gold

A Christmas album

/ mikeosbornphoto / 14 Comments

Christmas means a lot of things to an awful lot of people. Even to a photographer – who doesn’t really enjoy the festive season – it means something. Beautiful shiny little objects, blazing colours, warm light, bold bokeh and a great opportunity to capture a particular mood. I took my bagful of seasonal booty and photographed them in full daylight, then at dusk with candlelight and some background fairy lights.

I hope you enjoy this little essence of the season and have a very enjoyable Christmas.

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The Photo Shop

Gothic delight

/ mikeosbornphoto / 24 Comments

Gothic facade

Take a train ride a little deeper into south-west London and you will find Strawberry Hill House. This whitewashed gem of a building was once the domain of Horace Walpole, son of Great Britain’s first prime minister.

This wealthy man lacked for nothing, and set about transforming his home into a Gothic palace, dripping with beautiful stained glass, ornately gilded ceilings – and even a wallpaper designed to resemble carved wood.

The house has undergone a lot of careful restoration in the last few years and is well worth a visit. Enthusiastic volunteers have a wide knowledge of its history. Photography is allowed and very little is off limits. Walpole’s many treasures were sold off many years ago, so the contours and rich details of this mansion are displayed with clarity.

It’s wonderful. Come and take a whirlwind tour here…

This way to the gallery

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Beneath the dome

/ mikeosbornphoto / 8 Comments

Beneath the domeA beautiful centrepiece in this place of worship. Glowing, golden, symmetrical and lined with the intricate swirls of classical Arabic text and embossed patterns.

It could be the United Arab Emirates, Egypt or Morocco. More on the story of the dome in days to come…

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Gold on mud

/ mikeosbornphoto / 4 Comments

The sun was lowering and the tide out on an evening by Maldon’s River Blackwater in Essex. The waterway is notoriously muddy at low tide, and the town is famous for its annual mud race – a messy and sticky event.

But there were very few people around on this occasion, and I was able to walk down the ramp from the bank to take this shot. Just a couple of birds sit calm by the distant water, while the sunlight catches golden flecks across the layers of mud. A combination of factors to make a beautiful sight.

See also:

Stripped sky

Riverside gem