Fritz Photography

This is London City Hall, with the Tower Bridge over the Thames in the background. I attended a press briefing at City Hall this morning, for the Olympic Torch Relay, which will happen this Sunday through 30 miles of London. I’ve been hired by a firm in HongKong to shoot video of the torch relay for a production they are creating on the life of Olympic champion Eric Liddel, of Chariots of Fire fame. Should be an exciting day of tromping around the city through the crowds, and getting some interesting images for their documentary. I’m excited. And I get an official press badge.

After the press briefing, I wandered over the Tower Bridge to the Tower of London. It’s the famous tower/castle/armory/palace/warehouse/torture chamber/menagerie of medieval London, begun in 1066 by William the Conqueror. Perhaps it is most famous for being the place where kings imprisoned and eventually executed such ‘traitors’ and enemies of the state as Ann Boleyn, Thomas More, Henry VI, Guy Fawkes, Lady Jane Gray, and child Princes Edward and Richard sons of Edward IV. It is the latter, the child princes, that I find most interesting at the moment. Especially because, outside the Tower, in what used to be the moat, there is now a colorful but entirely forlorn playground. I can’t help but look at it, and think of those two boys who were imprisoned and eventually murdered here, never to be seen again….

Speaking of children, London tourist attractions are filled with children, most from England and France. Sometimes, as I wander about reading signs, looking at the sights, and taking photographs, kids will tentatively yell out, “Hello!” And I say hello back. And then, if they are courageous, these French students will try a few English phrases on me, as these high schoolers did. We talked for a few sentences about where they were from, how long they are here, where I am from (“America! Oooh, a long way.”). I even got to practice some of my French on them, saying, “I do not speak French” quite fluently. We were all pleased.

London’s Hyde Park reminds me of New York’s Central Park: large, central, well used by the community, lots of public events, room to stroll and to touch some grass. I wandered and photographed during a beautiful afternoon there, the first that was warm enough that I didn’t need a cap.

I’d spent a little time in Hyde Park last year (you can see some photos from a link here), with my traveling companion Jim Andrew. He took me to see Speaker’s Corner, where on Sunday afternoons anyone with a soapbox (or ladder) can come and say whatever he pleases. It’s crazy.

All the major museums here in London are free to the public (except for special exhibitions, in particular wings, which cost). It’s marvelous to be able to wander in and out, and back in again, museum to museum. So far, my favorite has been the National Portrait Gallery. But we had a lot of fun in the Victoria and Albert Museum (the stained glass, up close, was marvelous; so were the miniature portraits), the Natural History Museum (who knew dinosaur bones could be so fascinating?), the Photographer’s Gallery, and the National Museum. And, as I’ve mentioned before, the people watching is about as good as the museum exhibits.

Here are a couple images here shot outside the front doors of the National Gallery.

I’ve been making a lot of new friends this week while I work.

This is one of the more joyful photos I’ve taken.

This gentleman is from India (having immigrated 20 years ago), and we started talking. He has peanuts in his pocket, and while it’s not legal to feed the pigeons in the square any more, he does seem to enjoy helping other people feed them. But only one at a time, and only while they’re standing on your head. Sometimes more than one at a time.

He’d see someone trying to get a photo of the pigeons, or trying to commune with them, walk over, offer them a peanut, and show them how to hold it just so, between thumb and foreginger. Or, he’d take a peanut in his hand, attract a pigeon or two, and place them on people’s heads. “Have your camera ready!” he’s scold them, in his Indian accent.

We talked for some time, and at one point he asked me, “So, tell me, what is it that you eat, you Americans? There must be some mineral. What is it you eat that makes you think of creative things like jet planes, computers, the internet? What is it?”

I didn’t know what to tell him.

Well, finally, I have something to show you.

Shannon and I went into the city on Monday, and I must say: the people watching in London is out of this world. Wow. I didn’t have my camera, and it was killing me. So today, on my own, I went in, visited the British Portrait Gallery, the Photographer’s Gallery (both excellent and inspiring), and the British National Gallery. And then I went shooting.

A personal favorite.

A self-portrait.