Tokyo Street Scene

Tokyo Street Scene

I think that the best photographic compositions are already there, just waiting for a photographer to capture them. Here is a lovely little Tokyo restaurant, which is obviously open to the elements during the warm months, but now that it is winter, the inner space is shielded from the elements with plastic sheeting. This makes for a very  misty scene.

Tokyo is the place to visit for building photography ...

Tokyo has great light, stunning architecture and great traveller access ... so what place could be better for a photographer who like taking pictures of buildings ?

Check out our Tokyo Blog

The Key to Candid Photography is Distance

The Key to Candid Photography is Distance.

I found a few years ago that my exisiting photographic portfolio held the key to a branch of photography that I had always been interested in, but had never achieved any photographs of any note. It was a snowy winter, much like this year, and I found myself at a loss for what to undertake photographically. I thought it might be a  valuable exercise to review my old photo's and see if there was anything I had missed.

As I cast my eye-glass over my negatives I spotted a number of candid photographs of a far better quality than I had ever thought I could take. The difference between these candid photographs and my older work was that these people appear completely natural and un-assaulted by a camera being pointed at them.

These pictures showed personal relationships, natural expressions and a life without the intrusion of the cameraman.

In all I think I found a community of candid photographic subjects (approx 30 in all). They are a wonder to me and bring home the dispassionate nature of the camera, choosing to capture anything [no matter how personal] that stands in front of its lens.

Snow Today, But still Beautiful Autumn Leaves on the trees - Great For Photographs

Snow Today, But still Beautiful Autumn Leaves on the trees - Great For Photographs

Autumn is nearly over, with the first wintry showers occurring last night. There's never a better time for photographing trees against the lovely blue skies of early winter. Crisp days are far more than just cold days, they also have a better quality of air and light, so perfect conditions for putting that circular polariser on to your lens and getting some lovely colours.

Monkey Babies in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Monkey Babies in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Stumbling upon these two was one of the defining moments of my life.

Alright, I'm addicted to skies as of Friday !

Alright, I'm addicted to skies as of Friday !

Pictures of Skies are evocative and very varied.

Pictures of Skies are evocative and very varied.

You can take pictures of the sky all day and never get bored.

Afternoon walks are good for your health and for your Photo Albums

Afternoon walks are good for your health and for your Photo Albums


It was far to windy for a cycle ride today, so I grabbed the camera and went for a walk. We live in the heart of farming Norfolk and I'd be the first to say that the scenery is a bit lacking in variety. However if you can get a day with clouds in the sky you will certainly have plenty to photograph.

Woodland Pictures make excellent decoration for your house.

Woodland Pictures make excellent decoration for your house.


Most of us have a camera and it is not difficult these days to add some personalised decoration to your home by using your camera when out for a walk.

Photographs of Gigs and Festivals - How to take stunning images of strangers.

Photographs of Gigs and Festivals

Remember to take opportunities as they occur. Festivals and Gigs are excellent places to photograph colourful and creative people. Just asking complete strangers will surprise you.

These examples were photographed at a small festival in Norwich in 2000-ish. The subjects were total strangers, and yet they were happy to pose for these pictures and a few more (remember not to take too many - you will bore them).

Pictures depicting solitude and loneliness.

Pictures depicting solitude and loneliness.


I thought that I would add a page of photographs that I think show some sadness of the human spirit today. These images have fascinated me for a long time and I cannot help capturing such pictures every time they give me the opportunity.

This one was taken of the Paris Ile des Cygnes and man, standing transfixed, staring at the Liberty Statue.

People like to sit quietly ... but what are they thinking ?

Pictures of Farms are great, even if they aren't real farms !

Pictures of Farms are great, even if they aren't real farms !


At some of the local farming festivals there are still such things as furrow drilling contests and they are incredible entertainment and very competitive. There is usually also terrier racing, which is very funny and also great to watch.

Don't be afraid to ask to take someone's picture ... you are flattering them.

