Merry Christmas

K-)

The capture of the day

There is no need to go faraway to catch the picture of the day. Take this flower. All I had to do was to step one step out of the front door and there it was. A hanging basket decorating the front of our building is right by the front door and so, literally, I do not need to take more than a step to see the capture of the day.

The small blossoms of different colours work so well together. You can just imagine how well this compliments the pale facade of the building. It simply stands out.

I just love when it all very naturally creates patterns. Here the blossoms create a diagonal line going up, aiming high, being reminded of the diversity in life at the very top of the line.


On an emotional scale, with such a colourful palette, a start to a day or indeed a week is so joyful, so helpful. Similarly, to be welcomed by the same cheerful palette at the end of the day injects a bit of energy to the remains of the day.

And this is how I start and finish every day. It i not bad, not bad at all. K-)

The tree ducks

It is the 1st of December. Time can fly so fast when it wants, you have to give it to it. When I woke up today and realised the reality, I begun to wonder. What happened this year, personally and globally and can I still do something to make this year stand out in more positive colours?

Exactly like this little symbol of life holding on a branch even though the weather is gradually turning cold towards winter.

All with a touch a lightness and a lot of freedom like this bird that glides graciously through the skies…

…and also all with a look of bewilderness that is so familiar to me.

How often have I expressed a sense of wonder on the smallest, the most trivial objects or scenery?

Far too often, I know. But there is really a lot to discover even somewhere round the corner. What I like most about all this is when I discover certain links; when objects or occasions link onto each other. To be able to do this seems to be a favourite of mine this year.

And so, this particular picture sums up my achievements this year very well. The three ducks in a row, one following the one in front, heading to its destination, leaving it all open yet full of hope...

On this philosophical note, have a lovely week and see you next time. K-)

Leaves...

When one mentions autumn, what springs to mind is autumn colours. Nature paints such a diverse palette in such an easy manner that it is a joy to walk around, even if it is cold and/or raining. We very often focus exactly on the colours only omitting other aspects that are also worth noticing...

Take these leaves hanging off a tree. When I went past, I thought how different it was to see leaves that have aged in shape, loosing colour completely, yet are still on the tree...

You can actually see some green at the background but it was these wrinkled, rolled-up leaves that I found so extraordinary. The texture revealing the structure of a leaf, the new shape that suggests autumn/winter stage of a leaf's life, the monotonous colour that is beautiful and, at least to  me, belongs to this time of the year.

Yes, this is when nature becomes art…

…and this is when nature becomes poetry.

This is when nature starts taking over the rational and becomes the magical…

This is when the delicate stands against the rough and it does not matter. It simply compliments each other…

It would be a shame not to use elements that nature provides. Whether it is wrinkled leaves, leaves sparsely distributed on a bush or leaves dipped into a puddle, it all can become poetry depending on how we look at it.

This scene opened up in front of me one evening, when there was just about light to take a quick shot. It was also very cold but still, when one is confronted with such a picture, it would be a sin not to stop and stare in wonder.

Indeed, leaves can take any shape and form. We can see them as individual pieces admiring their structure. And they also work very well as a part of something bigger, as a part of scenery.

They can evoke feeling of nostalgia, toned down after a warm and bright summer, and they can also open a new and exciting approach to life for any one of us, all depending on how we look at them. Seriously, do not tell me that you wouldn't have a smile of incredible and wonder spread all over your face after gazing at this…

Have a lovely week and do not forget to look for wonders. They are there… K-)

Every time I visit the V&A... - part 7

…I walk straight past both walls that display postcards. Ouch, this did not come out very well. To be honest I can see how impressive it is to fill two rather large walls with small postcards. I just think that since I visit this museum quite often I end up looking for books or jewellery (for inspiration) in the shop rather than postcards.

And this is why it took me by surprise when I stopped in my tracks and turned around in order to have a second look at a postcard of magnolia by Georg Dionysus Ehret (1708-1770), one of the most influential European botanical artist of his time (at least that what wikipedia says).  Looking at this image of magnolia, a watercolour and body colour on vellum, one cannot help but admire the painterly skill…

Admiring the postcard and thinking of the craftsmanship, I remembered taking photographs of magnolia tree in blossom last spring. It took me a while to locate the pictures in my photo collection but once I found them I felt quite surprised by them...

I remember it was quite a bright morning after rain. The pink tones of the blossoms put together with the colour of the leaves contrasting with the darkness of the tree trunk made a charming juxtaposition.

