TRAVEL

Rhossili, Gower by Tom Glendinning

       Berges Island

A throwback to the summer.

A series I made whilst on an extended campervan trip to the Western edge of the Gower Peninsula. Rhossili is one of my favourite beaches and the walks and views around it are incredible: Worms Head, so named after it supposedly repelled invaders who saw it as a norse sea monster; the curving hump of Rhosilli Down above that 5km long stretch of sand; Berges Island, a sandbar breaching into the estuary of the river Loughor, disconnected from its surroundings, bound on one side by pristine sand dunes, the other with salt flats, and with its peculiarly Mediterranean atmosphere.

This is where I come alive.
If you love Rhossili too and would like downloads or prints of my landscape photography - let me know.

As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

Also - my blog has moved - To my new website! How exciting. Have a gander, let me know what works and what doesn't.

2014.09.29 Paris Street Photography by Tom Glendinning

Last April I went to Paris.

This blog post is testament to my usual mess of personal project backlogs. The Paris - Architecture set is still in creation as well…

Similar to when I visited Barcelona I marvelled in Paris the proliferation of  human life and business taking place outdoors. In Barca it was all about the squares and boulevards. In Paris everything seemingly takes place on the street, or where there are cars - lining the pavements.

My official line on candid street photography:

I enjoy making candid photography, capturing natural behaviour unbeknownst to the subject, and being an invisible eye onto the poetry of ordinary lives. Cartier-Bresson is my idol in this field of photography, where you must find a calm, unassuming confidence to be able to dissolve into the crowd. 

Appearing, taking the photograph, hiding: his style of unmeditated, spontaneous photography has greatly influenced my attitude and purpose

.

I find it rare however that I am in a position to spend time on street photography in a place which inspires me - cities can feel so dull and flat at times, especially in England I feel at times that every person separates themselves from the crowd and hurries from box to box.

The results of the trip broke down into 5 sets:

1 - Tourisme

Tourism

2 -

Voyager

Travel

3 - Déménanger

Movement - literally ‘Removal’

4 - Calme

Stillness

5 - Café

The epicentre of them all.

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or facebook , are hugely helpful and welcome.

5-Paris 1-Tourisme-TGP

Tourisme

5-Paris 2-Voyager-TGP

Voyager

19-Paris 3-Déménager-TGP

Déménanger

2-Paris 4-Calme-TGP

Calme

7-Paris 5-Café-TGP

Café

2013.08.03 LHR-SOF-LHR by Mister Tom

Aerial photography again! On the flight path to Bulgaria you can pass over some great mountains ranges acting as huge cloud generators. So I was hanging out of the window most of the way there and back. On the return trip we passed over the dolomites and I managed to get a view of a typical via ferrata mountain [9]. 

As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

If you don't like something then please, tell me - Also try to articulate why, it is tremendously useful to have constructive, critical feedback.

1 Cloud Factories

1 Cloud Factories

2 Cumulus

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9 Dolomites

9 Dolomites

2013.07.31 Bulgaria Street Photography by Mister Tom

A collection of some street photography taken whilst in Bulgaria - not as much as I would have liked but hey.

Mostly from a trip to Plovdiv.

13. 21/7/13

"… after a pleasant drive we get into Plovdiv despite Bobby's navigation :).

Most of the day is spent wandering the old town, which is an interesting mix of picturesque old architectural styles, old broken streets and rough edges. I teach Tedi some tips how to use her camera and get her excited!"

14. 22/7

"…we head out to the architecture school where Tedi is doing her internship and take some cityscapes whilst up on the building's 11th story terrace." [Via a Soviet lift which struggled opening its own doors and needed a hand..]

As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

If you don't like something then please, tell me - Also try to articulate why, it is tremendously useful to have constructive, critical feedback.

1 Duo

1 Duo

2 Walk over what is past

2 Walk over what is past

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7 Bloc Utopic

7 Bloc Utopic

8 Peace. People. Plov.

8 Peace. People. Plov.

9 sories

9 sories

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10

11 Make your space

11 Make your space

12 Dream Back

12 Dream Back

13 Dream Forward

13 Dream Forward

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15 hang

15 hang

Cityscapes from SOFIA:

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19 Think for yourself

19 Think for yourself

2013.07.29 Protest in Sofia II by Mister Tom

4. 12/7/13

"In the evening we go protesting again, this time a slightly different route which passes the be cathedral … and also centres on the 'occupy Sofia' surrounding a war statue opposite the parliament building. As before we meet fun and enthusiastic people willing to talk, but there are loads more this time (no rain) [numbers dwindle later on but the first march around the route was pretty big] and many more police lining the route. All is peaceful (if loud) and we see several times policemen happily posing for photos with protesters or smiling and chatting away, evidently pleased with the whole affair [nb: not all like this, but enough to be noticeable and affect the mood they might otherwise create.]

