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FunkyRosebud Studio

Capturing the Sparkling Moments

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Why India is Hell for Photographers

Why would India be hell for photographers? Some might argue it is one of the most photogenic countries in the world. Therein lies the rub, practically  everything you see in India seems deserving of a photograph. Potential themes are endless: transport, notices, traditional crafts, wildlife - I could go on. But how to discriminate? do you choose an area to focus on, or do you snap indiscriminately at everything that catches your eye and hope to theme them later? I chose the latter route and am now busy post-processing 2000 + photos. I have themed a few for you to give an idea of the scope, but in doing it this way I am very aware of the lack of place and context.

What works best? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Transport

Bullock Cart on the road from Ooty to Coimbatore

Van parked up in Madurai

Auto Rickshaw in Ooty 

Elephants used for transport Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Traditional Crafts

Back Garden Brass Foundry in Thanjavur

Making Coir mats in Kerala

Lighting a cow dung fire to put with bananas in the 'banana cave' to ripen them Madurai Banana Market

Wildlife

Langur at Bandipur

Langur at Bandipur

Painted Stork at Bandipur

Chital at Bandipur

Tiger at Bandipur

Indian Darter on Kerala Backwaters

Signs

Sign at the boating lake at Ooty

Notice seen on station while riding the 'Toy Train'  from Ooty to Coonoor

This is a tiny selection of the pictures I took and the themes explored during my travels in South India. I would love to know about your journeys and how you decide what to focus your camera on.

tags: India, birds, tiger, elephant, Bandipur, Kerala, Ooty, Madurai, transport, crafts, coir, brass, Tagore
categories: History, information, Photography, Nature, travel
Saturday 02.25.17
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 4
 

Hasta La Victoria Siempre

The words Hasta la Victoria Siempre  translate as 'always faithful to victory' and the Cuban people have been. As a visitor there is a sense that the revolution is still ongoing, and in one sense it is. In the other communist countries we have visited the ( Vietnam and Cambodia) the revolution has been and gone, leaders dead or deposed. In Cuba, however, the Castro's, Fidel and Raoul, are very much still in charge.

Everywhere you go in Cuba the revolutionary heros stare down at you, usually, but not always, in their younger incarnations

you can find them on houses, as street art and on the front of garages.

Even on doors.

Che, Fidel and co are also to be seen imortalised in metal in the more formal setting of the Revolutionary Square in Havana

While Che and  Castro are fathers of modern Cuba, the man looked on as the founding father of the nation is Jose Marti.  Marti founded the Partido Revolucionario Cubano which united Cuban forces in favour of independence. He died in battle against the Spanish in 1895 and is buried in a mausoleum in the cemetery  of Santiago de Cuba ,where an armed guard is maintained ceremonially changing every 30 minutes. Marti is the only individual or institution in Cuba so honoured.

and finally this is how the Cubans show the American base at Guantanamo on their maps

tags: cuba, Santiago de Cuba, Che, Fidel, Castro, Jose Marti, bill boards
categories: History, information, Photography
Wednesday 03.09.16
Posted by Barbara Evans
 

Ode to Orta

We have just returned from a holiday to Italy where we stayed on Lake Maggiore - stayed tuned for a future post about this - but for today I want to invite you to to visit lake Orta with me and in particular the village of Orta San Giulio.

The joy of this place and of its accompanying Island of San Giulio out in the lake (which unfortunately we didn't have time to visit) was the fact that there was nothing to disturb the harmony of the buildings

no monstrosities of the sixties or seventies to spoil the flow of the architecture

no jarring colours to spoil the predominance of earth tones that softly blend into the landscape

rather, an ancient square with frescoed houses

roads along the lake that once may have led to Rome,

or just back to the central square

and little jetties where you can enjoy a drink or an ice-cream overlooking the lake

In all just perfect!

tags: Lake Orta, Orta San Giulio, mountains, italian lakes, Italy, medieval
categories: History, information, Photography
Thursday 09.24.15
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 2
 

In Dublins' Fair City ......

Last month I had a very last minute and unexpected opportunity to visit Dublin. I had just two days looking around by myself while my husband was at work  - the weather wasn't great but here of some of the things that stuck me. 

Of course the pubs

Trinity College Library containing the Book of Kells which I wasn't able to photograph 

The Georgian houses - I particularly enjoyed this one, celebrating Dublin's year as European City of Culture

and this one with the fabulous door furniture 

As I approached Dublin Castle I heard a volley of gunfire. This was shortly after the devastatingTunisian beach attack so I felt a momentary frisson of fear which was quickly allayed when I noticed a crowd of people watching something. It was, of course, filming for a TV programme on the Easter Rising of 1917

Near St Patrick's Cathedral I found trees with hand crocheted socks! 

