Looking out the window tonight I could barely see the other side of the street as a thick fog had descended. As I live right on the banks of the Tyne I couldn’t resist doing a few shots of the well known of “Fog on the Tyne”.  Click images to enlarge.

Pathway along the Tyne

Dunston Staiths in the fog

Tyne Bridge disappearing into the fog

Swing bridge in the fog

Fog on the Tyne

Comments and suggestions welcome

~Shepy

For a bit of a change, rather than just shooting empty derelict buildings, a fellow and I headed up to an asylum today with on of his friends to do a bit of a model shoot in a local asylum.  A fun day, and got quite a few pics I was happy with:

A few of the pics (click to enlarge):

You can view the rest of the album in my gallery by clicking here.

As ever, comments etc welcome

~Shepy

As anyone who has been out taking pics with me will tell you, its very very rare I ever bother shooting landscape stuff, just doesn’t really float my boat.

A friend called me up and asked if I fancied a look to Holy Island with him though, and as I had nothing better on I thought it would be worth going even if just for the craic.

Took a few pics on the day, but this is the only one I’m really happy with.

~Shepy

Having arrived quite early in to London for the protest from the previous post, Paul and I had some time to kill waiting for the start of proceedings, so decided to pretty much just wander aimlessly for a bit, taking in a few sights and getting some random shots. This post is to collect together some of those, and all images can be clicked to enlarge:

First off is the Battle of Britain memorial, situated on the north bank of the Thames opposite the London Eye, this really is an amazing monument, definitely worth a spy at if you are visiting the capital. A sentiment which Paul agrees with over on his blog!

Turning around from there you see the London Eye on the opposite embankment, and love it or hate it the Eye has changed the scene on the riverbank for the foreseeable future.  Situated next to the of Greater London Council building it towers over the city as the largest ferris wheel in Europe.

Wandering through the streets of London, round such familiar Monopoly streets such as Park Lane and Oxford Street,  it often pays to get off the beaten track slightly and poke down the little arcades and side streets where you will find some wonderful little tucked away gems, such as:

Also while on Piccadilly, we saw a shop that was selling these funky handbags, purses and other items all of which are made from flattened and woven empty sweet wrappers.

And finally, after the protest and a bite to eat we decided to go down and see the protest camp at Westminster, so I had to get the obligatory few shots of Westminster Clock Tower, home of Big Ben.

Hope you enjoyed the pics

~Shepy

October 24th 2009 was set to be the date for the ‘Stop The War’ protest, a demonstration march against the ongoing war in Afghanistan. The top 10 reasons for protesting, as quoted by the Stop The War website were:

1. The death rate is rising on both sides

   The number of British troops who have died is now higher than those killed in 6 years in Iraq. Fifteen soldiers died in the first two weeks of July alone. No one keeps track of the number of Afghan dead but it numbers tens of thousands since 2001. In May more than 140 Afghans, mainly women and children, were killed in one air strike.

2. This is an unwinnable war

   The Taliban was defeated in 2001 but is now growing in strength. Osama bin Laden has not been captured. The war is supposedly about defending the Karzai government. But his government is one of the most corrupt in the world. Neither he nor the occupation forces have brought any real improvements for the Afghan

3. Gordon Brown claims the war is about combating terrorism.

   There was no terrorist threat to Britain before the war in Afghanistan, or before the war in Iraq in 2003. It is those wars and their consequences that have made Britain a target. Even MI5 told the government the Iraq occupation was likely to increase not decrease terrorism.

4. We are told this may have to be our ’30 years war’

   We have fought for eight years and the situation is getting worse. Children as yet unborn will be dying if this war is not stopped.

5. The war is spreading to Pakistan

   Pakistan is a nuclear state, opening up the prospect of an even more terrible conflict

6. Life is getting worse for most Afghans under occupation

   There is a huge refugee problem. Corruption is rife. While Tony Blair promised in 2001 ‘we will not walk away’ Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the United Nations life expectancy has fallen for Afghans since 2003. Far more is spent on the war and the military than is spent on reconstruction. Aid meant to help the Afghans is not getting through to those who need it.

7. Britain has spent £4.6 billion on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq every year

   This is enough money to create 200,000 graduate jobs annually. We should be funding these jobs, not wasting more money on war. Unemployment must not become a recruiting sergeant for the army.

