I took this picture last year when travelling back through Rome airport. In the Ferrari shop they had a Formula 1 engine on display and I started zooming in to create some unusual shots. This was taken at f/5.6 but I was close enough to the subject that it created the isolation of the component that I was looking for.

EXIF: Canon 1000D, ISO100, 55mm, f/5.6, 1/60

So, I was walking along Manly Beach with camera at the ready and watching out for people surfing that might make an interesting shot.

When I came across this surf rescue board carefully resting on it’s side with the waves in the background I felt this encapsulated all that was great about this place – safe and relaxing.

Manly Beach is a beautiful place and one where all your cares and worries melt away as soon as you step off the ferry. I thoroughly recommend it if you are visiting Sydney and if the choice is between Bondi or Manly then in my opinion there simply is no choice to be made.

EXIF: Canon 60D, ISO100, 300mm, 0ev, f/10, 1/125

I walked over the Sydney Harbour bridge at dusk and whilst I was primarily taking the normal tourist snaps I was also determined to get something a bit more interesting that showed the amazing engineering of this structure. I think the light has worked well on this shot but the sweeping arch converging to a point in the distance gives the picture an interesting perspective. The bridge is not an easy place to shoot as the constant vibration from the traffic needs to be managed, tripods won’t work so a deep breath whilst waiting for the moment of quiet is the way to go – especially at 1/30th.

EXIF: Canon 60D, ISO100, 75mm, 0ev, f/5.6, 1/30

I took so many pictures of the opera house and there are many that I like, but this close crop worked well and then I suddenly took it to monochrome and the detail in the surface came to life. I should use monochrome more often, note to self.

EXIF: Canon Powershot sx220 HS, ISO 1600, 5mm, 0ev, f/3.1, 1/25

I saw this building catching the light and reflecting an adjacent building. I like the way the reflected image as distorted on the blue shaded glass. This was taken on my recent trip to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

EXIF: Canon 60D, ISO 100, 75mm, 0ev, f/5.6, 1/125

This shot was taken from the rear of the building, Leadenhall Place. Out of all the shots I took in the “Square Mile” of London the Lloyds Building is still the one fascinating me in terms of photographic impact.

At the moment the building is undergoing some refurbishment so much of it has scaffolding – although some would say it would be hard to notice.

EXIF: Canon 60D, ISO100, 17mm, ev0, f/8, 1/500

The original name for Tower 42 was the National Westminster Tower, having been built to house the National Westminster Bank’s International Division.

The Tower is located at 25 Old Broad Street in the City of London. Opened in 1981 it was the tallest building in the United Kingdom until replaced by One Canada  Square, Canary Wharf, in 1990. The title of tallest building will soon be taken by the Shard.

Today the building is home to multiple tenants and comprises office space and restaurants. Notably, Gary Rhodes has his Michelin starred Rhodes Twenty Four restaurant located not surprisingly on the 24th Floor.

I took this shot from what I thought was an interesting and unusual angle from directly below the building, this leaves off the the very distinctive top of the building but gives a different perspective to the iconic tower.

EXIF: Canon 60D, ISO 100, 53mm, 0ev, f/5.6, 1/640

I went into the City of London today to take pictures of some of the iconic architecture, specifically the newer office buildings. Lloyds Insurance building has a reputation as not being the prettiest of buildings but it sure is interesting.

The building was built between 1978 and 1986. It was considered innovative because the architect provided its services such as staircases, lifts, electrical power conduits and water pipes on the outside. This left an uncluttered space inside but the impact of the building was not to everyone’s taste with Prince Charles famously referring to it as a “monstrous carbuncle on the face of an old friend”.

The twelve glass lifts were the first of their kind in the UK.

EXIF: Canon 60D, ISO 100, 17mm, ev0, f/8, 1/100

This tree stump had been burnt and this emphasised the character of what was once the bark. I love how vivid the colours have worked on this, having tried a few black and white variants I am really pleased with the colour version.

EXIF: Canon 60D, ISO100, 85mm, 0ev, f/5.6, 1/50

Long dead but an interesting tree trunk from my visit to the New Forest today. I try to avoid portrait orientation usually, no particular reason, but the shape said I had to go there on this one.

EXIF: Canon 60D, ISO100, 85mm, 0ev, f/5.6, 1/60