Tremalzo Pass in North Italy, Beyond this place you have to use an off-road capable vehicle. I suspect it is also closed off to traffic but is a popular track for mountain bikers.
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A drive along the harbour and through San Francisco in October 2016 during "Fleet Week".
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Alamgiri Gate - as viewed from the entrance of Badshahi Mosque - which stands opposite.
A side view of the Sheesh Mahal - which lies behind the columns.
Naulakha - built for nine hundred thousand rupees during the reign of Shah Jahan - back when even a single rupee was a lot of money. The fountains in the foreground were fed from underwater caverns sourced from the river which used to flow next to the fort. These were the private quarters of the Emperors and hence lavishly decorated.
The "Sheesh Mahal", or Palace of Mirrors. Most of the work has been ravaged over time.
A view of the ornate work on the walls of the living areas, or what remains of it.
Making a living in the shadows of some great art.
The "Khilwat Khana" built for the Royal Ladies of the Court - recalling times past?
Diwan e Khas
A view from the battlements, the armoury is in the foreground, with Alamgiri Gate on the left and Badshahi Mosque in the distance.
]]>The Dharmarajika is a large Buddhist stupa in Taxila, near Islamabad in Pakistan. It is thought that it was established by the emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE and included the relics of Budha. The stupa is also popularly called as 'Chir Tope.'The site of divided into two parts: the stupa area in the south and the monastic area in the north (Source: Wikipedia)
These images were taken one evening on a quick tour of the area last December. Pakistan is not really a safe place to travel especially in the evening. We arrived late as the sun was already setting. Thankfully I had my tripod with me and managed to take a few quick snaps whilst the family waited patiently. The ruins are nicely preserved (by local standards, that is) and there was a guide who riddled us with information in the few short minutes he spent with us. Amusing stuff.
I had always wanted to visit the ruins, they are part of a number of similar Buddhist sites dotted around the area but we had to head back to Islamabad before it got dark. Which is a shame really.
Side note: we had lunch (a simple "truck hotel" daal roti - lentils with leavened bread) near Taxila, It was one of the best meals we had during our whole trip.
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Akersloot, near Alkmaar in North Holland.
(all images with the Fuji X-E1, X lenses, and Lee Seven5 Grad Filters)
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The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Basilica Santa Croce, Florence
Basilica of Saint Anthony, Padua
Artwork, Padua
Val de Gardena, Dolomites
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In short, I arrived as pretty much everyone was leaving - it was about 4 PM in the afternoon! I only had a short time to visit some of the exhibitors - mainly Nikon, Zeiss, and Leica. It's a huge exhibition with hundreds of exhibitors. I felt depressed as I entered the Exhibition Centre as it dawned on me that I should have made the trip earlier. One full day can barely do this event justice, you need at least a couple of days. The models had packed up when I arrived, the Birds of Prey were conducting their final fly pasts, exhibitors were packing up, and I was one of the last visitors to leave. The event is a must see, not just because of the gear, but also owing to the exhibitions which I found very interesting, It is so nice to see images printed large. The other nice element is that there is no pressure to sell and you can try everything from expensive cameras to lenses and everything in-between. It was also amusing to see so many people taking images of … cameras and lenses, perhaps they were all reviewers - who isn't nowadays?
2016 - the dates are already in the diary!
Panasonic Lumix G3, Olympus 9-18mm f/4 - 5.6
Fuji X-E1, Fujinon 18-55mm f/2.8-4.0
Panasonic Lumix G3, Olympus 9-18mm f/4 - 5.6
Panasonic Lumix G3, Olympus 9-18mm f/4 - 5.6
Fuji X-E1, Fujinon 18-55mm f/2.8-4.0
"The Ride"
Fuji X-E1, Fujinon 18-55mm f/2.8-4.0
Fuji X-E1, Fujinon 18-55mm f/2.8-4.0
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A walkabout on the North and South Embankments of the Thames around the Palace of Westminster in London. Tony Benn, a much loved Member of Parliament had passed away a few days earlier. There were tributes and flowers left in a small designated area in Parliament Square. Unsure of the name of the MP responding to reporters questions … send me an email if you have a clue.
Finally managed to spend some time in this beautiful city. We usually bypass it at least once a month travelling from Amsterdam to London. Classic view, done many times, but still one to have in the personal repertoire.
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St Pauls Cathedral
Across Millennium Bridge
Admiring the view
Capturing the Cathedral
Moving on to more interesting things ….
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The sun had already set when I arrived (tip: Parking in London is expensive, park in the Royal National Theatre in the evening for relatively cheap and secure parking). I grabbled my camera bag and tripod only to realise that the release plate on my small travel tripod was missing. I had been out the day before at the London Eye and Palace of Westminster and must have left it on the "other" camera. Oh dear. Thankfully I had my heavier tripod with me (though was in no mood to carry it) so I picked it up wearily and started making my way across the South London Embankment. Literally ran to the Millennium Bridge, opened up my tripod, took out my camera and voila; there was the release plate for the smaller tripod. No harm done. Yet. Once I set my camera on the tripod I noticed something was wrong, the tripod head was loose! And I needed an Allen key to tighten the top. I doubt visitors to St Pauls' Cathedral, or even the City of London for that matter, had heard so many profanities prior to that day.
