New London Images

I have managed to find some time to scan and edit some of my new images from our recent trip to London. Here are a few examples. I have another 18 scanned and part-edited but unsure when I will find time to have these added too.

I obtained a permit to take the photos around City Hall this time, filling in all 25 pages of the application form, but it was worth it for the shots. The buildings around there are spectacular plus that area has the best views to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

The Burlington Arcade shot was taken after being moved on by the security guard. After chatting with him for a few minutes he kindly told me where the limit of the property was (just a couple of feet further back). The shot shown here actually benefits from having the black wrought iron gates in the foreground.

I was disappointed that they have removed the Underground signs from outside Westminster station. I wanted to get an improved shot with the sign in the foreground and Big Ben behind. I'll just make do with what I took last year. The bus light trails shot worked quite well though.

What a relief to finally see the Albert Bridge (Victorian vintage) resplendent after a lengthy refurbishment. Last year (and the one before) it was covered in white plastic as they worked on it. Now, it looks spectacular; I can understand why it's known by many as the prettiest bridge across the Thames in London. The Prince Albert down the road on the Battersea side is a good one too!

The Shard from The Scoop theatre near City Hall

Albert Bridge at Night

Big Ben and Light Trails

Burlington Arcade

Battersea Power Station and Telephone Box

There are more on the Recent gallery on the web site:

www.davebutcher.co.uk/gallery/recent

To see all of the London shots on the web site click here:

www.davebutcher.co.uk/gallery/cities?place=London

Hatfield House show day 2

Another good day at Hatfield House show. Good weather helped and forecast is even better for weekend.

Some people were complaining about it being cold but compared to Derbyshire it was positively balmy!

Blue skies expected all day tomorrow.

Had nice evening with old friends Mike and Sue who we worked with in our youth, for Unilever. In fact I went to school with Mike so we were reminiscing further back than normal.

Back to Hatfield House tomorrow. The showground is in good condition considering recent heavy rain. Shoes or trainers are fine, no need for boots.

We are in marquee G (turn left as you come in main entrance).
See you tomorrow.

Hatfield House Living Crafts show day 1 and lecture

Busy day today. Started with opening day of Living Crafts show at Hatfield House. Lots of interest in my photos and sales to match, fortunately. It was mostly dry until mid-afternoon when there was heavy rain. Show ground is quite firm so little in the way of mud and all marquees are carpeted. Luxury.

Sunny spells and no rain forecast tomorrow and blue sky day Saturday; things are looking up!

I left the show about 3.30pm to drive to Birmingham to give lecture to Smethwick Photographic Society. Big audience, must have been 80-odd, and sold lots of books too. Now in hotel relaxing.

Drive back to Hatfield tomorrow. Hope to get there in time for show opening at 10am.

Hatfield House - Setup

After just one day at home between Penshurst and Hatfield House we are all setup and ready for the show to start tomorrow. It's run by Living Crafts and is our first time here.

We drove down in separate cars as I have to drive to Birmingham tomorrow night to give a lecture to Smethwick Photographic Society.

Spent yesterday preparing pictures as we have a big stand, 4 x 2.3m. Our display has the most framed photos of any show in the last 3 or 4 years, 35 in total. Show deals too for visitors to our stand.

Show runs Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th May, 10am to 5pm, 16 marquees and several hundred exhibitors.

Hope to see you there!

Show web site here.

Penshurst Place ICHF Kent Craft Fair

Still 1 day to go of the ICHF show at Penshurst Place near Tonbridge. Opens Monday at 9.30am until 5.30pm. Full details here.

It's been a bit damp on and off the last 2 days, just light showers, but lots of people came around the 9 large marquees and couple of hundred exhibitors.

The forecast for tomorrow is good, fine all day with sunshine. That'll make a change.

We are checking out Wetherspoons in Tunbridge Wells again. Hobgoblin on tonight so all is well with the world!