There were plenty of statues

Oscar Wilde

and opportunities for street photography

Lunching leprechaun in St Stephen's Green

This guy wanted to pose!

and finally I was intrigued / amused by these Edward V11 letter boxes still in service but painted green!

“In Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive a-live O! ”
— Traditional
tags: Dublin, pubs, Trinity College, Oscar Wilde, Easter Rising, georgian houses
categories: History, information, Photography, travel
Monday 08.24.15
Posted by Barbara Evans
 

Head & Heart

Evening in the water meadows

As you may know I'm not posting very regularly at the moment, the reason is that this moving house business is all consuming. If all goes well (and with moving there are always plenty of things that can go wrong!) we might be in by Christmas, or maybe early January. There is really a panic inducing amount to do, we have lived in our current house so thirty-three years so you can imagine the amount of clutter we have collected!

I have recently started a photograpy course in Salisbury, the city we are moving to, which is around an hours drive from our current home. Our first assignment was to produce two pictures one illustrating where our heart is and the other where our head is.

This is what I am taking to class tomorrow night -

My head picture. This is attempting to illustrate that I am wearing way too many hats at present. Wife, mother, employee, project director to name but a few. I like the writing on the phrenology head as it references how much my head is buzzing with stuff, different projects, different lists, different agendas. I know it will get worse before it gets better, but it WILL be worth it! (I should perhaps also add that my husband is pretty busy too!)

This is my heart photo, I took it last week on a photo shoot with the class.

Salisbury Cathedral Spire

Salisbury Cathedral Spire

“the Cathedral was enlarged upwards between 1300 and 1320, by the incomparable tower and spire. This development was not unique to Salisbury – the cathedrals in London (old St Paul’s) and Lincoln both had taller spires, if only of timber and lead – but this one has proved the longest-lived, and since the late 16th century has been the tallest in England, standing at 404 ft/123m. ”
— http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/history/adding-spire

My heart has definitely moved to Salisbury and the cathedral, especially the spire, is the symbol of Salisbury. You can see it from almost everywhere in the city and it acts as a marker or guidepost in the city's life. I choose this photo because I liked the way the birds were juxtaposed with the spire and the black and white really draws attention to this, although I also like the coloured version with the evening sun turning the stone a glorious gold

While I'm here I can't resist adding a picture of the chapter house from the cloisters. This magnificent building houses one of the 4 surviving originals of the Magna Carta

“Magna Carta is famous as a symbol of justice, fairness, and human rights. For centuries it has inspired and encouraged movements for freedom and constitutional government in Britain and around the world. But when it was issued by England’s King John in June 1215 it was an attempt to prevent a civil war between the king and his powerful barons.

Magna Carta means simply ‘big charter’. A charter is a legal document issued by the king or queen which guarantees certain rights. This charter has over 60 clauses, covering many areas of the nation’s life, including the right to a fair trial. It is one of several copies written immediately after King John agreed peace terms with his barons at Runnymede, which were sent around the country as evidence of the king’s decision. Salisbury Cathedral’s copy is one of four which survive from this original issue. It was written in Latin by hand, by an expert scribe, on vellum (preserved animal skin). Medieval documents like this were not signed, but sealed, and at the bottom of our Magna Carta you can see the marks where King John’s seal used to hang.”
— http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/magna-carta/what-magna-carta

Finally I had to include this - I haven't seen a clerical hat like this in the UK for decades  - welcome home Father Brown!

Yes, there is no doubt about it, my heart has definitely moved to Salisbury!




​

tags: Salisbury Cathedral, spire, chapter house, Magna Carta, photography course
categories: History, information, Photography
Monday 10.06.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 3
 

City of Dreaming Spires

“And that sweet city with her dreaming spires,
She needs not June for beauty’s heightening,”
— Matthew Arnold

Last weekend (well it was when I started writing this!) I was lucky enough to attend the 'Call of the Wild Soul' art retreat in Oxford led by Wild Souls, Erin Faith Allen, Tamara Laporte (AKA Willowing), and Claire Russell. The retreat took place in the beautiful Magdalen College which is one of the most beautiful places on earth to spent a weekend.

The college is unique in that it has its own deer park, home to Red & Roe Deer, a tower where the chapel choir sings at 6am on May Morning to welcome in the spring and a most spectacular set of cloisters which seem to be  the heart of the college and my favourite place there.