I hoped for the best, and tried to capture a few images but the tripod head was too loose and wobbled continuously. Pedestrian traffic did not help either. My best attempt of what could have been a lovely evening out is before. The second one below is hand held - my consolation picture.
The moral of the story, plan, recheck, and double check .. everything!. And thanks to the photographer who loaned me his Allen key after 30 minutes of begging every cyclist and photographer I could locate. But by that time, the blue hour was over, and darkness had descended over the Thames.
A few hours in Winkworth Arboretum on an overcast and wet day.
A wet and rainy day at Westonbirt Arboretum. The last image is of a sculpture commemorating one of the oldest living trees - a small leaved lime believed to be nearly 2000 years old - which is nearby (and being crowded by the visitors) and has been coppiced.
The train from Tasch to Zermatt, there are no cars allowed in Zermatt, apparently to ensure a clean view of the Matterhorn.
The Matterhorn
Gornergrat Bahn - altitude sickness kicks in (for me anyway) at 3100 metres.
The walk down
Swiss Carins, with the Matterhorn summit just visible above the clouds
Single file to Riffelsee
Clouds surround the summit, with Riffelsee in the foreground.
The train back to Tasch, the waiting car, and the long drive back to Amsterdam.
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Cat and Bridge, walking towards the central square
Windmill de Adriaan, on the river Spaarme
A view of the Grote Kerk or Large Church
Grote Kerk and Grote Markt (square)
One of the old warehouses on the river
The Grand Canal
San Giorgio Maggiore
One of the side canals walking towards Piazza San Marco
The ubiquitous mask
Pont di Rialto
The Gondolier
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The Italian Dolomites
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Yes, that is spelt correctly. The Residenz, a wonderful palace in the Baroque city of Wurzburg, Germany.
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Three from one location at Studland Beach, Old Harry's Rocks, in Dorset. Some long exposure photography with the Nikon
In and around Corfe and the famous Castle, in Dorset. Shame the National Trust closed the site at 15:30 on this lovely afternoon.
The first image is with a Fuji X100, and the remainder three with a Sony RX100. Don't ask why I was carrying both with me ....
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A weekend trip to Frankfurt am Main, Germany, a quite pleasing blend of new and old. Wonderful skyline with many buildings going up in the new part of town. Will have to visit again to capture them in the blue hour. The old town - Romerberg - is also quite interesting though the whole place was dug up owing to roadworks.
Fuji X100.
Frankfurt Cathedral (Dom)
Frankfurt Love Bridge - complete with colourful padlocks.
A view of the River Main from the 'Love Bridge'
A view of the new buildings near the central station from Romerberg or the old town.
Romerberg
The tourist train, hop on and off to enjoy dinner and a tour of Frankfurt.
]]>An evening stroll in London on a recent trip. Having lived nearly twenty years in the City, I barely explored the streets of London, even less so from a photographers perspective.
Ice Skating on 'De Poel' a freshwater lake in Amstelveen, Netherlands. The cold weather allowed for some enjoyable ice skating on the frozen lake.
(Panasonic G3, 25mm 1.4, 45mm 1.8)
]]>Well, the Dutch are ingenious if nothing else, downhill sledging and snow boarding on the roof of a supermarket in the Museumplein, Central Amsterdam.
Sony RX100
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A snowy evening in and around the Leidseplein area in Amsterdam.
Panasonic G3, Leica 25mm 1.4
Holland Casino Passage Way
Blue Boat Company and MOMO
Fiets (Bike) and Hard Rock Cafe
Cleaning the streets
Bokeh
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Short evening stroll around Amsterdam Central Station. The whole area is undergoing a major multi-billion regeneration and is finally coming together after years of work. Fuxi X100.
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The morning after the snowfall from the day before. Sony RX100 on a morning walk.
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Walkabout on Bovenkerk Polder in Amstelveen near our home. It is quite convenient carrying the Sony RX100 rather than a larger camera for this type of photography. The white background is a result of the snow coming down hard. A polder is reclaimed (marshy) land in Dutch.
Reservoir Ducks
Out for a walk
My favourite (and most photographed) barn - with occupants
The ride home
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Cashing up
De Waag, the old gate and weighing house.
Doelen Hotel, lit up during Amsterdam Light Festival.
Bloemenmarkt ignored.
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Vondelpark, in the centre of Amsterdam, as the snow fell last week.
The Ajax Football Club stadium in Amsterdam. Views of the surrounding area known as Amsterdam Arena which houses shops and businesses including many of the well known Dutch financial institutions. And of course the world famous football club!
All captured with the Sony RX100, handheld.
