Glass cathedral

May 8, 2016May 8, 2016 / mikeosbornphoto / 21 Comments

Syon Park is the London home of the Duke of Northumberland. And such a grand estate needs a fitting greenhouse. Well, this is called the Grand Conservatory and is an impressively elegant glasshouse, with a smattering of tropical plants and a magical setting for a wedding reception.

I was in my element with this building, with its layers of glass, architectural lines and symmetry – all topped off with a cathedral-like dome. There were few other visitors, so I could even lie flat on the ground to capture its height. A glasshouse fit for the aristocracy, a photographer’s delight.

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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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311 steps

April 3, 2016April 3, 2016 / mikeosbornphoto / 14 Comments

These days, if you want a good view across London you visit superskyscrapers The Shard, the Walkie Talkie or take a spin on the London Eye.

But there’s a 17th century vantage point which is still holding its own and brings the visitors flocking in. It doesn’t even have a lift, but 311 stone steps to a small viewing platform. The Monument was erected to mark London’s regeneration after the devastating Great Fire of 1666, with golden plumes of flame atop the slender stone pillar.

So it was less than good planning to turn up on a Bank Holiday around midday. It was very busy, with two-way traffic on the narrow stairway. And the viewing platform was quite a squeeze. But the views are impressive, given that modern viewpoints tower over this one. There’s no grubby, over-reflective glass either, but a sturdy wire mesh which you can photograph through – and is an interesting feature in its own right.

Clamber up the stone steps if you find yourself in the City of London – you’ll get a certificate for your efforts. But do come early.

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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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The islanders

February 21, 2016April 25, 2021 / mikeosbornphoto / 14 Comments

The island of Sri Lanka is a country of great natural beauty. But it also bristles with life and people, particularly in its bustling cities and towns. During my recent trip, I found my camera turning towards its people. Some of them I met and asked to take their photographs, sending them copies of their portraits when I returned home.

There was Lala, a pleasant, polite man who showed me the local village and Mr Silva the sarong seller who looks careworn in his picture, but waved and smiled at me after our encounter. I didn’t meet the lady in white seen on Kandy’s main street – but she seemed to gaze straight into the lens.

Other Sri Lankans were observed and captured from a greater distance, while there was no shortage of street and crowd scenes on a busy festival day in Kandy. Sri Lanka also boasts a wide variety of animal life, from cheeky monkeys to a docile cow who watched the sunset on the beach and then lumbered away. Faces become even more fascinating when they’re less familiar…