  I thought the planting of green Hydrangeas interspersed with what I think was  a dark Berberis was inspired, and I don't think I have ever seen quite so many gargoyles and statues in one place!

A particular treat was to hear members of the Genesis Sixteen practising for evensong in the chapel . The acoustics must be truly wonderful as from outside of the chapel the sound seemed as if it came from the choir of 100, on investigating however, I found there were only 5 people responsible for making this glorious noise!

The Sixteen's conductor Harry Christophers and singer and practical scholar Sally Dunkley introduce this year's Choral Pilgrimage tour.

Everywhere you looked there were ancient artefacts and items of everyday use that had been crafted with love and care

Then there were the gardens  - an oasis of calm and colour especially the stunning herbaceous borders - always a favourite with me,

enjoyed by college members and visitors alike

Even with a fair sprinkling of tourists around the sense of calm and peace prevailed, and this, together with the hours dedicated  to making art and connecting with kindred spirits, made for a very special weekend

“Outside the open window
The morning air is all awash with
angels.”
— Richard Wilbur
tags: Magdalen Colege, Oxford, call of the wild soul, Errin Faith Allen, Tamara LaPorte, Willowing, art journaling, retreat
categories: Art, History, information, Nature, Photography, travel
Friday 09.19.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 2
 

In Flanders Fields the Poppies Blow .........

Yesterday we went to the Tower of London, not to see the Tower itself, but to see the installation commemorating the centenary of World War 1 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red'  Created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, with setting by stage designer Tom Piper, 888,246 ceramic poppies will progressively fill the Tower's famous moat.

I feel a deep personal connection to the First World War. Not only did both my grandfathers serve in the British Army (and survive, so that I knew them both well) but my maternal grandfather's family had lived in Belgium for many years and my great grandmother came over with my Aunty Bessie ( my mothers cousin) as refugees at the beginning of the war and lived with my grandparents. My mother remembered hiding under the kitchen table from the Zeppelin attacks, and Aunt Rose told be the story of her escape from Belgium at the beginning of the war ( see previous post). For me the First World War is not just something to read about in history books but also a collection of family stories

By the end of November the moat will be full of poppies, one for each of the 888,246 British and Commonwealth  forces who died. Every evening at sunset the last post will be sounded and a roll  will be called of some of the fallen. You can nominate a friend or relative's name to be read out on a certain evening here.

The roll  of Honour is read out by one of the Yeoman Warders of the Tower (AKA Beefeaters)  and we were lucky to see this one walking through the poppies to check that the set up for the evening was all OK

I very much hope to visit again in November when all the poppies are in place which will be a truly awesome sight both in terms of the visual impact and what it represents.

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.”
— John McCrae, May 1915
tags: Paul Cummins, Tom Piper, Tower of London, world war 1, Poppies, Joh McCrae, Yoman Warders, Beefeaters, Yeoman Warders
categories: History, information, Photography, Poetry
Sunday 08.10.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 5
 

Holidaying in Belgium August 1914

On the 4th of August 1914 my great Aunt Rose and her sister Lily were enjoying their  holiday in Belgium, you could say their timing wasn't perfect, what follows is the story of their adventures trying to make their way back to England through the war zone, as published in their local paper.

I make no apology  for reposting this today

In memory of Rosina Eynon nee Poulden 1889 -1975

A flight from Liege 

Southenders and the fighting

Young ladies thrilling experiences

How they came home to England

The following experiences of the Misses Poulden of ‘Kingsbury’ 357 Leigh Road Westcliff have been specially written for the Southend Standard. They only reached England on Friday evening after one of the most terrifying journeys young ladies could take by themselves. Actually witnessing the fighting as they journeyed down to the coast.. The story written by them is as under - 

 

My sister and I left London on the 25th July with a party of tourists for our fortnight’s vacation, the first week of which was to be spent sightseeing in Brussels, and the second week enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Belgian Ardennes at the little village of Aywaille, which is situated close to the German frontier. The week at Brussels passed pleasantly without any event. On Saturday 1 August my sister, two Scotch girls and I left Brussels for Aywaille: the rest of the party going in other directions. At that time, although we knew that fighting was in progress between Austria and Serbia, we had no suspicions of other complications arising, and knowing that Belgium was neutral we felt perfectly safe. We reached Aywaille safely on Saturday evening, but on arriving at the hotel were rather astonished to find that there was no English guide there to meet us. We were the only four English speaking people in the town, and as our knowledge of the French language is limited we gained very little knowledge of the outside world.