Finding the images that were more less forgotten behind newer arrivals cheered me up enormously. This is why I am wondering if the postcard was meant to remind me of my own pictures long forgotten. Yes, I am open to this possibility…

Have you ever had the feeling that things happen at the right time, when you stop hoping for any resolution to a problem, when you do not expect it anymore/at all? I find this the case more and more. But this does not mean that we should stop trying. Without trying there is no outcome. On this note, have a lovely week and see you next time. K-)

Familiar environment

Having lived in England for a number of years, a talk about the weather enters everyday talk. It is a must. Which is why even I start this post with a comment - what a lovely weather we have had today. It was sunny, it was bright and it was sooo cold. Just the combination I love and adore. And so, I took my camera and off I went…

First, I stopped by the pond. The sun was hitting the water creating quite an atmosphere. When swans are added to this, a picturesque scene is complete.

Seeing a scene like this I cannot stop myself from thinking of B&W photography. Maybe it is because I was brought up on B&W photographs. I remember my father developing rolls of film and spending hours in our so called darkroom (windowless bathroom) when we would keep him company. As children, we must have been quite a headache for my dad but he left us with him anyway.

Remembering all this now, I must admire him. And what a base this gave us. How great it is to witness the process of developing own photographs.

As I walked through the park, I came across some cut down logs of trees that suddenly became very artistic in my eyes. I found myself studying this broken piece, its sharp spears, the texture...

It became a piece of art when the bark would equal to carvings, when the cut in the log produced a beautiful contrast, when all was so natural. The addition of extra colour (green) at the background
would settle and smooth the entire composition.

Talking about colour, what do you think about the rich, strong red of these roses? When I saw them tied up to a tree near a church I thought what a poignant gesture to today's Remembrance Sunday. Stopping by, I also fell silent for a while…

Honestly, in such bright day the colour stood up enormously. Suddenly, I felt as if I was in a fairy-tale about Sleeping Beauty. The passionate vibrant colour of the roses, the clarity, the charm. I could not help but let my imagination run into the world of magic...

As I turned back, I passed Prince Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens. It was getting dark which again created quite an atmosphere. I could easily continue slipping into a different world, other time…

Amazingly, one can discover so much in a familiar environment. How many times did I go past the Memorial? How many times did I take a picture of a flower? How many times did I stop by logs of wood? How many times did I admire the graciousness of white swans? And still I find them different every time I  see them. There is so much to discover. So keep your eyes open. It is worth it.

Have a lovely week and see you next time. K-)

The importance of a successful layout

For some time now, I have been observing the layout various shops display. How come that some shops have better success of catching my attention than others? Yes indeed, as you can see, my post today is about back-of-the-house, about the hidden power behind.…

Have you ever thought why there is fruit & vegetables located at the beginning of a grocery shop when toiletries can be found at the end/back? A grocery store, however, is not what made me think about a successful layout. It is one specific clothes shop where I always find something interesting and in many cases actually buy the item.

Nowadays, I actually go straight past this store (so that I do now spend so much) but last week, I decided to pay the shop a visit. And as usual, something caught my eye. Feeling strong, I resisted bearing in mind that a few days later I will be in a different location that also have a store of the same brand. By that stage, I had decided to purchase the item and so sat up to find the garment…

…Honestly, if I was not on a mission to find this dress, I would have left after setting two steps into the shop. Even though this store is also large (same as the first one), I felt that I did not want to spent any time there; so many people and too much produce that would inevitably lead to overcrowding and mess anywhere. Exactly what I experienced there…

I just braced myself, walked three time in circles till I finally located my item and rapidly hurried to a rather slow till (which is what happens very often when I approach the till - my special). As soon as I paid, I ran out and away, away, away… (I have decided to share an image of the dress so judge for yourselves if this experience was worth it.)


And so, what is it about the first shop that always makes me spend money and what is it about the other one of the same brand or many other shops that make me leave after two or three steps in?

The only difference I have observed in my experience last week is the fact that less is more. Sizewise, both stores are similar. However, the first shop seems to have more space given by the distribution of hanging rails, there are no tables to display further items and so the shop ends up more tidy and more spacious. This makes it easier to discover and consequently purchase an item.

I have been thinking about the trick of a successful display ever since. Can you see the importance? Or is there any importance? What works for you? Are you like me preferring a space to see everything at once without endlessly browsing throughout or do you prefer the buss of a busy place? Do share your experience if you like. I am curious. K-)

Pure masterpiece

Masterpiece is a word carrying quite a strong meaning. If one says "masterpiece", works of Michelangelo or Raphael (to name just a few) come to mind. When it comes to my mind and my way of thinking however, any image presented in an approving way can classify as a masterpiece.

Take this rose. One can see its beauty gone past yet it still carries certain charm…

Can this classify as a masterpiece? Why not. It celebrates life, the fragility of youth and beauty and the dignity of getting old.

With the help of autumn light, the rose also carried a twinkle of a flare on the tip of a petal; a flare that I enhanced slightly.

When being pushed towards more vivid colours, my masterpiece comprehension takes its shape…

Since I dare to think about the way a masterpiece could be turn towards my picture handling I cannot omit paintography (about which I have written on various occasions in the past).

