west London

Dearly departed

/ mikeosbornphoto / 19 Comments

Place of restAs the old saying goes, you’re a long time dead. You could do a lot worse than spending your eternity of rest in Brompton Cemetery, a captivating place to visit in the heart of west London.

Opened in 1840, this large plot is adorned with the grandeur of Victorian architecture, from a domed chapel to parallel sets of stone porticoes. Around the edges of this order are reams of wonderfully overgrown gravestones, transforming a place of solemnity into one bursting with the life of nature.

The cemetery still has space and around two burials a week take place there. Worth bearing in mind, but for the moment I’d prefer to enjoy walking around with my camera in the here and now…

Click first image to launch the gallery

The Photo Shop

Walking distance

/ mikeosbornphoto / 8 Comments

I’m lucky to live in a part of west London where it’s very easy to reach the banks of the River Thames. It’s our answer to the seaside and is a place to walk, relax, contemplate – and take photographs.

On a rare sunny day recently, I went from my house to the riverside at Hammersmith, walking a circuit that took in Barnes and Chiswick Bridge. This is an album of what caught my eye on the walk.

To follow the journey with me, click the first image

I greet the Thames at Hammersmith’s Chiswick Mall, with the sunny haze of the brewery in the distance.
Barnes Bridge takes trains and pedestrians. A piece of the industrial revolution, it has its own beauty on a bright winter’s day.
Along the north bank I encounter this massive sign for the brewery, advertising a legendary lager.
The might of the old brewery building rears up on the river path.
It’s a daunting edifice, even in its state of disuse.
Near the old brewery building stands Chiswick Bridge, its elegant sweep of stone connecting north and south.
Its stone details, caressed by the sun, are ripe pickings for the camera lens.
Beneath the bridge, it’s clear to see how wet this stormy winter has been so far.
From the bridge, a cluster of tower blocks loom on the north Thames bank under a threatening sky. Time to head back.
The fencing by the river bank have their own flair. The concrete is ridged and dashed with flint.
Back to Barnes Bridge and a view from its opposite side. This man seems entranced by the view.
Time for one last detail on my way home – a riverside railing elegantly turned, but seriously worn by weather and time.

North London vista (2)

Dusk lavender

/ mikeosbornphoto / 10 Comments

It’s been a beautiful summer day and the light is gradually fading into darkness. I’m at the walled garden in Ravenscourt Park, enjoying the sight and scent of some lavender bushes. They’re now in full bloom in the green spaces and gardens of west London.

Shortly after taking this shot, I was asked to leave by park officials who were locking up the garden for the night. It was quite easy to ignore them…

Dusk lavender

West London hub

/ mikeosbornphoto / 17 Comments

Earl's CourtIf you live here in west London, it’s practically guaranteed that you are familiar with Earl’s Court rail station.

It’s a District line hub which reaches far west into leafier areas including Richmond and Wimbledon – and is just a handful of stops away from my neighbourhood of Hammersmith.

Earl’s Court is also a stop en route to the centre of London and far beyond in an easterly direction, while the Piccadilly line rumbles deep below the surface.

Several busy platforms and tracks head to different places, all housed under a sturdy, handsome Victorian roof.

This station is a quirky beast and at times confusing with various departures and arrivals. It retains some quaint illuminated signs indicating which service is about to arrive – but this can guide you to the wrong train.

But Earl’s Court couldn’t be any other way. It’s a piece of the landscape.

Click first image for the full gallery experience

Frosted close-ups

/ mikeosbornphoto / 7 Comments

A wintry complexion has landed on this part of London recently. It doesn’t happen that often, so it’s worth getting up early to have the chance to capture the white sheen of frost on cars, litter bins – even duct tape.

Click first image to launch the full size gallery

Cold weather photography requires a pair of fingerless gloves so you can still go about your work. But beware the tips of your fingers freezing to the point of uselessness – and don’t try to cock the shutter or adjust the lens of a cold metal Soviet beast!