Category Archives: Daily Post

Moscow graduation

Saturday 8th December 2012, 5.00pm (day 471)

Moscow graduation, 8/12/12

Here we are at another of the repeating events of my year; this took place on 10th December 2011, but it’s the same day, in essence. And I say the same things I said back then regarding wishing these people well and admiring their achievement.

Incidentally the woman on the left here is from the Russian high Arctic, where they still literally live in yurts and herd reindeer: the very fact that I can somehow, however indirectly, be responsible for someone like her getting a Masters’ degree (in Cultural Management) makes me feel at least partly positive about what I do for a living. Hell, that’s education for ya. One reason, perhaps, why moronocracies across the world claim to be in favour of education but actually aren’t. Good for her.

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Sasha, in someone else’s office

Friday 7th December 2012, 2.00pm (day 470)

Alexander, 7/12/12

This is Alexander, stood in an office that he is making look his own – but is not his own.

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Stairwell, Academy of National Economy

Thursday 6th December 2012, 1.50pm (day 469)

Stairwell, ANE, 6/12/12

Not an inspiring day in any way but this shot isn’t bad. I like the red of the carpet and the enigmatic figure in the background framed by the near-monochrome of the stairwell itself. (The white balance could do with attention, however.) The ANE is the host of my hosts, the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences, and incidentally is one of the largest higher education institutions in Europe, ranked by number of students.

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Coming into land at Domodedovo

Wednesday 5th December 2012, 4.00pm (day 468)

Quarry, Domodedovo, 5/12/12

So far, Hebden Bridge has avoided any snow, but the same is not true of Russia, as you see here. Still, I suppose that’s how it should be in December.

This is – I think – a quarry, pleasantly lit by the setting sun; but then again it doesn’t really matter what it is. I just like the shape, and the further evidence that we get a whole different perspective on the world from several thousand feet up. A lot of photos on this blog have been taken from planes for that reason – I should count them.

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Working in the river

Tuesday 4th December 2012, 9.45am (day 467)

Working in river, 4/12/12

This has been going on down by the weir for a few weeks – work being done to install a water turbine to power the nearby shops in the old mill. A highly positive step that surely only the most reactionary old duffer could object to (but we have some of those, round here, believe me). The cloud on this shot has been caused a few seconds earlier by the guy in the yellow jacket wielding his angle-grinder.

Moscow again tomorrow… By the way, don’t ask me why I suddenly decided to start putting the day number at the top – but I have. So now you can see how long I have been going on this. (I retrospectively added the day number to earlier posts.)

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Making a phone call

Monday 3rd December 2012, 1.30pm (day 466)

Making a phone call, 3/12/12

Lucky for me that she was, because like most Mondays, this was a difficult to day to find a) inspiration b) the time to actually take a photo.

Mind you, she might look sort of serene here, but whatever she was on the phone to someone about was really pissing her off. I think that was why she was sat out here on the stairwell, instead of making the call in an office somewhere.

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Frosty morning

Sunday 2nd December 2012, 11.30am (day 465)

Frosty morning, 2/12/12

Stayed below freezing all day today, the coldest day since Moscow back in March. Beautiful weather however, a glorious winter’s day. These brambles have made a break for freedom above a stone wall up the road from our house.

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Figure at the window

Saturday 1st December 2012, 12.40pm (day 464)

Figure at window, 1/12/12

Is there a voyeuristic aspect to this shot? I like the light, the pattern of the branches contrasted with the brick, the facelessness of it.

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The Rocky Horror Show

Friday 30th November 2012, 9.20pm (day 463)

Rocky Horror, 30/11/12

We had this at our local cinema tonight. Let’s do the Timewarp again.

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Valley of Lights parade, Hebden Bridge

Thursday 29th November 2012, 6.00pm (day 462)

Valley of Lights, 29/11/12

Back home. It was a beautiful, crisp winter’s day and I got some good pictures around lunchtime, one of which I was particularly keen on, but it was of waterfowl on the canal and I’ve done that theme rather a lot. This one was different – a family captured watching the ‘Valley of Lights’ parade through town tonight, a torchlit procession done to celebrate the turning on of the Christmas lights (at an acceptably late point in the year). A good evening.

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