Rudolf Abraham's Blog

St Oswald’s Way, Northumberland

Rudolf Abraham — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:52:00 +0000

A few shots from my most recent visit to Northumberland (last week), walking/re-walking some sections of St Oswald’s Way for my new Cicerone guide, due out later this year.

Morning light on Warkworth Castle (built from the 12th to the 15th century), Warkworth, St Oswald’s Way / Northumberland Coast Path, Northumberland

Victorian postbox in the wall of what was formerly the village school, one of the oldest buildings in Great Bavington, St Oswald’s Way, Northumberland

The remains of Whittington Mill, an 18th century windmill near the village of Great Whittington, St Oswald’s Way, Northumberland

Whittington Mill

Looking towards the Simonside Hills (a SSSI, or Site of Special Scientific Interest), Northumberland National Park, from the edge of Harwood Forest, St Oswald’s Way, Northumberland

18th century stone bridge over the River Coquet at Pauperhaugh, St Oswald’s Way, Northumberland

D700 + 14-24/2.8 (#2, 3, 5 & 6), 24 PC-E (#1) and 70-200/2.8 (#4).

Tamara & Ivana, Boxing Day 2011

Rudolf Abraham — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:33:22 +0000

Tamara & Ivana, Boxing Day 2011
St James Park, Walthamstow, London E17

D700 + 14-24mm f/2.8
© Rudolf Abraham. No unauthorized use.

Tamara

Rudolf Abraham — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 23:12:07 +0000

Tamara, Christmas Day 2011

D700 + 34/1.4 AIS @ 1600 ISO
© Rudolf Abraham. No unauthorized use.

Tate Modern

Rudolf Abraham — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:34:03 +0000

My daughter Tamara in a small, mirror-filled room with sounds and coloured lights, part of an interactive, Cubist-inspired kids’ area at the Tate Modern here in London.
D700 + 50/1.4G f/1.4 1/100 @1600 ISO

© Rudolf Abraham. No unauthorized use.

Merry Christmas

Rudolf Abraham — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:19:18 +0000

Alive, alive oh (PAW 9/52)

Rudolf Abraham — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:42:16 +0000

Week 9 of the PAW (photo-a-week) challenge on Nikongear.com.
Another one from my recent trip to Northumberland. This is taken in Berwick-Upon-Tweed, just around the corner from the famous ‘Old Bridge’ (built in 1611). The landmark ‘Berwick Cockle Shop’, which opened in this location in 1886, closed its doors in 2010.

The ‘cockles’ sold here, unlike those in the song Molly Malone, were actually sweets.
D700 + 14-24/2.8 ISO 800
© Rudolf Abraham. No unauthorized use.

St Cuthbert’s Way

Rudolf Abraham — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 01:15:55 +0000

Images from St Cuthbert’s Way, a long distance footpath stretching from Melrose in the Scottish Borders to Holy Island (Lindisfarne) off the Northumberland coast. D700 + 14-24/2.8.
Melrose Abbey, a 12th century Cistercian foundation, Melrose, Scottish Borders

The Cheviots. Crossing Wideopen Hill on the route from Morebattle to Kirk Yetholm, Scottish Borders

Border fence. The boundary between Scotland and England, on the hills between Kirk Yetholm and Wooler

All images © Rudolf Abraham. No unauthorized use.

Hermeto Pascoal (London Jazz Festival, final night)

Rudolf Abraham — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:27:08 +0000

A couple of shots from the Barbican this evening – legendary Brazilian musician and charismatic performer Hermeto Pascoal (aka ‘the Sorcerer’), last night of the London Jazz Festival.
Not an easy man to photograph, I found – mid stage surrounded by a large band, hat shading his eyes, and almost always something obscuring a clear line of sight.
D700 + 70-200/2.8 + TC 14-E converter, ISO 2000

Photo © Rudolf Abraham. No unauthorized use.

Signs (PAW 7/52)

Rudolf Abraham — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 12:57:25 +0000

Week 7 of the PAW (photo-a-week) challenge on Nikongear.com.
Sign on wall in Walthamstow, London E17. This was taken just around the corner from an earlier image in this series, near the end of Walthamstow Market and St James Street station.
D700 + Nikon’s superb wide angle tilt/shift lens, the 24mm f/3.5 PC-E

And in case anyone’s wondering where PAW 6/52 went, it was this image of Toumani Diabate live at the Union Chapel.
© Rudolf Abraham. No unauthorized use.

The Lord Mayor’s Show

Rudolf Abraham — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:53:26 +0000

A series of images from the Lord Mayor’s Show yesterday in London.

In a tradition stretching back almost 800 years and enshrined in a charter by King John, the Lord Mayor’s Show is a wonderfully colourful event which sees the new Lord Mayor of London travel across the City of London from Guildhall to Mansion House, Bank, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Courts of Justice—where he is required to swear an oath of allegiance to the Sovereign—before returning to Mansion House. He travels (in a supremely elaborate 18th century stately coach) with a procession stretching some three miles and including over 6,000 people, with hundreds of vehicles and floats—from livery companies to military units to charities, and from brass bands to samba to pogo dancers.

Originally the Lord Mayor and his procession travelled on the Thames by boat (whence, as it so happens, the word ‘float’), and later on horseback; but since 1712 he has travelled by carriage. For further details visit www.lordmayorsshow.org.

The first few shots were taken in the Yard at Guildhall, as the Lord Mayor’s Coach was prepared; the rest were taken just outside Guidhall, as the procession passed along Gresham Street.

In the Yard at Guildhall.

The 684th Lord Mayor of London, David Wootton, waves from the Lord Mayor’s Coach, at Guildhall just before the beginning of the parade.

Preparing to leave the Yard.

Worshipful Companies of Fletchers and Bowyers

Romford Drum and Trumpet Corps

Westridge Carriages

Institute of Directors

Kellswater Flute Band

Dogs Trust

Paraiso School of Samba

Christ’s Hospital School Band

The clean up. The end of the procession is followed by a small army of street cleaners and sweepers, who within a matter of minutes manage to make Gresham Street look as though it hasn’t just seen the back of a three mile procession with scores of horses, masses of sand and the occasional tank.

For those interested, all images shot on a D700 with either the 14-24/2.8 or 70-200/2.8.