Most heartening is that with little or no central organisation, every person out on the streets has made a personal choice and effort to join and come every evening."

[I feel that the protests have already had an essential impact besides the political goals: They have called on everyone who (like Bobby) felt that they were in a small minority in opposing the government and the way things are in the country, brought them together and shown them to be bright, positive and many.]

"…also we bump into the German guys again - pure coincidence! Bobby's sign gets a good many photographs and nods of approval, and I take more care with my photos so hopefully I will have better results."

As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

If you don't like something then please, tell me - Also try to articulate why, it is tremendously useful to have constructive, critical feedback.

1 Occupy

1 Occupy

2 Coverage

2 Coverage

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4 Examples

4 Examples

5 Start them Young

5 Start them Young

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11 Ostavka !!!

11 Ostavka !!!

12 Protest Sale Now On!

12 Protest Sale Now On!

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17 Follow Flag

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19 EU Support for protests

19 EU Support for protests

2013.07.27 Maelovitsza and Rila Monastery by Mister Tom

As previously I am going to be covering my holiday blog posts via extracts from my journal:

3. 12/7/13

UP

"Bobby has organised a hiking trip - [No joke I did not realise it was a mountain summit 8 1/2 hour hike until I saw the peak, although ironically more prepared than Bobby: Thank you NorthFace for taking my money]

…We walk up through woods and then along a gently sloping valley, then very steeply up rocky paths and boulders most of the way to the summit (the last stretch actually very gentle).

On the way we stop for mountain tea at a rest stop (grumpy woman in a horrible smelly dining room), sitting outside [view already wonderful by this point - see photo 2.] we meet our companions for the climb - A group of British hiker holidayers with Bulgarian guide and a Berliner with his 11 year old son.

Two thirds of the way up there is a beautiful lake - unfortunately most of the time and most annoyingly at the summit [where I had a pan planned] there is dense cloud so there is little chance to stop and make good landscapes." [In fact I barely use my tripod]

DOWN

"The way down is more interesting -or at least painful. The scenery changes from rocky to valley grass and scrub still very high up, and most of the down climb is down a very steep, never ending valley/ large gully. Beautiful ridges to either side, ponies with bells on and hikers from Holland also [8,9].

We take a brief break by a mountain stream with a carpet of wildflowers, but in not too long we get a proper downpour [see photo 10 for the incoming cloud], this coincides with the steepest drop in the lower part of the valley scoop and the path going AWOL. Bobby really struggles with slipping on the wet vegetation as we have to walk perpendicular to the slope for ages to reach the ridge we think we should be going for.

Eventually rain stops and we make the last leg down two humpback ridges striking into the main forested river valley [11,12]. The first is open with a view and the second enters beautiful woodland." [Very painful knees by now - not used to this!]

RILA MONASTERY

"Finally we see the monastery. I am very dirty and wet […] and first I have to change into Bobby's trousers according to monastic rules, and eventually we find a monk to find us a very basic room.

The beautiful enclosed courtyard, tiered monastery preserved during many insurgencies and later communism due to it's remoteness. The atmosphere is extremely peaceful and calming as we sit on the balcony terrace/colonnade looking down at the courtyard, practically surrounded by swifts chirping,and dreaming of chocolate."

As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

If you don't like something then please, tell me - Also try to articulate why, it is tremendously useful to have constructive, critical feedback.

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7 Into the Mist

7 Into the Mist

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10 Mountain Meets Sky

10 Mountain Meets Sky

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13 Rila Monastery

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14 Rila Monastery

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15 Rila Monastery

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2013.07.09 Protests in Sofia by Mister Tom

Written previously with no internet:

I am in Bulgaria!

Holiday time is here and my camera and new 24-70 f2.8 L lens are making full use of the time away from all responsibility.

To dive straight into it with this first post, I will explain with an extract from my journal, which as mentioned previously I keep whenever on holiday in beautiful moleskins :)

1. 9/7/13

"…and then head out to join the protests calling for the resignation of the current government…, now in it's 26th day of peaceful evening marches. On the way we pass a small [well, over 50 people, not thousands though] group of mostly young men marching in the streets, deafeningly loud with whistles and drums. It was pretty intimidating and the atmosphere felt to me uncomfortably aggressive - the protest we join is very different. We enter the crowd gradually, it becoming denser in stages of people moving toward the centre. There is a big range of people, with many families, small children, teenagers, middle ages and many our age. Everyone is evidently having a good time - and all are smiles and easy going, despite the noise and the shouted slogans there is no undercurrent of anger. 

People are out in force with cameras and what looks like full news coverage film teams. Bobby spots a female news reporter (recognised from TV), and comments that what with censorship and falsifying in the media many journalists may have quit.

