London Colours

2nd February, 2019

The slogan ‘I Love London’ sums up my feelings after an enjoyable few days I spent there last week. Starting at the London Independent Photography AGM/Members Day at St James Church, Piccadilly where people had the opportunity to discuss their own projects and time to look at photographs and a variety of photobooks and zines. Lots of food for thought. Dutch artist Roelof Bakker presented a slide show ‘A Photograph to Hold’ and discussed the future of his digital photography archive, based on the dissertation for his MA at Cambridge Angus Ruskin college. Catching up with a friend’s progress on an ongoing photography project in the Bar/Restaurant on the 5^thFloor of the National Portrait Gallery was a novel experience and chance to view the city from a new perspective. A few minute’s walk away is Cecil Court with an array of book shops which is often used as a film location, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Soho and Chinatown which were all crowded with tourists and revellers on a Saturday night.

Just as it started raining a bus to Pimlico arrived and then slowly drove through the night traffic of Westminster and Hyde Park Corner.

Monday was a cold, sunny day and ideal for walking through Battersea park, past the Peace Pagoda, and then it was time to stop for a late breakfast together with the local builders working on the development of the Royal College of Art design and technology campus.After crossing Albert Bridge a stroll along to the King’s Road leads to the Saatchi Gallery for contemporary art. It was busy with school students and a few tourists posing for photos with Wendy Mayer’s ‘After Louise’ sculpture.

Chelsea High Street still has stylish shops with designer clothes and expensive furniture for wealthy shoppers.