 

On Sunday we explored the immediate neighbourhood, and on Monday took a train to Coo, which is even nearer the German territory than Aywaille, being quite unconscious of the troublous state of affairs. On Tuesday morning we came down to breakfast and were very much surprised to find the little village in a great state of excitement, and we managed to understand by their actions that Germany had declared war against Belgium and that the enemy was then marching towards the village. The inhabitants were in a state of panic; women and children were weeping, while the men were engaged in barricading the doors and windows, and collecting together their valuables.

Whole families were abandoning everything and rushing into the woods. Seeing how matters stood, we thought it advisable to make investigations regarding our homeward journey. To our great dismay on reaching the station we found that the train services between Aywaille and Liege had been stopped. We explained out position to the station master but he told us there was no way of reaching England. We then proceeded to the post office to telephone or telegraph the nearest British Consul, but found all the wires had been cut and that there was no means of communication whatever. Our efforts to obtain any conveyance proved fruitless as all vehicles had been commandeered for the army, and we were told that even if we could obtain a conveyance  we should not be able to proceed far as the roads were barricaded. Now for the first time we began to realise the helplessness of our position. This proved a most wearing day. We sat outside the hotel silently wondering whether we should ever see our friends and relations again. Every time the German soldiers passed through the street, the inhabitants rushed into their houses and bolted the door. We seemed to have the village to ourselves. As the day wore on we became desperate and determined the next morning to attempt to continue our journey to Liege on foot, a distance of about 30 miles. The cook at the hotel, a woman, told us that her home was at Liege and that she would also accompany us. 

 

The next morning (Wednesday) soon after 8 o’clock, we abandoned our luggage and started on our walk, not knowing that Liege was the centre of the fighting. We avoided all direct roads, going through woods and by narrow paths trough the Ardennes. The first seven or eight miles were completed without much inconvenience, except that at times the peasants, hearing that we spoke a language foreign to their own, jumped to the conclusion that we were German, and consequently, we were not very cordially welcomed. Naturally we hastened to undeceive them. As a matter of fact, before many hours had passed we were quite tired of using the sentence “nous sommes Anglais” These few words made a remarkable difference in the demeanour of the people towards us. They would smile, wish to shake hands, and try to tell us the best road, but one and all shook their heads and did their best to make us understand that we were undertaking a practically impossible task, as the roads further on were impassable, being lined with soldiers. We also heard reports of Belgian civilians being killed on the road, which whether true or untrue did not tend to give us much encouragement. As we proceed further the way became more and more difficult. On either side of each village roads and paths were blocked with trees which had been cut down and  piled one on top of an other; telegraph poles were lying by the roadside and several times we had difficulty in extricating our feet from the entangled telegraph wires. Rain came down in torrents, and we heard what we first took to be thunder, but which afterwards proved to be cannon. 

 

At about 2pm we met two men who were also trying to get into Liege. One was a Belgian soldier on his way to join his regiment at Namur. What the other man was we do not know, but he told us it was absolutely impossible for us to get back to England, as there were no trains running between Liege and Brussels, and also that there were no boats to England. The road now became harder and harder, and we certainly should not have been able to get over some of the blockages if it had not been for the Belgian soldier. At times he carried us bodily over trees and over overturned carts. Often we had to go out of our way and into the woods to avoid the soldiers. As we passed through the outskirts of Vise the report of the cannon and the cracking of rifles  sounded louder and louder, and after each report we would look round to see whether all were safe. We could see smoke rising from among the trees. A Belgian soldier shot in the arm was taken into a cottage as we passed.

 

The man who had previously joined our party by this time appeared to us to be on very friendly terms with the cook and they conversed together in an undertone. They seemed to be talking about us, and we first had suspicions of our company when we heard them say “elles ne comprennend pas”. We asked the Belgian soldier who was with us whether there was a British consul in Liege and he replied in the affirmative. The other man on hearing our question, came up and said he was going to conduct us to the British consul. Being suspicious we asked him to write down the address of the British consul, which he did. By this time about 4pm we were nearing Liege in a practically exhausted condition, not having had any food or rest on the way; excitement alone kept us going. Here we met several other men going in the same direction. We tried to put questions to the newcomers regarding the address of the British consul and also trains from Liege, but each time the man with the cook would interfere saying he was going to guide us to the British Consul, and we could get no definite information. We became more anxious and while three of us kept the cook and the man in conversation in broken French the other Scotch girl loitered behind and begged a man to try to find out for us the address of the consul in Liege. This address proved to be quite different from the one given by the other man. From time to time we heard that there were trains running from Liege but these were contradicted by our first companions. Now as we neared Liege we found the road blocked by Belgian soldiers and civilians and we had to prove our nationality before we were allowed to pass.