Penshurst Place Art and Craft Fair

We drove down to Penshurst Place near Tonbridge today and set up our stand. Lots of marquees and over 200 exhibitors. We are in marquee E, stand 21, right next to one of the doors.

It took us a bit longer to set up as the ground was a bit lumpy but we sorted it out in the end. The ground is quite firm; I feared the worst knowing what it's been like in the Peak District. Didn't need boots to walk around the site as trainers were fine. Hope the weather is good for us.

The show opens at 9.30am and closes at 5.30pm, every day, Saturday to Monday.

Lots of black and white photographs, books and more. Show offers too.

Hope to see you over the weekend.

Jan and I are just relaxing in Wetherspoons in Tunbridge Wells. The Titanic and Adnams Broadside are going down well.

Leeds Photo Trip

We returned from visiting our friends in Leeds late Tuesday. I ran off 7 rolls of Ilford FP4 120 film but processing will have to wait a couple of weeks.

The arcades were the main event really and I took photos of 5 of them, including County, Cross, Queens, Thorntons and Grand. Didn't see any security to curtail my photography which made a pleasant change to London. Tuesday it was raining all day so only took photos on Monday.

We have 2 shows on the next 2 weekends, in fact a total of 7 days of shows, as well as a lecture.

Today we are packing up for an art and craft show at Penshurst Place near Tonbridge Wells run by ICHF. It is on for 3 days starting Saturday 5th to Monday 7th May, 9.30am to 5.30pm. We set up our stand tomorrow. For more details click this link.

Next week we set up a show at Hatfield House run by Living Crafts. I used to live in Hatfield just at the foot of the road up to Hatfield House so am looking forward to seeing some of my old haunts again. The show days are Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th May, 10am to 5pm. I am also giving a lecture on the Thursday night in Birmingham so Jan will have to run our stand alone for part of the afternoon and following morning as it's a 2 hour drive each way.

Leeds Here We Come!

Finished 3 days of courses yesterday, 2 days of photo in the Peak District and a day in the darkroom. Really lucky with the weather, especially Saturday. All took good photos, always good to see.

We are now off to Leeds for 2 days, visiting Phil (a good friend from my ski mountaineering days) and his partner Josie. They live in the city centre so taking the opportunity to do some photography.

Hope to also find time to try some of the local hostelries.

Wet London, Dry Peak District

Yesterday, our last day in London, was wet all day. No photos but walked about 10 miles so at least we had some exercise. Also visited the Gloucester Arms in Kensington and Mabels Tavern near Euston Station. Pints of Youngs London Gold, Fullers London Pride, Shepherd Neame Spitfire and Bishops Finger. All on good form.

Train slightly late. Home a bit before 11pm, to bed by 1pm.

Today I'm walking to Buxton to run Gallery in the Gardens and it's a lovely day in the Peak District. If you can get out to the hills today take your camera, could be a good one!

London Marathon

It was London Marathon day today so we avoided the areas busy with the race.

Covent Garden is always busy so we started there to give us the best chance of clear shots. It worked!

Trafalgar Square was next but was starting to get busy. Shots worked mainly above head height. Good blue sky with a few clouds to help.

Leicester Square was still a building site, as it was on our last visit 13 months ago. No photos here so on to Piccadilly Circus. Eros was good against a blue sky.

Then time to change to the business area around Bank and Leadenhall. Photos of the Bank of England, Royal Exchange, the Gherkin, Leadenhall Market, Monument, and a very interesting building behind New City Hall. Oh, I also took a shot of the London Marathon from near London Bridge.

My back was painful after all of this so we had an early finish, just as heavy rain started. Later on liquid refreshment helped the recovery, this time in Wetherspoons near Tower Bridge on the south bank.

Forgot to take a digital image on phone to illustrate this post, sorry. Just 26 rolls of Ilford FP4 120 film exposed so far (260 negatives in total).

Last day tomorrow.