8. More troops or helicopters won’t help

   The NATO forces are not losing because they don’t have the equipment but because they are in Afghanistan.

9. We were told that the war in Afghanistan was to liberate women

   Women’s lives have not improved. Death in childbirth is rising. The Karzai government even tried to pass a law allowing rape in marriage. Despite all the talk about troops helping girls to go to school, less than a third of Afghan girls are in school and less than 10% can read and write, 8 years after the fall of the Taliban.

10. The majority of Afghans do not want the war and occupation

    The majority of British people think the troops should come home by Xmas at the latest. In two recent polls 56% (BBC and Guardian) and 59% (ITN) want the troops out.

Thousands turned up to join in the march through the streets of London chanting anti-war and political slogans all the while. The broad spectrum of people making the effort to march really made you think, some of the more notable people being:

Peter Brierley

Peter recently hit the news as the man who refused to shake the hand of Tony Blair, stating “I’m not shaking your hand, you’ve got blood on it.” Peter’s son Lance Cpl Shaun Brierley was killed while in service in 2003.

Hetty Bower

At 104 Hetty was the oldest protester at the event, but still managed to walk the entire march. Having lived through each of the world wars Hetty said “‘I march because I can see no reason for further killing. I have walked on every march against us going to war. At my age there is not very much I can do but while my legs can carry me I am going to march.”

Lance Cpl Joe Glenton

Joe Glenton is the first serving soldier to take part in an anti-war protest.  Already facing arrest and court martial for being AWOL due to his disagreement with the war, Joe had been told that attendance at the march would result in further charges being brought, but Joe felt so strongly about the issue that he still marched proudly.

Tony Benn

Politician and leader of the Stop the War Coalition, Tony Benn still made the effort to attend and give a rousing speech despite having recently been hospitalised after taking ill at a recent conference in Brighton.

The march started at the well known Speakers Corner in Hyde Park, demonstrators gathering from 12 noon where they were greeted by stalls from many political groups handing out flyers and newspapers.  Hundreds of placards waited for them to collect and hoist aloft, ready for the actual protest march which began at 1pm.  The march set off at 1pm exactly and lead the protesters through Park Lane, Piccadilly and Haymarket among others, ending at Trafalgar Square where the crowd were entertained with songs by Robb Johnson before listening to moving speeches from Tony Benn, Joe Glenton, an ex Guantanamo Bay prisoner, leader of the British Muslim Initiative and others. Despite rain trying its best to spoil the day, people listened intently to all speakers, whooping cheering and clapping often, making their views known on the war.

There was even a bit of light comic relief at times, provided by Charlie Veitch who is often to be found shouting on a loudspeaker in protests in London. Unfortunately I didnt manage to capture the first part of one of Charlie’s talks to the police, in which he advised officers when using their batons not to hit below the belt, no cracking skulls and if at all possible try not to kill anyone. Even the police were chuckling at this, as you can see here:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWJx-12ZIYQ”>www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWJx-12ZIYQ

All in all it was an excellent protest, peaceful and respectful as they should be. Hopefully they have made people think, especially with the upcoming general elections!

The rest of the pictures from the day can be seen in my gallery by clicking here.

As ever, comments and suggestions welcome.

~Shepy

Hellingly Asylum, or East Sussex County Mental asylum was opened in 1903, another of the asylums to be attributed to the great G.T. Hine, which is evident as soon as you look at the facade of the buildings or the brown tiling in corridors etc. Built in woodlands nearby to Hellingly in the very south of England, the asylum offered retreat and escapism from the world outside, removed entirely from its surroundings by distance, trees and its own rail and supply links to maintain independence.

Built in a compact arrow design and to the fashion of the time the hospital is a sprawling collection of buildings most of which boast stunning exteriors, rooms impressively lit through massive windows which offer stunning vista’s beyond the grounds and what would have been quite the impressive main hall.

1994 saw the closure of the site, like many other asylums in the UK closed in the 1990’s amid sweeping change in the mental care industry, then changed to favour the ‘Care In The Community’ approach to treatment and support.

Sadly the years have not been kind to it and the site is a battered and broken shell of its former self, suffering several arson attacks in the 15 years since its closure and recently a spate of graffiti sadly there isn’t a huge lot left to see at the site, even the great hall has gaping holes in the floor offering to deposit anyone not being careful swiftly into the cellar below.

