The walled island

July 31, 2016July 30, 2016 / mikeosbornphoto / 11 Comments

Canvey Island lies in the Thames estuary in my native county of Essex. Its history was scarred by a devastating flood in 1953 which claimed 58 lives and led to the construction of miles of protective high sea walls.

I returned recently having visited relatives there as a child, but this was my first taste of Canvey’s walls and waterfront on a warm, humid summer’s day. It was full of daytripping families, some local voices peppered with Eastern European migrants. The painted walls tell the story of 1953 against the backdrop of amusements and cafes selling ice-cream and burgers.

The estuary landscape is stark but beautiful, with the crowds of people adding colour and life to photographs. It’s a place of both symmetry and the unpredictability of life.

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Summer houses

July 10, 2016July 9, 2016 / mikeosbornphoto / 14 Comments

A corner of London’s Hyde Park has sprouted a clutch of summer houses. These pieces of artful architecture are an extension of the Serpentine Gallery’s annual Pavilion, this year a tall, elaborate and elegant structure made up of individual boxes.

The star of the show has to be Asif Khan’s contribution, a very attractive formation of tall white struts which reach into the sky and capture light and form. And yes, there’s seating in the middle. There’s plenty of time to join other Londoners who have wandered around these installations – they will be in the park until 9 October. Oh, and bring your camera…

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Night Shard

May 1, 2016May 1, 2016 / mikeosbornphoto / 9 Comments

A rainy evening high, high above London. A chance to witness dusk and lighting-up time across the city from a commanding vantage point. This is the view from The Shard, one of Europe’s highest buildings. I’ve visited during the day, but the night view surpassed that, with the atmosphere in the partially open 72nd floor viewing platform wholly transformed.

But this is also a tale of photographic teeth-gnashing. You cannot bring tripods on your visit, essential for low light photography and opening the shutter for longer periods. You have to rely on stretching regular exposure times as far as possible and cranking up the ISO. It’s frustrating to know how sparkling and golden your images could be with the right tools. I suppose we all have to head to the gift shop for our beautiful photos of a brightly lit London – or simply make do…

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Abu Dhabi: Water metropolis

March 25, 2016February 14, 2025 / mikeosbornphoto / 12 Comments

Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, nestles handsomely on the waters of the Arabian Gulf. During the relative cool of the winter, I spent an entire day making my way along The Corniche – a showpiece walkway by the water’s edge and Abu Dhabi’s beaches, with the high-rise majesty of the city centre next to you. The blue and white palette is dazzling.

The walkway eventually gives way to the bustling junction with 18th Street, the artery leading to Marina Island. It bristles with boats, has its own impressive shopping mall and a vast UAE flag. As the daylight slowly ebbs, people gather to pass the time. Dusk into darkness brings its own reward as the city twinkles and casts colourful reflections onto the water – a photographic delight.

As this is the final glance at Abu Dhabi, I’d suggest that it’s a better bet than nearby Dubai, which has mopped up all the notoriety having shot up from almost nothing. Well there’s only one way to find out…

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Hotel prowler

February 12, 2016February 11, 2016 / mikeosbornphoto / 10 Comments

Normal people take photographs of their hotel rooms when they go on holiday. I don’t, no matter how plush they are. I prowl about the premises, looking for sleek lines and very long corridors, even taking sly shots of other guests passing through these places of temporary abode. I stayed at The Blue Water at Wadduwa in Sri Lanka and the Traders Hotel, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.