Everyone, especially those with a slogan sign or costume [often witty and laugh out loud funny], are happy to be photographed. I find myself meeting people by taking their photo.

It really feels great to be a part of the crowd with such an undercurrent of good feeling, [if only directed at one another, definitely there was frustration and anger at the situation and the politics, but protest through humour was definitely in force.] There was no wish for violence or retaliatory justice, just peace and change to an operational system that supports the people rather than just itself. 

As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

If you don't like something then please, tell me - Also try to articulate why, it is tremendously useful to have constructive, critical feedback.

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3 People vs Greed

3 People vs Greed

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5 Protest is Pointless

5 Protest is pointless

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9 Comunisticus Bulgaricus

9 Communisticus Bulgaricus

10 Journalists Discussing Politics

10 Journalists Discussing Politics

11 Red Angry Grannies

11 Red Angry Grannies

12 Flag is Nation

12 Flag is Nation

13 Nation is Flag

13 Nation is Flag

14 Nation is People

14 Nation is People

15 People make nations

15 People make Nations

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Sagrada Familia by Mister Tom

I've saved this for last.

I have to say that this is probably the most jaw droppingly beautiful man made place I have been - perhaps because it's so strongly derives its form from nature. Either way, it is majestic, sublime and graceful.

So yes, I fell

a little in 

love with Gaudí while in Barca.

This photographic memory of the 'Sagra' as Alejandro refers to it, is split into two. 

Part 1. Exterior.

(tip: do this while your begrudging companions que for you - that gives you a good 15-20mins uninterrupted shooting off peak times)

I looked for something particular to focus on when photographing the outside from all sides. I found myself particularly drawn to the gossamer-like trappings of the scaffolding cocooning those parts still in construction, so I directed my attention at the beauty of the incompleteness of this edifice rising from the ground. Piece by piece, a squat and solid object becoming more  filligrous

(yeah that's not a word)

as it rises beneath it's attentive spider like cranes which, impossibly fine, seem to spin the soaring stone by first wrapping in metal and wood, then silk, to emerge fully formed and ornate.

Part 2. Interior.

(I walked around slowly at least twice :-) Sorry touts de Madjarovi.)

Inside I was a little blown away but gathered myself enough to alternate trying to capture the nature like qualities of the construction and the vast complexity of it all with wide angle shots, and documenting details with a longer lens. The way the light interacted with the faceted stone walls, columns and roof was just fantastic. How a mind can conceive all this is beyond me.

As usual you also can view the set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

PART 1. Exterior

Cocooning Sagra 1

Cocooning Sagra 1

Cocooning Sagra 2

Cocooning Sagra 2

Cocooning Sagra 3

Cocooning Sagra 3

Cocooning Sagra 4

Cocooning Sagra 4

Cocooning Sagra 5

Cocooning Sagra 5

PART 2. Interior.

Gracies

2.1 Gracies

Sacred Clearing

2.2 Sacred Clearing

Ceiling

2.3 Ceiling

Forest of Columns

2.4 Forest of Columns

Upper reaches of the branches

2.5 Upper reaches of the branches

Untitled Column

2.6 Untitled Column

Faceted

2.7 Faceted

To the Glory of Light

2.8 To the Glory of Light

To the Glory of Colour

2.9 To the Glory of Colour

Colossal Sculpture

2.10 Colossal Sculpture

Jardí Botànic de Barcelona by Mister Tom

Barcelona again.

This was one of my favourite places we visited. High on Mountjuic,

(Barcelona's own minature 'mountain')

behind the deserted 1992 olympic park, tucked away on the hillside, there is the 

Jardí Botànic de Barcelona.

Apart from a dazzling display of interesting botany from around the world

(out comes the 100mm macro, and barely leaves my eye as I wander glued to camera from specimen to 

specimen

)it's worth taking a nice broad look at the really great landscape architecture going on. Harsh opposing lines built from white concrete and rust red core-ten steel, the path you follow feels to be cut and edged into a climbing landscape. For me this hugely complimented the riotous colourful beauty of the planting

(even in January - such flowers!)

and provided a crisp monochromatic counterpoint.

So this set takes both colour and monochrome abstract images, one after the other, each complimenting or balancing the next. See what you think.

As before this type of organisational decision and arrangement came during post process but reinforces the general feeling I had when making the two different types of image.

As usual you also can view the set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

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Barcelona Architecture by Mister Tom

Continuation of posts covering Barcelona.

This is a selection of 'architectural' photography from around the city. With the below evidence in conjunction with the streetscape atmosphere shown in the street photography post, perhaps you can see why I would really like to live here.

