Cromer: Norfolk’s seaside gem

October 9, 2022October 9, 2022 / mikeosbornphoto / 4 Comments

Cromer is an English seaside town perched on the edge of the Norfolk coast. It’s traditional, picturesque and holds a lot of personal memories. Enjoy the photographs and read more below

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This was my first visit to Cromer in 25 years. I completed my initial stint as a fledgling newspaper reporter in the town. It was a time of new experiences, including a first significant relationship.

Cromer felt essentially unchanged, with its iconic pier at the centre of things. It was thronged with holidaymakers, relaxing with ice-creams and munching on freshly fried fish and chips.

Back in the late 1990s I wasn’t a habitual photographer, but this time was struck by the beauty of Cromer’s location. The wide stretch of coast that glimmered with gold at dusk, and the rows of candy-striped beach huts.

The town’s architecture is richly-coloured with turreted Victorian houses and full of the detail I maybe didn’t notice the first time around.

Cromer is a long way from Manchester and north-west England’s Irish sea coast but was worth the trip. Nostalgia and fresh eyes can often work hand in hand.

Have you gone back to a memorable place years later? Tell us about it in the comments section below!

Return to Television Centre

July 13, 2018July 15, 2018 / mikeosbornphoto / 7 Comments

I worked in this iconic BBC building for many years until its closure in 2013.

It was sold off and underwent a lengthy redevelopment process which I witnessed first hand.

Television Centre is now open for business again, and I went to take a look on a flying visit to London.

It’s now an upmarket residential complex with smart facilities – a cafe now occupies the place I used to enter the building every day.

It was a disquieting visit, seeing the completion of such great change, contemplating memories and a past era…

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BBC Television Centre in March 2013

An English village

June 10, 2018June 9, 2018 / mikeosbornphoto / 9 Comments

Not so far from the urban sprawl of Manchester is a charming little country village called Great Budworth.

It has half-timbered cottages, fragrant front gardens, a pretty church and even a red telephone box that’s been turned into a library.

Chocolate box perfect, this is what an English village should be…

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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

Summer grasses

July 1, 2015July 1, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 12 Comments

A glimpse of hot summer days and baking sunshine. Everyone has a memory of these grasses – they’re the ones you can pluck and throw as darts. They stick in hair and clothing. We’ve all done it. In a corner of west London they catch the wind and look gloriously green. Some simply lie on the tarmac, spent and useless. A simple part of nature which appears lush and complex when subjected to the camera lens.