Category Archives: Urban scene

Feb 05 2017
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Daily Post, Urban scene

Downtown Derby, Sunday morning

Sunday 5th February 2017, 10.10am (day 1,991)

Downtown Derby, 5/2/17

It was the city of Derby I was heading to last night for my evening out, and a very good evening out I had. Having not been there (blog-wise) before I was keen for the place to feature on the blog as the latest new location, but walking through it back to the railway station this morning, it really did feel like a very nondescript place. All car showrooms, parking lots and industrial estates. So the above is pretty much the best you’ll get of Derby on a Sunday morning. Sorry.

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Feb 03 2017
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Daily Post, Urban scene

Abingdon Street, Manchester

Friday 3rd February 2017, 9.35am (day 1,989)

Abingdon Street, 3/2/17

Of all the back streets that comprise my standard walk from Manchester Victoria to my building at work, Abingdon Street is my favourite. It probably looks very much as it did a hundred years ago. Although in 1917 it probably didn’t host two of Manchester’s biggest gay clubs.

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Jan 26 2017
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Daily Post, Urban scene

Terracotta Army (illuminated)

Thursday 26th January 2017, 5.50pm (day 1,981)

Terracotta army, 26/1/17

Whereas last Chinese New Year, Exchange Square in Manchester displayed an inflatable dragon, this year we are graced with this illuminated plastic ‘terracotta army’, which may or may not be the tackiest thing I have seen in a while. Still, if the purpose of the display was to get mentions on social media, it has succeeded, going on the number of people taking photos of it today. Including me of course. Or perhaps I was photographing the crowd. But it doesn’t matter does it? The end result is the same. It is what we do now.

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Jan 21 2017
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Daily Post, Urban scene

View from my room — last morning in Moscow

Friday 20th January 2017, 9.25am (day 1,975)

Moscow skyline, 20/1/17

Last morning in Moscow on this trip. Will there be another one? Perhaps… It is about time I got to see some more of this vast country in fact. It may happen, it may not. Anyway I imagine that this is many people’s stereotypical view of what Moscow looks like, and there is some truth to it, particularly outside the city centre (here we are about five miles from Red Square). Liked the way the brief burst of morning sun was spilling over from the right-hand side of the picture. Do svedanya, until next time.

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Jan 20 2017
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Daily Post, Urban scene

Fence at night, RANEPA

Thursday 19th January 2017, 6.55pm (day 1,974)

Fence, RANEPA, 19/1/17

I’m still here on the campus of the Russian Academy of National Economy and Political Administration (hence, RANEPA). It was much colder today — thanks to a biting wind; the last few days had been still and not unpleasant, but today was bitter.

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Jan 18 2017
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Daily Post, Urban scene

On the Arbat

Wednesday 18th January 2017, 3.45pm (day 1,973)

Arbat chipmunk, 18/1/17

Afternoon off, so I headed for the Arbat, probably the most laid back of the streets in Moscow city centre, and venue for one of the very first Moscow pictures featured on this blog on 24th October 2011. The kids seem very happy to see the guy in the chipmunk suit, what they probably don’t realise is that he’s almost certainly handing out leaflets for some tattoo parlor or e-cigarette vendor. Note the Christmas decorations still up — Russian Orthodoxy does all that stuff two weeks later than we do, so it’s not yet past Twelfth Night here.

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Jan 16 2017
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Daily Post, Urban scene

Moscow campus, January

Monday 16th January 2017, 12.20pm (day 1,971)

Moscow school campus, 16/1/17

How nice it is that I have a job that frequently permits me the chance to get out of cold, damp, dark Britain in the depths of January. Many people would here make a point of going somewhere warm and sunny, like Australia, or the Mediterranean. I am a contrary bugger though, so I’ve come to Moscow.

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Jan 09 2017
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Daily Post, Urban scene

It’s gone Twelfth Night so you’re out on the street

Sunday 8th January 2017, 7.50pm (day 1,963)

Abandoned tree, 8/1/17

We love them for those three weeks in December — but then we cast them out for the woodchipper. ‘A tree is for life, not just for Christmas….’? (I’m not being entirely serious you know.)

This shot is taken in London, as I had to come down to get a Russian visa for my imminent next trip to Moscow. This is the 52nd shot on the blog to be taken here, which means it finally overtakes Brisbane as the fourth-most depicted place after Hebden Bridge, Manchester and the Lake District.

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Jan 05 2017
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Daily Post, Urban scene

Taking down the decorations, Canal Street

Thursday 5th January 2017, 2.00pm (day 1,960)

Xmas lights down, 5/1/17

I had a picture of the lights on Canal Street when they were up — and here they are being taken down, as tradition dictates, before Twelfth Night tomorrow. By the guy on the ladder in the background, who busted the photographer — one reason I quite like this shot, as well as the depth of field.

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Jan 01 2017
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Daily Post, Urban scene

The seller of balloons

Saturday 31st December 2016, 12.55pm (day 1,955)

Balloon seller, 31/12/16

2016’s last day was an enjoyable and sociable one, but these balloons were as near as I got to what might be called a ‘party’. But either way — hope you had a good evening, and a good 2016 as well. Personally, mine’s been up and down, and there hasn’t really been a ‘big event’ (like Kilimanjaro in 2015 or Australia 2013) to inspire me behind the camera. There are possibilities emerging for 2017 though. Favourite photo of the year? Probably the proud-looking frog in our garden on 30th June, because of its willingness to pose while I maneuvered the lens two inches from its nose. Happy New Year.

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