Farewell to London

September 23, 2016September 23, 2016 / mikeosbornphoto / 16 Comments

After living in London for more than 16 years, it’s time to say goodbye. I’m heading north to Manchester for fresh challenges and a whole new hinterland for photography.

I’ve been looking back over thousands of photographs taken in this city over the past five years, meaning much of my time here is locked in memories. This tiny fraction of images touches upon London’s scale and grand architecture – and places I’ve spent many hours in or passed by so many times. A goodbye here is a hello elsewhere – see you again soon from pastures new.

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: St Paul’s Cathedral and Millennium Bridge

: A sunset from the house at Godolphin Road

: Hammersmith new builds

: London’s Docklands

: Often passed, never frequented

: BBC Television Centre

: Green and graceful Hammersmith Bridge

: My west London flat of eight years

: Zaha Hadid’s Olympic legacy

: Westminster at dusk

: A familiar Tube station

: The railings at Dorville Crescent

: The top of The Shard

: London’s cable car

: A Shepherds Bush landmark

: The loss of Television Centre

Urban waters

May 15, 2016May 14, 2016 / mikeosbornphoto / 23 Comments

The first truly shimmering day of the year prompted a trip to the east of London to enjoy a stretch of the city’s waterways. This walk took us from Angel to Limehouse Basin along Regent’s Canal, taking in modern buildings, industrial tumbledown and a good sprinkling of narrowboats. We also stopped off at Victoria Park, a green oasis along the route.

I set myself the photographic task of spotting small details and minimalist lines on the walk, although both water and the urban landscape of the canal crept into the frame too. It’s an interesting spot and one worthy of a return visit or two – there is plenty to see and capture.

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Tale of two cities

April 19, 2015June 29, 2023 / mikeosbornphoto / 9 Comments

This is a glimpse of a city that has truly changed since my last stay 18 years ago. Newcastle upon Tyne’s southern neighbour Gateshead is now a clutch of bright, shiny new buildings, including the Sage concert hall and Millennium Bridge linking to its more established counterpart. Meanwhile, the Baltic – an old flour mill – has been converted into a contemporary art gallery.

Newcastle city centre is handsome, majestic and at times austere in the unforgiving climate of north-east England. At its ancient heart is a sturdy castle keep and some flights of steep, precarious steps. Enjoy the whistle-stop tour of a city divided by time and a great river.

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: Millennium Bridge

: Old city walls

: Back of the Baltic Mill art gallery

: Monument Metro sign

: Metal installation, Gateshead

: Sage Gateshead

: Castle keep

: Graffiti art, Gateshead

: Tyneside factory

: Stairwell, Baltic Mill

: Millennium Bridge

: Street signage, old Newcastle

: Bridges across the Tyne

: Old stairway

: Sage Gateshead

Northern lights

April 12, 2015April 18, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 8 Comments

My trip to the bold, handsome northerly city of Newcastle upon Tyne was partly fuelled by nostalgia. I lived there in 1997 and was curious to find out what I recognised and what had changed.

The mind plays tricks on you. What was in my mind wasn’t quite there. And the city has moved on a great deal since those days. I went out one evening to drink in the lights of the city and capture them on film. With two beautiful bridges in the city centre and a calm, still river that absorbs reflection, this was a satisfying and new experience in Newcastle.

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The Chiswick stretch

February 22, 2015February 22, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 24 Comments

The west London suburb of Chiswick has a long high street lined with smart little shops and cafes. It has some grand houses and a smattering of celebrity residents. I forget that it possesses its very own stretch of the River Thames, which meanders up to Kew Bridge. It includes the wooded haven of Oliver’s Island and a smattering of quaint pubs and cottages.

A man and his dog were paddling as we walked, while the gulls were in fine form. Past the river you find the incredibly tall and ornate Kew Bridge water tower. As we pressed on, there was a less attractive encounter with the vast Chiswick roundabout and its flyover – this London neighbourhood has it all…