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Rowing practise in the Bosbaan, Amsterdamse Bos. Bosbaan is the oldest artificial rowing course in the world. It is 2.2 km in length.
A sequence of images from preparation to rowing off. You can see the trainer and 'time keeper' standing on the mooring and giving instructions. The trainer will follow the rowers along the cycle path that runs parallel to the rowing lake and use a megaphone to instruct and motivate the teams. It can be loud.
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Bokeh Fun
Nikon D700, Nikkor 85mm 1.8 AF D
Nikon D700, Nikkor 85mm 1.8 AF D
Nikon D700, Nikkor 50mm 1.8 AF D
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These are from last year (how time flies). First snow in Amstelveen Netherlands for the Winter 2012 season. Images from a local walk about.
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First images from 2013, 1st of January, from Muiden in Netherlands.
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Performance in Place d'Armes, Luxembourg City
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Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe 2013.
The view from our window in Amsterdam, the Dutch do like their fireworks and this is a sample of the two hour display conducted by our immediate neighbours.
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Chateau Chambord, Loire Valley, France
Pretty impressive, especially considering it was built as a hunting lodge!
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One of the more impressive manor homes in the Loire Valley, France.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Chenonceau)
Château de Chenonceau
River Cher - as viewed from one of the rooms in the Chateau
Royal Reception Room
Servants Dining Area
The bedchamber of Louise of Lorraine, Queen Consort to Henry III of France.
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Old Timber Frame Houses
Church of St. Ouen
Dinner time
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A selection if images from Markermeer last winter. The whole of the 'meer' (or lake) was frozen including the area around the famous ligth house in Marken known as 'Paard van Marken' or ' Horse of Marken'.
Paard van Marken
Frozen reed beds (the tide freezing on the stalks)
A frozen lake, the shore on the other side is about 8 kilometres away.
View of the light house from Marken dyke
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Autumn is the best time for photography, the light is soft, the colours vibrant, and the atmosphere creatively liberating. The best time to spend an afternoon taking photographs.These images offer a small selection from 'fall' this year, all in the Netherlands, more specifically, in Amsterdamse Bos in the Netherlands.
Bokeh
Panasonic G3, Panasonic Leica 25mm 1.4
Stump
Nikon D700, Voigtlander 58mm 1.4 SLII
Photographer in focus
Nikon D700, Voigtlander 58mm 1.4 SLII
Sun burst
Nikon D700, Nikkor 20mm 2.8
A Message of Peace
Historic Address by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih at European Parliament, Brussels.
On 4 December 2012, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and Fifth Khalifa, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad delivered an historic keynote address at the European Parliament in Brussels to a packed audience of more than 350 guests representing 30 countries. The event was hosted by the newly launched ‘European Parliament Friends of Ahmadiyya Muslims Group’, whose Chair and Vice-Chairs all took to the stage to welcome Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad. Martin Schulz MEP and President of the European Parliament also came to meet with His Holiness.
You can view the full press release http://www.alislam.org/egazette/press-release/khalifa-of-islam-makes-historic-address-at-european-parliament/
The view from the podium
Seating arrangements
A Message of Peace backdrop behind the speakers
Audio arrangements, provided courtesy of MTA International and MTA United Kingdom
Background to the event - Mr Rafiq Hayat, National President Ahmadiyya Muslim Association United Kingdom
(Dr Charles Tannock MEP seated to the right of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih, Charles Tannock was hosting the event).
Address by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V to the gathered guests
Address by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V
Silent prayers being led by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V
A panoramic view of the audience from the stage
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Surf's up in Scheveningen, Den Haag.
One of the more popular destinations for wind surfing and wind kites in the Netherlands
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Fall in Fischen, Allgau
Germany
Remembrance Day
11 - Stitch Panorama
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Just another valley in the Swiss Alps
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Reichenbach Falls, Switzerland
Last resting place of Sherlock Homes prior to re-incarnation by popular demand.
Berne, Switzerland, at dusk.
Lauterbrunnen, and Bernese Oberland Switzerland
There are 72 waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the most famous being the Staubbach Falls. Plunging almost 300 metres from an overhanging rock face, they are one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Europe.
Taken in and around the Lisse area in Holland, Netherlands.
Panasonic G3, Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4
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Christmas Market held adjacent to the Cathedral in Cologne. One of the more famous markets in Germany known as "Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom" in German.
Intertwined
Morning Mist
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Moss covered fallen tree trunk in Amsterdamse Bos, Netherlands
Images from a protest held last year in London (near Charing Cross Station). Protest was in response to the violence in the region and the re-election of incumbent President Laurent Kabilla to the office of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
My first foray into photo-journalism.
Amsterdamse Bos - Amstelveen - Netherlands.
De Bosbaan.
Blue hour capture of the restaurant facing the rowing lake in Amsterdamse Bos, Amstelveen, Netherlands.
Famous Dutch castle in Muiden near Amsterdam
