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The Gentle Author’s Snaps

July 30, 2016
by the gentle author

As I go about my assignments, sometimes I take photographs other than those intended to illustrate stories and today I publish a selection of these curiosities in chronological order. Although I consider myself a novice photographer compared with the distinguished talents featured elsewhere in these pages, I hope you may find some interest in my snaps, each of which has its own tale to tell.

Hackney Wick, 26th July 2016

Pedley St, 21st July 2016

St Giles High St, 13th July 2016

Norton Folgate, 23rd July 2016

Red House, Bexleyheath 13th July 2016

Red House, Bexleyheath, 13th July 2016

Mile End Rd, 5th July 2016

Off Cable St, 5th June 2016

Wapping Old Stairs, 5th June 2016

Dublin, 29th May 2016

Buxton St, 11th May 2016

Hertfordshire, 9th May 2016

Bishopsgate, 9th May 2016

Faversham, 20th April 2016

Brook St, Mayfair, 13th April 2016

Hanbury St, 6th April 2016

St Anne’s Limehouse, 25th March 2016

South Woodford Station, 14th March 2016

South Woodford Station, 14th March 2016

Whitechapel, 29th February 2016

Fashion St, 29th February 2016

Gracechurch St, City of London, 29th February 2016

Bethnal Green, 11th February 2016

St Paul’s Cathedral, 29th January 2016

Rainham, 20th January 2016

Vallance Rd, 2nd October 2015

27 Responses leave one →
  1. Shawdian permalink
    July 30, 2016

    Thank you Gentle Author for more fascinating photographs. All are very good each with their own story to tell. Especially like Gracechurch St. I wonder what style of camera you use for the many thousands of pictures you have taken over the many years. iPhone, iPad, Box Brownie… or even a throw away camera, and how many pairs of sheos/boots have you warn through to the bone on your lavish walkabouts and how do you feel now, so many years into your lfetime project. Going by this selection of photos, you are enjoying your labour of love as much if not more now than when you started. Confidence speaks through this collection and you make me miss my London even more, but I thank heavens for your daily blog. Have fun Gentle Author and long may you continue with your camera.

  2. Bob Gladding permalink
    July 30, 2016

    Really interesting photos and great choice of subject matter GA. Could this be the beginning of another Spitalfields Life book ? !

  3. July 30, 2016

    Lovely collection 🙂

  4. Gary Croft permalink
    July 30, 2016

    Wonderfully evocative and well framed pictures. Indeed you are very good and a dab hand at capuring a moment.
    From the other side of the world here I do like following your blog.
    Always interesting and often educational too.
    Cheers from Melbourne Vic
    Gary

  5. July 30, 2016

    Lovely observations. South Woodford is my local tube and I’ve never noticed those holes in the brick. You have a good eye!

    I love that old sign and wish there still was a Railway Coffee Tavern. (though there is a nice coffee stall on the eastbound platform).

  6. Robert permalink
    July 30, 2016

    An interesting and random collection of photos. I was pleased to see Rainham Hall which is closeby to me. And saddened that the Victorian terrace in St Giles High st has been facaded. I’m sure it’s easier to make floor plates for modern building this way but it takes away the beauty of the interior. We will no longer know of any architectural delights from a few centuries ago.

  7. July 30, 2016

    GA I like your style good stock-taking one can never have too many pics. As long as one has a good in-house filing system and a quickish withdraw system. John B PS Don’t over burden yourself and get clogged up.

  8. Patricia Peters permalink
    July 30, 2016

    Beautiful pictures. I enjoyed them

  9. July 30, 2016

    Great pics each with a story to tell as you rightly say. What a very valuable archive you are putting together for the future.

  10. imogen forster permalink
    July 30, 2016

    They’re beautiful! And so varied.

  11. July 30, 2016

    Wonderful! These photos are brilliant,Gentle Author! There is no way you could describe yourself as a novice. A truly uplifting start to Saturday.

