Salmon leaping in the Tweed

I have just spent a weekend in the Borders in Scotland, photographing for a project that will chronicle a life of a farming, shooting and fishing estate over a whole year, starting with the fishing.

I am still sorting through 100's of images, but these two of salmon leaping whilst several anglers toiled away trying to catch them stand out so far!

To get them, I just had to stand there eyes glued to the viewfinder and try to react in time when a fish broke water.

Using the Leica M8 and a 90mm F.2.8 lens made it slightly easier than using a DSLR as the rangefinders 90mm frame only occupied a quarter of the screen, so I could see what was going on outside the coverage of the lens. These were two successful shots out of maybe 20 taken over two hours or so.

Carlos Ulloa of El Blason 25/12/09 RIP

I wrote this post on October 3rd 2009, about yet another lovely lunch spent at our favourite restaurant, with our charming host Carlos Ulloa. Little did we know that he was battling with cancer, which he very sadly succumbed to on Christmas day. He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him and I leave this post as a tribute to him and the wonderful people who work with him and to his family. Our condolences are with you.

The holidays now far behind us, it was off to the Kings Road for a walk and some window shopping, followed by a long lunch at our favourite haunt, El Blason a Spanish restaurant just off the Kings Road in Blacklands Terrace.

What makes it special, apart from the welcome, carpeting, panelling and well spaced tables, great food from a tapas snack to a full blown three course meal, a terrific wine list, plus brandies, vintage rums and much else is Carlos the owner, shown above on a previous visit and his team who make every visit memorable.

Today we had Jabugo ham, a wonderful paella, "Tocino de cielo" (Toucinho do céu) a sweet that is both Spanish and Portuguese, then espresso's accompanied by delicious Cardenal Mendoza brandy from Jerez. A great way to end the week and start the weekend.

A street with no cars

The council decided to re-lay the asphalt in Marville Road in Fulham SW6 this week, so the night before, cars were banished from the street which presented such a strange sight, that out came my Leica M8 to chronicle the event.

The following morning the street was eerily quiet and empty.

The following day, the old tarmac was gone, stripped away.



This next shot begs the question "did something really nasty happen here?? - nah!"

A day later the new asphalt was down, awaiting white lining.

By the evening children played in the empty street.

Today the lines were painted back and await the return of the cars and normality!

The new road is strangely beautiful at night