City Hall

Hej Stockholm!

/ mikeosbornphoto / 27 Comments

Stockholm panorama

There’s no need to apologise for being a tourist in the handsome city of Stockholm in Sweden. Well that’s what I did, along with my Swedish friend and city dweller. A British visitor gave her a rare excuse to stroll at snail’s pace through Gamla Stan – the old quarter of the Swedish capital – and look around the imposing City Hall and clamber its tower for those delectable views across the water.

Also, don’t be sorry for using your camera here. There is a lot to capture, especially if the Scandinavian summer skies are flecked with fast-moving fluffy white clouds. The City Hall crowds, the mustard palette of Stockholm’s old buildings, snippets of architecture – and an obligatory pilgrimage to the Abba Museum – are all there for the taking.

If being a tourist is good enough for a Swede in their own town, then it’s good enough for me. Here’s some of our best bits…

Click first image to launch the gallery

The Photo ShopGallery entrance

London pride

/ mikeosbornphoto / 14 Comments

A view of London across the Thames on a cloudy but fair June day. The magnificent profile of Tower Bridge is instantly recognisable. The shape visible beneath its upper strut is a set of Olympic rings which are set to unfurl and be illuminated at night for the duration of the 2012 games.

On the left a new icon soars almost beyond the clouds – superskyscraper the Shard, edging towards completion and visible from many reaches of London. At its foot, the bulging building is City Hall, the seat of the London Assembly and mayor Boris Johnson. It seems to be dwarfed by other buildings, but its upper balconies offer quite a commanding view down the river.

The masts of the sailing boats seem to be standing to attention along with the Shard and Tower Bridge in this shot.

In my opinion, it’s a fine sight and makes me proud to live in this city, and it’s more than a pleasure to photograph it.