There is a dankness to this London winter, cold and very wet. But a burst of sun and signs of vitality can be found.
This was in my favourite local walled garden at Ravenscourt Park, a perpetual draw for my camera.
And this was the first outing for my new macro lens, which has brought the world into close focus. I’ll share more of the results with you soon.
Dermot hatched a plan for a London escape, just for a day. We travelled to Bournemouth, a resort on the south coast, past the port of Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
It was his first time, it was an occasion for childhood holiday memories for me. The December day was far from freezing. The sun did its best to pierce through, occasionally there was drizzle.
The sky over the expanse of the English Channel was dramatic and compelling, invigorating and interesting…
Click to enlarge
This is what lies at the end of the Zone 9 express. Well, you arrive at the Buckinghamshire town of Chesham and walk through its streets around the church, lined with beautiful old houses. And then clamber uphill, past the church and onto the fields above the rooftops.
It was mid-afternoon and the sparse winter light was fading. A light mist cloaked the edges of the Chiltern Hills, softening the photographs. Some delicate editing was needed to respect their muted qualities.
Back in London, the landscape is made of stone. To take a Tube ride and enjoy countryside views was a pleasure – and a rare departure for my camera lens.
Click first image to launch the gallery
In June I went to the walled garden in Ravenscourt Park here in west London, just a stone’s throw away from my home. It was bursting with colour and life, a sun-blessed testament to a very fine summer.
A very recent return tells a different story, but not an unexpected one. The garden’s life is slowly ebbing away, with signs of decay and death. This has its own beauty.
The aim was to avoid piles of leaves in my photographs. The autumn colour scheme creeps into some images, but doesn’t dominate. I also came to the garden in the grip of winter, which you can view here.
London SW19 is a world-famous postcode, the home of Wimbledon’s All England Tennis Club. The suburb is on the periphery of the capital, a comfortable, affluent and well-heeled place.
The grass courts are not the only green spaces here. It’s also home to an expanse of heathland called Wimbledon Common, a beautiful place for a walk where it’s easy to forget you’re still technically in the city. We encountered toadstools, butterflies and wild summer flowers on our visit there.
Close to the common is a more manicured oasis to walk and savour the sunshine. Cannizaro Park has a former country house at its heart, rolling lawns, a pond and a showpiece fountain.
As for the All England Tennis Club, yes, we made it through those hallowed gates. The story of a first real-life glimpse of that renowned place will be told here tomorrow.