 

After this the road was less obstructed and presently we saw a motor car coming towards us. The Belgian soldier stopped the car, showed a paper and  before we realised what was happening, the car was turned round and our friendly soldier born away.

At about 5pm we entered the town and were thankful to find that the street trams were still running. We all boarded a tram which we took to the middle of the town. The man who had given us the printed address of the consul said quietly to us as we were getting on to the car “A la Grande Place demandes un gendarme” (at the Grand Place ask for a policeman). Although we were in an absolutely exhausted condition, we realised the necessity of bearing up and acting for ourselves. The destination of the car happened to be the Grande Place itself. The cook and her companion got out with us and the man told us now that we were out of danger and that he would conduct us in a carriage to the British counsel. We told him we wished to go alone, but we could not get rid of him. Meantime one of the Scotch girls had found an officer to whom she explained as best she could that she did not trust the man with us and asked to be directed to the station. He seemed to understand and pointed out a certain tram. We went towards the tram but the man followed us, telling us to come with him in a carriage to the consul. We only succeeded in getting rid of the man after the officer had spoken to him. We were quite thankful to get into the car free from our companions. 

The streets of Liege presented a strange sight; soldiers tired out by either fighting or walking were lying about the streets like cattle.

On arriving at the station we found to our relief that the trains were still running to Brussels. On the platform we met the Belgian soldier who had helped us earlier in the day. We offered him money in repayment for his kindness, which he courteously refused. He saw us safely into the train, wished us “Bon voyage” and hastened to his own train for Namur. The journey to Brussels which usually takes about two hours on this occasion took five hours, we not arriving in Brussels until 11pm. We put up in an hotel for the night and after breakfast on Thursday morning went to the British Consul. He told us we had had a wonderful escape and advised us to catch the first possible train to Ostend, and then, to use his expression “to nip into the first boat to England”. He also advised us to wear our national colours, which we were ready enough to do. Those in the street were sporting Belgian, French and English colours. On our way to the station we heard reports that Vise, the town through which we had passed, and Aywaille, where we had stayed had been burned to the ground. If these reports are true we have reason to be thankful.

We had three hours to wait for a train from Brussels to Ostend. As we were entering the carriage a wounded soldier was brought along and we were asked if we would take charge of him to Ghent. He had just come from active service at Liege, where he had been shot in the leg. They placed him full length on one side of the carriage. He looked in a very sorry plight, with dirty bloodstained face and hands. We made him as comfortable as we could under the circumstances.

At Ostend we had to undergo very close scrutiny before we were allowed on the boat, but had no trouble in establishing our nationality. The boat left at about 3.30pm and after a very rough passage we arrived at Folkestone at about eight pm and eventually at Charing Cross at eleven pm.

I am confident that nobody was ever more pleased to set foot on English ground than we were. It will be very many years before we forget our “holiday” in Belgium.

Published in the Southend Standard 18th August 1914

 

Aunt Rose front left

tags: world war 1, Belgium, Liege, adventure, Southend standard
categories: History, information, travel
Monday 08.04.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 4
 

Independence Day

“Where liberty dwells, there is my country”
— Benjamin Franklin

Last week we had some American cousins staying with us and on the days I wasn't working I offered to take them out and about. On Thursday we did Bath and on Friday 4th July it was the turn of Stonehenge and Salisbury.

Stonehenge is in the middle of Salisbury Plain and I love the big skies you find there

Although we had driven past it many times, I had only visited on one other occasion when our school trip stopped off at the stones on the way home to Dorset from London. It was quite magical, the sun was setting and we were able to wander around inside the stones to our hearts' content, it has become a cherished memory.

Later, driving past on frequent trips to visit my parents in Somerset, I saw a large wire perimeter fence had sprung up separating the visitors from the stones - I had no wish to stop as I felt it would only spoil the memory.

Last year, however, English Heritage changed the access to the stones and opened a new visitors' centre as befits a World Heritage Site. The transformation was radical! Gone was the fence, visitors are able to get really close to the stones in some places and, to my great surprise, it was fairly easy to take photographs without hordes of people in them.

It's hard to know if the stones are more impressive in colour or black and white

The stones and the visitors' centre explored, we set off for Salisbury where another stone edifice was the main attraction - the cathedral.