On with the pictures:

The rest of the album can be seen in my gallery by clicking here

~Shepy

Decided to head out with Paul for another few shots around Newcastle by night again this evening, here are a few of the shots from the night (click to enlarge)

As ever, comments and suggestions welcome.

~Shepy

If you are seeing this post, then you have arrived at the new server.  There have been a few changes, the biggest of which is a complete overhaul of the picture gallery.  Any links directly into the old gallery may not work, but will instead direct to the first page of the blog, and this post.

If you want to get to the photos, just click the photos link on the left and you will be taken to the new gallery.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

~Shepy

Ok, so in the past hour or so I have taken a wee bit of flak from people on twitter, facebook etc.  Why? Because I made a few jokes about Patrick Swayze dying. Those jokes were:

——————————————–

All i have to say on the matter of Patrick Swayze being dead is that it has to be a lie.

Nobody puts Patrick in the coroner.

——————

Twitter is announcing Patrick Swayze as dead. Demi Moore’s new business said to be ready to produce lots of pottery with a silent partner.

——————

Patrick Swayze in final talks for a second movie. He is agreeing the final terms to appear in Ghost 2. His agent, Mystic Meg open for calls.

——————

Patrick Swayze’s last words reported to be: Dont worry, i dont mind being dead. I’ve had the time of my life.

——————

Jimmy: Prepare to die.
Dalton: You are such an asshole:
Shepy: Bet his advice is looking a lot more sensible right about now, eh?

——————

Am I heartless? Perhaps.

Is it insensitive? Perhaps.

Do I care? Not in the fucking slightest.

You see, I am a firm believer in only directly reacting to things that happen in my own life, things I experience, things that I should react to. I’ve never met Mr Swayze, I’ve never met any of his family, in fact as far as I know I have never even met anyone that has met him.

Why then should I feel any kind of remorse of the passing of a man that had zero influence in both my own life, and the lives of anyone I know?

Granted, having no remorse and openly mocking are poles apart, however I am a firm believer in the theory that “Anything is far game for comedy, as long as there is no malice”.  I would quantify that “no malice” part in so much as anything I say here is essentially of no consequence, it can in no way affect ‘how dead’ he is, my refraining from these jokes is not going to bring him back to life.

Are the friends and family of Mr Swayze likely to be upset by his passing, sure!  Are those people ever likely to look at my blog, twitter or facebook accounts?  I sincerely doubt it. The chances of what I say reaching the eyes or ears of those directly affected are so very slim that they are almost incalculable.

Twitter, Facebook, reading a blog and essentially every other form of communication on the internet is very much a democratic system.  Your vote is with your eyes.  If you like the content, then you follow the person, add them as a friend or read their blog.  If you don’t like the content then the answer is simple…don’t.

If you don’t like my tweets… unfollow me.

If you don’t like my status updates… unfriend me.

If you don’t like my blog posts… stop reading.

If you don’t like me…. go fuck yourself.

I have always, and will always, say what I like, I pride myself on being an open and honest person.  To me that includes not censoring myself in a public forum, if you are too delicate to read these things then perhaps the internet is not the place for you.

No doubt I will lose a few readers, followers, friends, whatever.  I could care less, for I know that those that DO chose to stick around do so because they are interested in what I have to say, my opinions, the real me.  Not some false, fabricated and PG rated diluted version of my opinion.

To those reading this as their last communication from me: Sorry you didn’t appreciate my jokes or how opinionated I am, however I guess I won’t miss your friendship, we are obviously incompatible anyway.

For those sticking about: Cheers for appreciating when someone is joking, being able to distance yourself from the shock and awe of the daily mail type crowd, and congratulations on being able to form you own opinions, I look forward to talking to you next time.

~Shepy

A friend of mine was expecting a new lens today, and as any photographer will tell you once you have a new toy to play with you have to go out and give it a test run.  We decided to wait until midnight so the streets were starting to clear for that desolate and empty look, and then headed out to do a few photographs around the town.  I was keen to get back down and take a few shots down the river also, after capturing this shot at sunrise a few days ago:

(click images to enlarge in a new window)

Here are a couple from that trip tonight:

If that hasnt satisfied your thirst for photographs, take a look over to Paul’s site and check out some of his excellent work, especially the holocaust projects.

As ever, comments and suggestions always welcome.

~Shepy