Returning to the same subject of the intro image, this (picture on the right) is another variation of the same bush branch. At this time, I changed my focus making the whole image more less out of focus…

…and this made it ideal for a paintography treatment; introducing more saturated tones, brushing away any blemishes and smoothing the whole feel of the picture.

This post shows three pictures I took today on my walk through the park. Starting with only a general computer manipulation, the next stage added an extra flare to an ageing subject that opens completely different topic, the topic of progression in life. By using paintography in my final image, I am yet again thinking of merging the old with the new; painterly treatment of old masters with computer painterly approach. Is this the way art progresses? Is this the 21st century view on masterpieces?

With this thought I will leave you and please feel free to leave any comments. I am sure this is a topic that could open a discussion. K-)

Lost & Found

Some time ago I created a photo-folder called 'Lost & Found'. As the title and the image above suggests, these are pictures of various objects that somebody lost and I eventually found and photographed. And this makes me think of the unpleasantness somebody feels when they lose something.

Some of these objects definitely catch my eye. When I saw this cap I was tempted to untie it from the railing and take it with me (I must rather shamelessly admit). But then, rather proudly, I left it there hoping that the right owner will return and be reunited with it.

Of course, the most likely scenario is that somebody else found and took it. However, what counts for me is that I gave somebody the chance of reunion which fills me with a weird sense of satisfaction. Plus, I also ended up with a lovely photograph.

Some of the found treasures are quite sweet like this 'Little CupCake' I found tied up to a tree. Again, the mum to a little baby would be annoyed and probably upset to lose such a pretty bib especialy when the little one must have looked extra adorable in such a pinky, I am sure.

And again, rather selfishly I have to admit, if it was not for this I would not have a lovely picture.

Extra annoying is when you lose one of a pair. What do you do then? Do you still keep the one that stayed with you, hoping that probably somehow some day you might find the second to the pair, or do you discard of it?

That IS the question...

There are times when I approach an object from an angle that reminds me of something else and that actually makes me laugh.

A scooter being revealed from round the corner triggered the memory of 'Jaws' and the soundtrack that has become so famous. The tension, the horror of a shark coming to get you...

...only to be replaced by a red scooter, that belongs to a small child, that is approaching you from round the corner...

This thought still makes me lough...


On this note, I will leave you. Losing something is very, very annoying and upsetting. But just remember, by doing so you might create a scene for somebody else to appreciate. In my case, you have given me an appealing topic to photograph and even though I feel sad that you have lost it, when looking through different eyes it can become quite humorous. It becomes appreciated for various other reasons. K-)

Rust - why not?

Since I have been contributing to G+, I have looked at things around me with even more inquisitive eyes than before. I have been asking myself - why not? Why not see a beauty in what we usually perceive as ordinary or indeed ugly?

I do not know how many times I went past this lid to a drain that is in my parents garden. Such an ordinary thing, one that goes well and so easily unnoticed.

However, when one forgets the already known and starts to see the colours, their tones and the texture or the shape itself, the already known ordinary item becomes a brand new object worth observation.

Suddenly, I actually look for rust or any ageing visible on objects. I see this as being more interesting and exciting. Out of the blue, even this rusty screw on the edge of an ageing bench becomes attractive.

The old screw reveals its old age, it weathers in all conditions and proudly stands as a timeless beauty. The old screw becomes centre of attention, ready to share its tones and shape in a spotlight.

The red that comes out in a rusty process adds character to its bearer. It brightens up a theme lifting it from a pretty scene to quite an
eye-catcher.

Whether the centre of attention or accompanying a scene, there is something we can learn from something as mundane as rust. All it takes to cheer up a scene is one stronger tone; which is something quite essential in, for example, fashion.

What an unlikely process to take inspiration from. This is nature from a different angle than I usually look at. Buy why not? It does not always have to be a plant, rock or a bug. It can be a process. What is more, it creates great compositions to photograph. And that is what I love. I just cannot help it.

Have a great week and see you next time. K-)

My London Design Festival 2013

A year on and the London Design Festival came to my doorstep again. As this is a tradition now, I attended both '100% Design' and 'Tent'. I just must see what is happening in the world of design...

My personal favourite came in a form of a simple understanding of light, reflection and colour in Elizabeth Walker's eye-catching wall piece.

The combination of all three aspects topped up with hours of hard work, Elizabeth, a graduate from University of Buckinghamshire (I hope I am not mistaken by the name of the collage) specialising in surface design, was certainly at the right place at 100% Design.

Displaying only one panel (given by the limited space allowed to collages), Elizabeth reveals the entire piece by a photograph underneath. However this one piece was enough for me to stop and admire her work...

Diving closer for a photograph, it finally became clear to me how this is done.

The original structure has not higher/lower surface, it is all one level. By a clever placement of colour pieces into appropriate cells (or shall we call them pixels), an image is created.