After exploring the main church we set off through the cloisters to the beautiful Chapter House where one of the two original versions of the Magna Carta signed at Runnymede in 1215 is displayed. Again I have only been to Runnymede once, under similar circumstance to my trip to Stonehenge, on the way back from a school trip. We stopped at the Airforce Memorial in the early evening and were infused with such a sense of beauty and peace. Since my visit there a memorial to JFK has been added.

The exhibitions showed links between the  Declaration of Independence and Magna Carta and had quotes from various individuals in history who had paved the way to freedom, such as Martin Luther King. I think we all felt it very special to be viewing this historic document on American Independence Day.

“Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable - a most sacred right - a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world.”
— Abraham Lincoln
tags: stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, Runnymede, magna carta, Wiltshire, Salisbury, History, American Independence, Martin Luther King, JFK
categories: History, information, Photography, travel
Sunday 07.13.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 4
 

We're Going to the Zoo - The Animals

My first visit to London Zoo was in the 1950s when the Zoo’s main purpose was to provide a spectacle for the public with a bit of education thrown in. Therefore I was able to take full advantage of all the non PC facilities on offer; camel rides, elephant rides and of course, the chimpanzees tea party. This was eventually discontinued in 1972 when it was realised that the chimps were reluctant to give up their celebrity status and retire out out the limelight, making them rather difficult to handle like many another spoiled celebrity thrown upon hard times.

Today london Zoo is rather an odd place. They are of course in the forefront of modern zoological thinking when it comes to habitat etc but are somewhat disadvantaged by the number of listed buildings on site. Of these the only one still used for its original purpose is the Giraffe house which opened in 1835

A more recent arrival is the pygmy hippo - I don't remember seeing those as a child

The penguins are always a star attraction at any zoo and at Regents Park they had their  own specially designed Modernist pool. When they were removed from this recently so it could be refurbished it was discovered that they did much better in a more natural habitat so 'Penguin Beach' was created.

The original pool, which is grade 1 listed, has been turned into a water feature.

Some of the newer areas include walk through aviaries and it's good to be able to get close up without wire or bars in the way.

But the end of the day all the animals are captive, even though their captivity  may enable others of their species to roam free in their natural habitat in the future, and they are behind bars.

monkey.jpg

Till next time x

tags: penguin, hippo, giraffes, London Zoo
categories: Nature, Photography, information, History
Monday 06.09.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 2
 

Postcards from Berlin 6 - Over the Wall

We started day three with a little shopping as I wanted to visit a stationary shop recommended by a website that the gorgeous Stephanie Levy ,a Berlin based artist,  alerted me to. The area this shop was in had other interesting shops. bakeries and restaurants, and we returned there in the evening for a lovely meal at  Mr Vuong which took us right back to our trip to Vietnam last year.

I loved the flowers painted on this wall

and the sparkly paper tied on to this fence

and I couldn't resist taking a photo of this guy  - he looked so cool!

An antiques store had some interesting bits and bobs including these cut out figures for if you can't afford your own staff!

After lunch at the Barn (recommended ) the weather closed in and the brollies came out. Highly suitable for a trip to  Starsi HQ. When we got out of the underground at our destination the buildings were grimmer than any others we had seen in Berlin, grey blocks of concrete. The site covered by the EastGerman secret police HQ was huge and when we went in we could see exactly why they needed so much space.

The museum documents the extreme nature of the police state in the GDR. Something like 1 in 3 citizens were under surveillance via pot plant, watering can and other ingenious methodologies for secreting cameras in the most unlikely places. there were huge numbers of police informants. The Stasi seemed to have been much more thorough than their colleagues in the KGB, perhaps because the population was more contained.

There were propaganda  posters aplenty which reminded me of the ones we saw in Vietnam last year - there was clearly a communist vernacular in poster art!

Bringing  all this to life is the office of Erich Mielke head of the Stasi from 1957 to 1989. His dress uniform still hangs in the cupboard and it seems eerily ready for use, as does the boardroom 

Top boardroom, bottom Mielke's office 

In all it was a very sobering experience and made me realise how much we take our democratic freedoms for granted.

Take care and see you next time!

 

tags: Berlin Wall, Berlin, Stasi, shopping, vietnam, food, GDR
categories: History, information, Photography
Thursday 05.08.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 1
 

Postcards from Berlin 5 - A Wild Goose chase

After our visit to the East Side Gallery and our lunch in the sunshine, we headed off on foot to find Tacheles. Described in our guide book (the Rough Guide to Berlin) thus, ' a taste of Berlin artists'  squatter culture is offered in the multi story counter-cultural workshop' the whole thing looked fascinating .

