Sri Lankan scenes

January 31, 2016July 30, 2019 / mikeosbornphoto / 21 Comments

The island of Sri Lanka nestles in the warmth of the Indian ocean, right at the foot of the mighty subcontinent. While India is vast and populous, little Sri Lanka has a modest population of some 20 million people. Its urban areas are full of colourful hustle and bustle, and its countryside packs a magnificent punch. It boasts a coastline which is idyllic and palm-fringed, with an interior both wildly rugged and beautifully stitched with delicate tea plantations.

On a recent visit to the island, there were many moments to stop and stare – then take a photograph. This post has just 13 of those for you to enjoy.

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Grand mosque

January 24, 2016January 11, 2020 / mikeosbornphoto / 27 Comments

This magnificent building was my main incentive for taking a trip to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Situated on a huge site to the north of the country’s capital, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque can accommodate 41,000 worshippers and is an opulent feat of architecture, completed in 2007.

But my visit, under the piercing blue of an Arabian Gulf sky, was less about religious observance as tourists from all over the world flocked to see this impressive complex. It’s a myriad of pillars, windows, arches and domes, while the interior is studded with gems and cut glass.

With tourists come phones, selfie sticks and iPads in a building where photography is thankfully allowed. It feels almost impossible to take an original image. But with this wealth of lines, symmetry, colour and majesty, you just have to go with your instinct and capture what enthralls your own eye.

This isn’t the end of the story with the mosque. There is even more to come…

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Bike rides and herring

September 20, 2015July 30, 2019 / mikeosbornphoto / 7 Comments

As the London autumn seeps in, this final set of photographs from Sweden becomes a memoir of the Scandinavian summer. We took two day trips outside Stockholm, to Gripsholm Castle and the island of Uto in Stockholm’s archipelago.

This is a snapshot of quiet little beaches and country lanes on the island, and a royal retreat surrounded by manicured grounds and lapping waters. And yes, this was Sweden – there were bicycles to ride and pickled herring to feast upon.

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A bite of Belgium

August 30, 2015July 30, 2019 / mikeosbornphoto / 16 Comments

This was a midsummer jaunt across the North Sea to our continental neighbour Belgium. What should have been a sun-blistered long weekend was dogged by inclement weather, and mostly spent dodging sharp showers and regretting the decision not to pack more appropriate attire.

These photographs were gathered from two cloudy day trips, exploring the capital Brussels and visiting the coastal city of Oostende, where the promise of cycling along the seaside boardwalk was replaced with umbrellas. While blue skies were a rare sight, the wet weather provided rich reflections, dramatically leaden skies and a wealth of detail. Bravo Belgium.

Warm thanks to Bart Vandenberghe for his hospitality, humour and enthusiasm.

Click first image to view this selection

Hej Stockholm!

August 2, 2015January 18, 2020 / mikeosbornphoto / 27 Comments

There’s no need to apologise for being a tourist in the handsome city of Stockholm in Sweden. Well that’s what I did, along with my Swedish friend and city dweller. A British visitor gave her a rare excuse to stroll at snail’s pace through Gamla Stan – the old quarter of the Swedish capital – and look around the imposing City Hall and clamber its tower for those delectable views across the water.

Also, don’t be sorry for using your camera here. There is a lot to capture, especially if the Scandinavian summer skies are flecked with fast-moving fluffy white clouds. The City Hall crowds, the mustard palette of Stockholm’s old buildings, snippets of architecture – and an obligatory pilgrimage to the Abba Museum – are all there for the taking.

If being a tourist is good enough for a Swede in their own town, then it’s good enough for me. Here’s some of our best bits…