Brick boutique

September 8, 2013September 9, 2013 / mikeosbornphoto / 9 Comments

London is made of brick. And my corner of the city, Hammersmith, wouldn’t exist without it. It doesn’t take a lot of observational skills to notice that there are a myriad of types of this most robust of building materials, comprising different ages, colours and finishes.

I spent a couple of days collecting some samples – well, photographing them. You notice how wildly different they all are only when they’re placed side by side.

Each panel can be clicked to reveal more detail. And they each have names of the sort you find in a paint catalogue or a set of carpet swatches. Which would you choose? Any of Hammersmith’s finest?…

CLICK TO VISIT THE PHOTO SHOP

Pastel parade

August 3, 2013August 31, 2013 / mikeosbornphoto / 23 Comments

A set of colourful house facades. Each different, set apart by their pastel shades. Some of the window sills have iron decorations, others are plain and simple. The yellow house even has some plants outside the windows, while the curtains are drawn across the light grey house’s windows.

Despite these differences, there is something curiously uniform about these six house fronts. This pretty row sits very close to my home in Hammersmith, west London. The houses prompt you to stop and look at their genteel, candied loveliness.

Wingate Road also has another gem on the corner – a lovely pub called the Anglesea Arms. You might call this a traditional local watering hole, which is something to be cherished in the midst of a big city.

You can click on each of the window panels above to have a closer look

Shard traffic

July 25, 2013July 25, 2013 / mikeosbornphoto / 16 Comments

The viewing platform of The Shard, which towers over London, is a place of both movement and stillness.

People mill around to see the city from all vantage points, but often remain in one place for a long period of time, drinking it all in. But the stairway up to the 72nd floor is particularly busy with viewers making their way to the top with great anticipation.

This composite shot is just a few moments in the Shard’s life. It captures eight people enjoying their experience, and one photographer caught in the glass. At least this beats the “selfie” recently taken in the reflection of a washing machine…