Don't be afraid to ask to take someone's picture ... you are flattering them.


Informal portraits must be the most commonly taken image, but when you get one right it can renew your interest in the subject. In the 1990's I was working behind a bar and my regular lunchtime crowd were an interesting bunch, obsessed with talking philosophy, playing domino's and drinking beer. Every bar has it's central character, someone who is known by everyone and who treats the bar as if it were an extension of their own home. Lou King was our central character. He was full of local information, fun to talk to and always ready to listen ... the perfect gent.


On this day I thought that I would bring my old 35mm Olympus OM1, a tripod and a black sheet to work ... and see what I could snap. Lou jumped at the chance as I remember ... and here's the result.


God bless you Lou, you and Jim prevented me from going crazy :-)

How to take Portraits, whenever the occasion presents itself to you.

How to take Portraits, whenever the occasion presents itself to you.


Picture the scene, My wife and I are walking through a graveyard on a sunny afternoon. This place would usually be quiet and peaceful and a nice opportunity to film test a Yashica 635 twin reflex camera that I had just purchased. Within a few minutes we find ourselves in conversation with this charming old man, who tells us one story after another for over 30 minutes. It is Memorial Sunday and we were making our way home from the commemorations in the city centre and so was our new companion. I am struck with the urge to photograph our friend, an activity that makes my wife cringe ... but something that I have always been able to ask even complete strangers without fear.


The location was not perfectly lit as you can see. In shadow, with glaring light directly from behind ... but that's where he sat, so that's where we shoot. The image is misty, slight out of focus and bleached of colour from the glare ... but who cares ? It shows the character of a group of courageous people, the likes of whom we may never see again. The most striking part of this image [for me] is the shine on this man's shoes. This day is very very important to him and he has spent at least 24 hours preparing for it.


I hope that I find something as important to me ...

A Picture of Norwich Market, photographed a few days before being knocked down.

A Picture of Norwich Market, photographed a few days before being knocked down.


I love photographing condemned buildings, mainly because the stuff that they are replaced by are not a patch on the old stuff !


It's just a very personal opinion and not based on any public opinion polls etc ... but I much prefered the ropey old character of the old market place in Norwich.

A Norfolk Farm Scene - Pictures of Farms often change and it's good to photograph them when you get a chance.

A Norfolk Farm Scene - Pictures of Farms often change and it's good to photograph them when you get a chance.


This scene used to be visible on Hall Farm Corner in Thurlton in Norfolk, but is no longer there. I caught this image at around 6.30am and, although it is just a simple barn, it strikes a grand figure on an otherwise flat landscape.

The Fantastic Norfolk Countryside

The Fantastic Norfolk Countryside


The Norfolk Countryside is an interesting place. A great range of things to see and do. Farming is big still in the Norfolk Countryside and there are plenty of farming festivities for visitors to enjoy.

Pictures of Oulton Broad, Not the usual ones.

Pictures of Oulton Broad, Not the usual ones.


Oulton Broads pictures are usually depicting wide stretches of the Norfolk Broads and Boats gently cruising up and down it's still waters. Here I have a picture of Oulton Broad that you probably will not recognise, but I hope that it will illustrate how lovely the walks are in this area. There are many pleasant hours of leisure walks, situated mainly between the main roads in to Oulton Broad and the riverways.

Pictures of North Norfolk - Sometimes calm, sometimes not !

Pictures of North Norfolk - Sometimes calm, sometimes not !


North Norfolk has two faces. On a beautiful summers day it can be the ideal place to exercise and relax, but sometimes it can get downright hostile.

These pictures were actually taken on the same day, approximately 20 miles from each other ... See what I mean ?

Picture of Amsterdam - One of the most Peaceful, Artistic and Fun places in Europe.

Picture of Amsterdam - One of the most Peaceful, Artistic and Fun places in Europe.


We love Amsterdam. It's not just that they have a relaxed attitude to drugs, it's more that the whole place seems a little more grown up than the UK.