  12. Geoffrey Smith permalink
    July 30, 2016

    I must try ‘The Cockney Food Gaff’ sometime but probably miss out on the ‘Duke of Cambridge’, sadly.

    I once thought that saving facades was a weak solution but have come round to it where new developments unnecessarily destroy the essential character and agedness of an area. Subtle individual insertions , however often add a vitality and provide a link to the zeitgeist.

    My favourite, for sentimental reasons is not in London but is the garden in Hertfordshire
    which reminds me of my Grandfathers small garden in Bishops Stortford, a haven when I was a child; the magnolia, I believe, growing out of a plastic tub would have been typical;
    he had water lillies in a zinc bath, all very adhoc and individual. Mind you he would have repaired the fence and gate by now.
    Regards.

  13. July 30, 2016

    Lovely photos, invitations to set out on foot to these destinations. Brook Street intrigues!

  14. Richard permalink
    July 30, 2016

    Liked the ironwork and the Whitechapel pigeons. Also ‘Hertfordshire’.
    Thanks.

  15. gkbowood permalink
    July 30, 2016

    I really want to know the story behind all those perfectly round holes in the bricks!
    And wonder what the Brooks St “Stairs” lead down to in Mayfair? Lost and gone forever…
    Many stories in all these pics, Thanks for sharing your enquiring eye.

  16. July 30, 2016

    Lovely work! You have a good eye for the details of living. 😉

  17. Peter Holford permalink
    July 30, 2016

    An eclectic selection. Thanks for sharing GA.

  18. July 30, 2016

    I especially enjoyed the final image. I imagine that perhaps you were framing the vehicle with painted message — and suddenly a lively young man zoomed into the frame. “You are alive” becomes a perfect caption, and to me the photo reminded me of the joys of spontaneity — and how we seem most alive when we are out in the world, pursuing our interests and fascinations. Great photos, and visual moments. Thanks, as ever.

  19. pauline taylor permalink
    July 30, 2016

    I’ve enjoyed seeing them all, and particularly the horse in Dublin and Rainham, not forgetting Wapping Old Stairs of course, there is always something special about that view with Tower Bridge in the background, something about all that history I guess!

  20. Neville Turner permalink
    July 30, 2016

    All good photo shots taken just as the eye catches the scene Norton Folgate and off Cable Street are to me exactly as in my minds eye suitably grim not much change there. Keep up the good work.

  21. Amanda Mann permalink
    July 31, 2016

    Really enjoyed these – especially the London ones. Love the snarling bin!

  22. Linda permalink
    August 1, 2016

    Bravo!!!

  23. vanda permalink
    August 1, 2016

    Beautiful photographs and thank you for sharing them with us. I feel so sorry for the poor horse in the photograph taken in Dublin, the horse looks so sad and dejected. As for the graffitti on the walls, that really angers me, cannot understand why people would want to destroy beautiful old buildings and alleyways.

  24. Jackie K permalink
    August 1, 2016

    Sorry to have missed you on 14th March taking snaps on my home turf! I’ll have to send you a “ghost” sign in Daisy Road, South Woodford, advertising a local butchers (long gone, sadly). Whilst waiting on the Westbound platform this Saturday we saw a good photo op on the other side of the safety fence – three “lost” footballs in a perfect row! Hope they’re still there…

  25. Suzy permalink
    August 5, 2016

    Looooooooove these! Oh please, wouldn’t you consider starting an Instagram account? Ooh all
    the East End street art, all of the everyday joy and flapdoodle that you encounter on your long walks. It would also be a great medium to draw attention to your blog, books, collaborations etc etc blah blah. Pleeeeeeease?

  26. August 11, 2016

    nice, love it!

  27. Martin Palmer permalink
    September 8, 2016

    I love the pockmarked brickwork in South Woodford Station.
    I have seen beautifully eroded brickwork in Venice, but different to that.

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