James Bond - 50 years

Fifty years of Bond movies! All those gadgets and designer clothes plus trailers from some of the iconic movies they're all on exhibition at the Barbican "Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style".
While standing in the queue to get in we debated how many movies could we name and how many actors played James Bond. How many can you name?
What about many of the other big name actors who also appeared - Robbie Coltrane as
Zukovsky? Diana Rigg as Mrs Bond? etc ...
Who could forget Q's futuristic (at the time) super spy gadgets and accessories ... the car phone, underwater breather, the radio active homing pill, and the Bell Textron jet pack being just a few.

This is a great exhibition that shouldn't be missed. It finishes 5 September so get down there.

Celebrating Bob Hope

Leslie Townes Hope grew up in Eltham near London. We all know him as Bob Hope, the much loved entertainer, who had a lifelong love of golf.

An exhibition about his life times and humour has been put together by the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum with the support of the Bob & Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation and was launched by his daughter Linda. It was a really fun night with lots of laughter, which seemed really appropriate for such a great entertainer.

The free exhibition in the Berkeley Gallery at the
Greenwich Heritage Center at Artillery Square in Woolwich from Friday July 13 through October 28, 2012. Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4.45pm

Last Tuesdays

Discover one of London's hidden gems and enjoy an evening with a difference on the last Tuesday of every month.
In the magnificent art deco building of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) a variety of special events are offered to the public, exhibitions, film screenings, book signings and building tours. Always with a different theme. June was play. July will be celebration and spectacle.
When you are finished, browse the bookshop, have a coffee in the cafe or better still stop for dinner in the magnificent dining room with it's superb art deco features.

Exhibition

Last night the London Independent Photographers (L.I.P.) 23rd Annual exhibition opened. This is one of the pieces I have in this exhibition. Lots of great work do go along and see it. The Strand Gallery 32 John Adam St. Exhibition runs until 29 October.

Road to 2012: Changing Pace

I'm sharing with you a special behind-the-scenes tour of the BT/National Portrait Gallery's 'Road to 2012:Changing Pace exhibition'. This work is year two of a three year project to capture a unique record of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics and all those who made it happen.
Anne Braybon, Commissions manager of the portrait gallery shared with us how the two photographers, Emma Hardy and Finlay MacKay created this body of work. The difficulties, the cold days, even the day she had to take Chris Holme's guide dog for a walk to prevent him jumping in the pool during the photo shoot. I found it very inspirational to share in the behind-the-scenes process of producing work of this standard.
Hardy's intimate depictions of the men and women involved in the preparations for staging the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games show them in locations and pursuits where they might reflect or find inspiration. MacKay's complex scenarios capture world-class UK athletes where they train, alongside the people who are supporting their Olympic or Paralympic ambition.

Also there this evening were some of the story tellers. This is a group of artists, writers, poets, photographers who have been commissioned by BT to tell their stories as they relate to the games. You can also contribute. Road 2012 wants you to share your stories about what or who inspires you on the journey to the Olympics and Paralympics Games by uploading your photos to their flickr site here.

If you are in London or coming to London you must see this exhibition, I'm picking a winner in the national portraits award out of this work. It is simply superb.

Music

A student on her way to the Royal College of Music.
Founded by royal charter in 1882. This building was paid for by the industrialist Samson Fox and the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII). The school continues its links with the royal family. Charles took over presidency from Queen Elizabeth in 1993.






For those of you who requested a glimpse of my piece in the
L.I.P. exhibition here is a thumbnail.


Lots of great work so if you are in London do go and visit.

Exhibition

All hands on deck hanging work for the London Independent Photographers 22nd annual exhibition.

The Strand Gallery 19-31 October.
32 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6BP

I am proud to have a picture in this exhibition! Yes really. Do go and check out this work.

Boys and their Toys

Yes I know girls can make models and play with trucks and trains. However the Magic of Meccano show over the weekend was a boys club. Girls filled the role of long suffering supporters.
Boys delighted in showing you (even if a girl) the fruits of their labours. Some taking 12 years or more to complete. These boys had very impressive models of famous bridges, power stations, pump houses, working cranes, ship, boats planes. You name it they had created the replica working model.

Meccano they tell us is the toy that grows with the boy, proven by the average age of most exhibitors, (somewhere past retirement).