One of those days where it threw it down with rain for my journey to work — including the walking outside bits — and then two hours later it was glorious sunshine. It’s the gap between teaching and exams so the campus is relatively chilled out. These two seem to be getting on well even if they do only have one leg between them.
Much as I like many things about Bergen, it is the rainiest city in Europe. This picture was taken in the foyer of the university library this lunchtime. It rained all day, which explains why there are no photos of this morning’s eclipse despite Bergen experiencing 98% totality at about 10.50am. It did get very dim, but not a hint of sun (obscured or otherwise) was to be seen. Ah well, never mind — I have bagged an eclipse before. Maybe next time.
No frolicking in the snow today — too much work to do. This time in Bergen I have been accompanied by a colleague from Manchester, Chris, and here he is enjoying the beanbags of this 21st century workspace: the building that, in the end, our project here in Norway has all been about. So let’s use it…
I pictured the inside of this building a few weeks ago. It reopened earlier this year after a long refurbishment — one which fortunately began before the present government began its conscious process of eviscerating anything which smacks of a public service.
Composition dilemma — better to get the front door centered between the pillars, or the pillar’s shadow? I went for the shadow…
I was also here on Monday but blew my opportunity for a decent photo of it, so today gave me a second chance. Recently re-opened after what seems like years of renovation this is a classic, great, domed library reading room: too big, really, to get a photo of in its entirety, so today I tried a more intimate portrait. It’s great that I have had the chance to work in this excellent space this week, but then again, so has everyone else — for now, it’s open free to the public, you can just walk in. It’s called a public good, Mr. Cameron.
Høgskolen i Bergen has spent all week celebrating the opening of its new campus. Today the library was officially opened, with, among other things, talks and seminars (including one by yours truly) and then the rather more interesting spectacle of tango dancers among the bookshelves. The lighting was not really suitable to get one of them in motion (although perhaps I am more apologising for my deficiencies as a photographer) but I like this one of three of them just before they got going. There may well be another picture of the evening tomorrow as I got some decent ones of the band after midnight, but let’s see if the journey home gives rise to any decent candidates, before I decide.
I took my students around the library today, hoping to look at it with active and fresh eyes, at least, that was the plan. I’m trying to do the same with this photograph. Not one of them admitted to having used microfilm before as an information medium — and it’s a good 10 years since I did, and then only once or twice.
Incidentally it’s a year to the day since I arrived in New Zealand.
I’m sure you’ll eventually work out what’s going on with this shot…
In the Gardens Point library, QUT, this Sunday morning. You see, I do still hang around in libraries now and again, as do the students.
