Desertion

April 6, 2015April 18, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 22 Comments

The building where I work is closing down. It’s being cleared out floor by floor, leaving little behind. An empty box here, an abandoned wardrobe of clothing there. The depopulation is also apparent – there is palpably less noise as you walk in the main doors. And the only humans I captured in one of these photographs were workmen dismantling office furniture.

This is the second time I find myself in a BBC premises that’s being packed up. In 2013, the much-loved Television Centre became part of the broadcaster’s history, not to mention many workers. There is maybe less affection for the modern Media Centre building, but it’s sad to see it wither into a shell of desertion, and strangely chilling to record its demise.

Click first image to view this gallery

Dorando Close

March 14, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 10 Comments

This is an apparently unremarkable little road in White City, west London. I cross it every morning on my way to work.

But I notice it each time I pass.

One side of Dorando Close is filled with the modern, sandy bricks of an office block and its three stories of windows.

The perspective is impressive and catches my eye every day, while a neat line of trees enhance and complement the sense of understated grandeur of the building.

But this is a community, with a bustling little supermarket just around the corner, a school opposite and BBC buildings close by.

It’s a place of people too.

The lady wearing the red hijab walked into shot as she went about her business, adding a daub of colour – and humanity – to the bland yet eye-catching building on this little London street.

Bloomgasm

May 3, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 8 Comments

The month of May is upon us, and there is a profusion of sweet-scented, candyfloss bomb blossom everywhere. It knows no bounds – this beautiful bunch was spotted in White City, west London on my way to work. There are few delightful country cottages in the area, but this transports you far away from the urban grime.

Favourite shots of 2013: Part I

December 30, 2013December 30, 2013 / mikeosbornphoto / 16 Comments

The first full year of taking photographs and sharing them with you has almost passed. 2013 has been eventful and I’ve been to numerous places around London and beyond, seeking inspiration.

It’s been tough to choose 10 shots that have really stayed with me, proved a lasting joy and pleasure – and evoke memories of the past 12 months. Click to enlarge the photographs or view them as a gallery here or at the foot of the post.

WHITE CITY

This hazy, sepia-tinged image of the rooftops of west London’s White City estate sums up the severe winter weather we experienced at the beginning of 2013. I took it from the top of BBC Television Centre, a workplace I would leave for good in March as a broadcast era came to a close.

DESSICATED BEAUTY

This shot of a flower at the end of its life pleased me with the amount of detail and fresh, dappled bokeh. After moving house in May, I came to Ravenscourt Park’s walled garden for two seasonal sessions. Such a small space but so much beautiful natural material for the camera.

HAMMERSMITH AND CITY GOLD

This night image of a London Tube train hurtling past the back of my old house reminds me of a warm Spring evening with the window wide open and a tripod set up. This gold abstract has become the emblem of my online presence and sparked off an interest in creating digital art through photography in 2013.

TOWARDS THE MOUNTAIN

I love the drama of this photograph, with the rugged mountain in the shadow of the sun and the lone figure moving over the sand. My only trip overseas in 2013 was to the holiday island of Fuerteventura, which was a revelation with its bristling light, fantastic sunsets and vibrant colours.

BEACH HUT INFINITY

A trip to the lovely seaside resort of Whitstable in Kent yielded this slice of endless colour, which I noticed but could easily have missed. It might be less vibrant than the beach huts in Bournemouth, but is a reminder of a memorable day trip to the ever-giving British coast.

Click first image to launch the gallery

White City portrait

April 7, 2013 / mikeosbornphoto / 23 Comments

White City in west London is not the most glamorous or sought-after address, but it plays a huge role in my life as part of the neighbourhood.

The area began life as an exhibition mecca in the early 20th century, and was the venue for the 1908 Olympics. More than a century later, times have changed. Its era as the hub of BBC Television and news has been and gone. But the relatively new Westfield shopping complex has transformed White City.

It’s a place where people live and work. Enjoy this series of snapshots from an urban slice of west London.