5 of 2015

December 31, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 25 Comments

Another year of photography is drawing to a close. My camera and I have found new places to capture here in London, and travelled further afield on this island and beyond. I set myself the task of selecting just five shots that have stood out during 2015. Choosing the ‘winner’ is a job I’ll leave to your better judgement – please vote at the end of this post. Here’s to a productive year – Happy 2016 to you all.

TOWER DESCENT

This photograph was taken on a memorable visit to Sweden. We had clambered up the tower of Stockholm’s imposing city hall. My friend Annakaisa was positioned beautifully in this elegant clasp of brickwork on the trip back down. The shot was strong in colour and with more gravity in monochrome.

LOW TIDE LAND

This was captured at a wedding with a touch of magic at the Kent seaside resort of Whitstable. At low tide ‘the street’ revealed itself, allowing walkers to venture far from the shore. The figures in the frame add to this composition for me.

BROWNS

A simple pile of autumn leaves. I spent some time in studio shoots capturing a range of inanimate objects from kitchenware to summer fruits. The studio becomes your world – what happens there is down to you.

TULIP CIRCLE

A piece of architectural splendour I’d been meaning to capture for some time. The Tulip Staircase is in the Queen’s House at Greenwich, which contains a rich cluster of beautiful heritage buildings.

ILIAS

A recent portrait of my Greek friend Ilias, on an urban stroll around London’s Hoxton area. This was a pivotal moment when I made a concerted effort to place people at the centre of my photography. This sparked a germ of an idea which will hopefully feature in the coming year.

Human interest

December 6, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 4 Comments

This photograph made me pause for thought. It is my Greek friend Ilias, taken on a city walk around Hoxton. I’d imagined taking a picture of him, and this was it. I happily gave a little direction to make it happen, and it was part of the process of photography.

It made me think of my self-confessed fear of people and portraits. But looking back over my archive, it becomes clear that this problem doesn’t really exist. I’ve captured a fair few people, some in plain sight and others while I simply observed them from afar. Perhaps I feel safer with the solid majesty of buildings or objects in the control of my studio space. But humans are interesting – and sometimes need not be feared.

Click first image to launch the gallery

Wedding by the sea

August 16, 2015August 16, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 9 Comments

This was Kevin and Clare’s special day. They were married among family and friends in the Kent seaside resort of Whitstable, in a beautiful beach house very close to the shore. This understated celebration was full of lovely details, as was the setting. From the bridal bouquet left momentarily in the sunny garden to the little bottles of bubbles that became confetti, it was a day to savour.

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A day of gentle revelry was capped in the most spectacular fashion, with an intensely warm sunset that cast its light and shadows across the sea at low tide and onto the beach. It was the rightful end to a memorable occasion.

The street

July 23, 2015August 7, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 19 Comments

A little section of the Kent coast in south-east England has a magical little secret. At low tide off a beach in the charming resort of Whitstable, a shelf of pebbles slowly reveals itself, creating a pathway that leads out to sea. The urge to take a walk along ‘the street’ is irresistible, and visitors to this part of the seaside enjoy it in their droves.

It is a photographic gift to capture as it slowly grows and alters its shape. I was lucky enough to see it from a nearby beach house where friends exchanged their marriage vows, adding to a memorable occasion.

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Favourite shots of 2013: Part I

December 30, 2013December 30, 2013 / mikeosbornphoto / 16 Comments

The first full year of taking photographs and sharing them with you has almost passed. 2013 has been eventful and I’ve been to numerous places around London and beyond, seeking inspiration.

It’s been tough to choose 10 shots that have really stayed with me, proved a lasting joy and pleasure – and evoke memories of the past 12 months. Click to enlarge the photographs or view them as a gallery here or at the foot of the post.

WHITE CITY

This hazy, sepia-tinged image of the rooftops of west London’s White City estate sums up the severe winter weather we experienced at the beginning of 2013. I took it from the top of BBC Television Centre, a workplace I would leave for good in March as a broadcast era came to a close.

DESSICATED BEAUTY

This shot of a flower at the end of its life pleased me with the amount of detail and fresh, dappled bokeh. After moving house in May, I came to Ravenscourt Park’s walled garden for two seasonal sessions. Such a small space but so much beautiful natural material for the camera.

HAMMERSMITH AND CITY GOLD

This night image of a London Tube train hurtling past the back of my old house reminds me of a warm Spring evening with the window wide open and a tripod set up. This gold abstract has become the emblem of my online presence and sparked off an interest in creating digital art through photography in 2013.

TOWARDS THE MOUNTAIN

I love the drama of this photograph, with the rugged mountain in the shadow of the sun and the lone figure moving over the sand. My only trip overseas in 2013 was to the holiday island of Fuerteventura, which was a revelation with its bristling light, fantastic sunsets and vibrant colours.

BEACH HUT INFINITY

A trip to the lovely seaside resort of Whitstable in Kent yielded this slice of endless colour, which I noticed but could easily have missed. It might be less vibrant than the beach huts in Bournemouth, but is a reminder of a memorable day trip to the ever-giving British coast.