First stop was Hackeschen Hofe 'a series of elegant early twentieth century courtyards with stylish cafes and boutiques' (Rough Guide)

There are some fun shops including one specialising in Ampelmann ( the little chap from the East German crossing signs) nostalgia.I loved the pink saddle protectors on these bikes!

Next stop was a small art gallery where we had a look round and stopped for a coffee - there was an interesting line in taxidermy in the coffee shop

We continued up the street thinking that according to the map we should be able to spot our destination by now, but all we could see was a rather desolate abandoned building which was showing every indication that it was about to be pulled down. It couldn't be? could it? it was!

The now-abandoned and somewhat forlorn Tacheles building stared out at us and we stared back. After the first initial disappointment we spotted some items of interest

A sculpture here

some graffiti there - and finally the proof positive that we were in the right place although sadly we had missed the party! in all it was a bit of a wild goose chase

tags: Berlin, art, architecture, Tacheles, taxidermy, german
categories: Art, History, information, Photography, travel
Tuesday 04.15.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 2
 

Postcards from Berlin 4 - On the East Side

On the second day of our visit the weather was as good, possibly even better than, the day before. Perfect for visiting the East Side Gallery.

The gallery is a 1.3 Km stretch of the Berlin Wall covered with political and satirical murals first painted in 1989 just after the wall fell. Time and weather took its toll so that the original artists were invited back to repaint their work for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the wall in 2009.

Despite notices asking them not to, individuals have added their own graffiti to the murals which unfortunately is mostly of the 'I woz 'ere' or 'Jonny loves Jane' variety, that doesn't add anything to the original works. I have not included the works where, as in this one, I felt the graffiti really detracted from them.

I thought long hard about how best to share the  feel of the art on the wall with you and came to the conclusion that  the best thing to do was to create a vimeo video. Watch it full screen  - it really makes a difference to the experience!

East Side Gallery from Barbara Evans on Vimeo.

tags: Berlin Wall, art, graffiti, Berlin, politics
categories: Art, History, information, travel
Sunday 04.06.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 3
 

Postcards from Berlin 3 - from Stadt to Platz

On our way back from Potsdam and Sansouci we had to change from the Schnell Bahn to the U Bahn at Potsdamer Platz. This is not, as you might be forgiven for thinking, in Potsdam but in the centre of Berlin. Heavily bombed  in the war, Potsdamer Platz was then bisected by the Berlin Wall although the only reminder of this now is a discrete sign on the ground.

When the wall came down a huge empty space was left in the centre of the city  and this was quickly snapped up by firms such as Sony, DaimlerChrysler and A&T. Many of the buildings are considered iconic especially the Sony Centre. As we emerged into the platz on a fine March evening the light was ideal for photographing these buildings and getting a second wind we rushed round with the camera.

Click on the picture below ( multiple times) to view the gallery 

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What I love most about these pictures is the light and the reflections - so happy we arrived there at just the right time

tags: Berlin, Germany, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin Wall, architecture, Sony Centre, reflections
categories: History, information, Photography, Art
Tuesday 04.01.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 2
 

Postcards from Berlin 2 - I should (ro) Coco

Day two. The weather forecast was set fair so we seized the opportunity for a fresh air experience and set off for Potsdam and the Palace of Sanssouci. the trip involved a 45 minute journey on the S Bahn and I have to say that the Berlin public transport system is just wonderful - so easy to get around. When we arrived a Potsdam the station was modern light and airy with great florists  - I particularly liked these arrangements in jars.

Next it was off on the bus to Sanssouci where we were greeted by a flautist emulating the flute playing of Fredrick the Great who built  the palace.

Fredrick commissioned the palace in 1745 because he wanted a place to live outside Berlin that was 'without worries" or 'sans souci'. It was to be a refuge from government and court life where he would spend time with music,  literature and friends such as Voltaire. For this reason, although architecturally grand, it is a small palace with a mere dozen or so rooms.

Time to join the guided tour or rather tour with handsets for the different languages. Unfortunately they were the sort of handsets you have to hand hold which made listening to the commentary and taking pictures a bit of a challenge - but hey, I managed after a fashion.

This is a detail from one of my favourite rooms. I'm not usually very keen on too much gold but I really liked the gold and white here especially the spider's web

It worked for me in this room too. As you might imagine from the musical theme, concerts were often held here and the whole palace was bright and light

This room had a bit of a jungle theme going on and was, I think, the room (kept missing bits of the commentary due to taking photos)  that Fredrick had redecorated as an insult to Voltaire after they fell out.

The last thing you see as you exit the tour is this portrait Fredrick the Great by Andy Warhol. It is based on one displayed in one of the rooms which unfortunately I didn't especially notice.