Everything seems to have a concession, however small, to being fun and/or beautiful. Also the sheer density of different varieties and artistic statements taking form as buildings, street lamps or creative and humorous graffiti on street signs. (This is not shown here but if you've wandered around Barri Graciá you probably know what I mean).

Sagrada Familia to follow shortly in it's own post.

Yes I did go to the Barcelona Pavillion, but frankly, meh - I felt no glory of architecture there, just observed some

really

expensive walls. The pools were nice... Also my photos from there were quite crap.

I don't feel this set is any where near as successful and my concerted efforts at street photography, but as a pleasant record of the places I strolled around and dreamt about walking past every day, I am happy.

So, Barcelona:

As usual you also can view the set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

An Architects Demons

1. An Architects Demons

Balconies I would like to live 1

2. Balconies I would like to live 1

Crane Spider Silk 1

3. Crane Spider Silk 1

Crane Spider Silk 2

4. Crane Spider Silk 2

Gothic

5. Gòtic

Building Silk 3

6. Crane Spider Silk 3

Casas Amatller y Batlló

7. Casas Amatller y Batlló

Passeig de Gràcia

8. Passeig de Gràcia

Falqués Street Lamp

9. Falqués Street Lamp

Balconies I would like to live 2

10. Balconies I would like to live 2

Balconies I would like to live 3

11. Balconies I would like to live 3

Aerial Photography by Mister Tom

Next set of photos from the holiday to Barcelona - on the return flight the evening light and clouds made a perfect setting as we flew over the Pyrenees.

At the edge, the calm sea returns as sky.

1. At the edge, the calm sea returns as the sky.

Unnamed Clouds

2. Unnamed Clouds

Unnamed Clouds

3. Unnamed Clouds

Pyrenees

4. Pyrenees

Venture Far

5. Venture Far

Unknown Horizon

6. Unknown Horizon

Street Photography by Mister Tom

First post for a while now. I am becoming more consistent but what with work and limited time where I feel creative enough to sit at my computer and pick and edit, large photographic events like my recent short holiday to Barcelona take an age to publish.

This is part one of that holiday.

I love making street photography and it is one of my favourite forms of photographic art. It is so fleeting and unexpected, it tells stories in an instant and it is sheer joy to be there to capture.

Extract from my

website

on candid street photography:

I enjoy making candid photography, capturing natural behaviour unbeknownst to the subject, and being an invisible eye onto the poetry of ordinary lives. Cartier-Bresson is my idol in this field of photography, where you must find a calm, unassuming confidence to be able to dissolve into the crowd. 

Appearing, taking the photograph, hiding: his style of unmeditated, spontaneous photography has greatly influenced my attitude and purpose

.

I find it rare however that I am in a position to spend time on street photography in a place which inspires me - cities can feel so dull and flat at times, especially in England I feel at times that every person separates themselves from the crowd and hurries from box to box.  Barcelona I knew would be a great place to find people living out their lives on the street - and so it was, even in February! So I focused the trip on searching for these moments and have achieved the highest keeping rate of candid photos that I am happy with to date.

I tried to spend a little time arranging the set to tell a story of sorts. This was not premeditated but reflects the feelings I have about cities and how people live together in them.

This is also one of my first entirely (almost!) B&W sets. 

Partly due to the discovery of Silver Efex Pro (by Nix Software) but also because it seemed more than ever to fit the medium and bring the emotive message of each photograph to the fore.

Click to view as slideshow in Flickr:

1. "These canyons I walk are mine"

Untitled

2. Untitled

Passing me by

3. Passing me by

Eye contact is to speak

4. Eye contact is to speak

Plaza

5. Plaza

Street (Coming)

6. Street (Coming)

Street (Going)

7. Street (Going)

8. "I'll wait for you by the side door, OK?" / Stand in the sun

Where we sat and smoked

9. Where we sat and smoked

Street Performance

10. Street Performance

under the white tree

11. under the white tree

5ºC, Feb. We will enliven the street.

12. 5ºC, Feb. We will enliven the street.

13. "I love you so much!"

Poses of Uncertaincy

14. Poses of Uncertaincy

15. "Seriously?"

Tag

16. Tag

Really laugh

17. Really laugh

18. "Can't you see my dog is piss shy?"

Swapping Smiles

19. Sharing Smiles

A table of time spent

20. A table of time spent

As she got up to leave

21. As she got up to leave

City Gear/ Colour is Mandatory

22. City Gear/ Colour is Mandatory

too quick

23. too quick

Fun from Flight

24. fun from flight

The Empty Seat

25. The Empty Seat

Age

26. Age

Youth

27. Youth

Leaving this place

28. Leaving this place

29. "...and so I sat and hid."

Anonymous?

30. Anonymous?

Comments and criticism would be most welcome and fuel my progress! Via

facebook

or email:

tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com