A point to note, Elizabeth used only 6 colours, the primary ones. Also, what I really like here is how this piece ties scientific (the law of physics), digital (braking image into pixels) and craft (hand-made piece and skill) world into one.

I would say, this is another example of something becoming so effective through simplicity...

'Furniture Magpies' and their stand took me back few years, back to my study years when recycling was the thing...

When you step back, you suddenly begin to see where the original material came from. This all is expressed so well by the company belief: We don't believe in good furniture going to landfill when it can be redesigned into pieces that people can love all over again.

A top desk of a table becomes a rocking horse, wool is reused into a knitted/crocheted lampshades or table/chair legs become a table top...

By cutting alongside the length of various table/chair legs, an interesting texture is revealed, a 3D object is flattened and when reattached together makes a new object, a new piece of furniture.

It is also becoming a tradition that when at 'Tent' I find Lizzie Mary Cullen and her stand. Every time, I am looking forward to seeing and admiring her skill and even this year I was not disappointed...

I was rewarded with a wall of colourful chalk drawing and of course a charming personality that Lizzie has.



As always, there was much more to see and admire and as usual, I have selected only a snipped from the sheer volume of exhibitors and locations that make London Design Festival so special. Also, leaving the writing of this post few days after my visit, I become more selective. One thing I have to say is that LDF never disappoints. K-)

The quest

What a summer we have had. I do not remember so many sunny and dry days in a long time. It feels as if an injection of energy and optimism arrived to the British Isles; or at least has visited me for much longer than I am used to from summer here.

And of course, when I went home for holidays, the feeling there was the same. Sunny, dry and a never-ending joy would fill every day throughout.

One did not have to do much searching for some photo gems...

This one was peeping out from our neighbour's garden.

Unfortunately, beginning last week, when we visited the St. James's Concours of Elegance Classic Car Show, it has not stopped raining.

When there, I captured rain drops on the bonnets of the cars, such as seen here in such contrast. And that was when the quest for rain drops started...

How exciting when you see something pretty, something amazing in everything, even rain. Quite frankly, one has no choice in this part of the world where rain becomes the norm.

In these pictures, when rain serves as a backdrop for what is perceived as style, an interesting scene is created...




As I mentioned already, it has been so and so with the weather here right now and so I took the camera with me today to continue with my quest...

The day has been wet, the day has been grey, the day has been overcast again.

And here I was, out there in search for some treasures...

What do you think about  the juxtaposition of natural elements, their colour and the tones? Don't they work well together?

Oh, how much I love discovering the beautiful in the mundane, don't you? K-)

St. James's Concours of Elegance Classic Car Show

Hello all those who have been tirelessly checking my blog for the past two months. Also please accept my apology for not keeping you up to date with what has been happening within my London cultural life. Having had such a wonderful summer here this year, I could not keep myself indoors but ran out every time a chance occurred. One has to enjoy the sun when it arrives to English shores...

In case you wonder what these pictures are all about, the clue is in the name. Yes, as the name suggests, I visited St. James's Palace (the garden that is, not the indoors) that hosted the Concours of Elegance Classic Car Show.

Now, I have to warn you, I do not know anything about cars but when the opportunity arouse, I could not let it go unnoticed. I had to go. And what a joy that was...

Of course, my intake on such occasion would not be at the entire car but its details. The attention to detail, the curves, the gloss on the bonnets of the cars, the crisp shiny colours. Indeed, the colours on those beauties worked for me. Yes, I am definitely one who would choose by the colour not the model...

If it was possible to choose my favourite, it would be the real oldies. Models from the turn of the 20 Century.

To see the use of wood where we are used to seeing metal alloy, wooden wheel and dashboard, the gear box.

What I really liked about this one was the way they stored the spare tires...

The real luxury and elegance came in the form of Darraco racing car. Just look at the soft leather seats. I certainly wanted to sit down. Or at least to touch it. The comfort shines at me even now when looking only at the pictures.

Again, a big smile and admiration came over me when observing the 'boot'. Such a style in itself; attach it to the car and you have a new meaning.

Just compare it to what we know nowadays. The form is probably more practical and definitely bigger but the style is gone...

Indeed travel and comfort seems to come in all forms and shapes throughout the ages.

Whether coming in a form of a cute suitcase matching the interior of this Mercedes Benz or this handy rail, the attention to detail is admirable.

When I saw such cosmetic finish on the bonnet here, I could not but think of some sort of a decoration for a jacket (the one that is still unfinished)...

Well inspiration can be found anywhere...

To sum up, I had a great time there. Additionally, this is an elegant and stylish return to my blog I would say. Going through all the photographs I took, I am sharing with you only a tiny little snipped. One thing I have to add though, when you get a chance to attend something like this, do not miss it. Go - rain or shine. K-)