Back out in the garden it was time to explore the park and I have to say my absolute favourite things were these little pavilions,

first glimpsed through the trees

then come upon in their full glory. It took us ages to work out what these grey boxes dotted all over the gardens were, but we eventually twigged that they are winter sculpture protectors!

Next it was off for a walk round the gardens - Sanssouci is built on a hill on what was a vineyard. The vines are still there and make an impressive picture from the bottom of the hill. I used my iPhone and the XnSketch app to take this photo

Our walk through the grounds took us past the Chinese Tea Pavillion, unfortunately not open until May but a joy to behold.

It was decorated with gilded figures that carried on the musical theme from the house

Even the ducks were mandarin!

There is much more to see and do in Potsdam than we achieved in a fairly short day ( this break was not designed to include early starts each morning!) more palaces to visit, lakes and of course the town itself - I think it's Auf Weidersehen not goodbye!

tags: Rococo. palace, Potsdam, Sansouci, Germany, Berlin, Warhol, parks, Frederick the Great, flowers, ducks
categories: History, information, Photography, Nature, Art
Friday 03.28.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 1
 

Postcards from Berlin 1 - Willkommen

We have just returned from a five night break in Berlin, in some ways the most mysterious of European capital cities. It is a city where the traditional rubs shoulders with the avant guard, where art is king and above all it is a city that has to live with its past.

This is our second visit to Berlin. The first with our then 12 year old son was around 10 years ago. On that occasion we scurried around making sure we ticked off all the major sites: the Reichstag, the Jewish Museum, Checkpoint Charlie, the Pergamon Museum etc. This trip was to be less frenetic with time for art galleries, a trip out to Potsdam, and other attractions. with a main focus on the galleries. This however was not exactly what Berlin had in store for us.

iphone edited in snapseed

The visit started according to plan. We had to get up incredibly early to catch our 6.30 flight from Gatwick, so after checking into our hotel we set off to have lunch in the food hall at the biggest and possibly the best department store in Europe, KaDeWe, which was just a short walk from our hotel.

iphone edited in Waterlogue

Lunch at the grill counter was delicious and we felt up for a tiny bit of sightseeing despite our early start, so we visited the nearby Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachniskirche. Destroyed by British bombers in 1943 this crumbling ruin serves as a reminder of the destruction caused by war. Presumably it had gone one crumble too far as  the scaffolding was up and we were unable to visit the remains of the nave as we had done previously. 

The centre tower is the original church, at the front is the new campanile- not sure about the spire! 

The new modern chapel with its stunning blue stained glass was open to the public however.

The floor was impressive too

When we came out of the church it was raining and we were feeling pretty whacked so we decided to go back to the hotel. Once there, that was it, and, unusually for us, we didn't even venture out for dinner!

tags: Berlin, Germany, church, stained glass, KaDeWe
categories: History, Photography, travel
Wednesday 03.26.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 2
 

South Bank Saturday

Last Saturday found us on London's South Bank. We were up to go to the theatre, twice! Once at the Young Vic and once at the National, great performances but maybe something for another post.

We arrived in time to have a wander round and for me to practice my newly found street photography skills.

To give a bit of context for those of you who haven't visited, London's South Bank is a huge arts centre with the National Theatre, Royal Festival Hall, Hayward Gallery, British Film Institute and more huddled together next to Waterloo Bridge. The first buildings including the Festival Hall were erected to celebrate the Festival of Britain in 1951 which was supposed to cheer everyone up in the face of ongoing post-war rationing and shortages. Researching the Festival of Britain I came across this mini documentary that was just delightful and I would urge to to give it a try. It's interesting to compare the visitors then and now!

This is an edited version of the 1952 film in which Sir Hugh Casson and Patrick O'Donovan look back to the Festival of Britain on London's South Bank. We have cut descriptions of the architecture and how it would help design Britain's new towns.

Looking out over the river from the South Bank you get a wonderful view of St Paul's

There are always lots of people at the South Bank on weekends

people chilling, eating, out with their dogs.

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Even more than usual because of the Christmas Market

 

I have a soft spot for anyone with pink hair for obvious reasons!

People are dressed in a variety of styles, there are families 

and couples.

And around the back of the Festival Hall away from the river, a 'Real Food' market

Something for everyone on the South Bank on a Saturday afternoon!

tags: London, southbank, royal festival hall, national theatre, young vic, real food market, St Paul's
categories: information, Photography, History, travel
Thursday 11.28.13
Posted by Barbara Evans
Comments: 2
 
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