Today, another batch of random iPhone photos collected over the past couple of weeks. First, I bought this bouquet of tulips to brighten up the place, and they looked especially good in the morning light yesterday. (Next to my 50-year-old Panasonic ball radio, which still works. Unfortunately there's nothing on AM radio these days worth listening to.)
Some cuddly graffiti on the back of a sign in St. John's Wood.
This precarious-looking tree is growing next to Mill Lane in West Hampstead. It looks like the garden wall surrounding its base has been partially removed, so now there's just an exposed block of soil. Perhaps they're rebuilding the wall. I hope so, for the tree's sake.
Some Dyslexia-challenged graffiti at a bus stop. We have had some shocking cases of police malfeasance in the UK in recent years, particularly the rape and murder of a woman in South London by a police officer.
My neighbor down the road is giving away this "storage seat," which opens from the top into a small chest and looks like it's seen better days. I didn't adopt it. As of yesterday evening, no one has.
I was amused to see this sticker on a Royal Mail postbox yesterday. Given my experience with the mail recently, I agree!
I was also amused by this footprint bottle cap protruding from a rubbish bin -- Barefoot brand wine, I think.
And finally, I came across another street painting by "Kohlsen." (Remember when I found one in Hampstead last fall?) The little museum-style plaque identifies the painter as Kai Ohlsen, born 1994, and the painting title as "Sunder."
An interesting collection..and nice flowers!
ReplyDeleteI like the flower painting....very colourful!
ReplyDeleteNot so happy with Cadent Gas though...they have been laying pipes along a busy road nearby (with traffic lights) for about 2 months now.....moving gradually along the road and causing disruption. They seem to be digging up most of Harpenden actually!
I love Kohlsen's style. Hope that gnarled old tree doesn't have to come down. Beautiful tulips. I might pick some up myself today.
ReplyDeleteI am impressed by the age of your ball radio and the fact that it still works. On AM, I often listen to BBC Radio 5 Live but it may be too highbrow for you even though you accurately use words like "malfeasance"!
ReplyDeleteLove the tulips; so spring!
ReplyDeleteBut that tree? Oy. That's a fright.
It seems to me that the British are especially apt to make their presence and opinions known on the street. Maybe US cities are like this too. How would I know? I never go to cities. Funny thought, isn't it? I especially like the mail box sticker. And the painting, of course.
ReplyDeleteI love that painting, such energy! And the stories I've heard of the Met are horrifying. Criminals with badges, some of them. It's not a new story to people who've been tuned in.
ReplyDeleteI was certainly captivated after seeing the title of this post! I'm beginning to think I'm blind to graffiti as I can't think of the last time I have seen any on my walks.
ReplyDeleteGreat set of random photos. You always remind me that I should photograph the graffiti and artful detritus on the streets here.
ReplyDeletethe tulips are lovely. I almost bought some yesterday. the street art is interesting, not because of the painting so much but because it seems to be bolted to the brick wall. if it's his wall, that's one thing, if not, how did he get away with it. that poor tree in the pretty trashy small side yard.
ReplyDeleteI like the reflection on the wall in the photo of the lovely tulips.
ReplyDeleteYour random pictures always give me something to study. I love the randomness of them...but also that each one of them has some small element that catches my eye.
ReplyDeleteThat painting is very similar to the one you found last year. Possibly the view from the artist's house.
ReplyDeleteI love the Royal Mail sticker. It fits perfect especially after hearing about your recent mail experiences.
Love the painting! And the tulips. And that tree photo - reminds me of my favorite tree on my commute in Ohio - it looked all gnarly against the sky in winter/spring.
ReplyDeleteIs the tree alive? It doesn't appear to be leafing out, though maybe it's too early there? (I'm assuming the green I see is something behind it)
ReplyDeleteThe tulips are beautiful.
You found some real treasures. I love the painting!
ReplyDeleteI like that painting. It looks like Spring!
ReplyDeleteI wonder, do you keep and catalogue your photos - or maybe make them into annual (or themed) montages. It would seem a pity to lose records and the sharpness of eye that you so obviously have.
ReplyDeleteI feel royally fucked at times. Keep an eye on that tree. I hope things turn out well for him. I've read some articles about the problems with the ploice. Do they also murder black people the way the cops do here?
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I had to think a bit to recall if we still have AM radio. If it isn't digital or FM and we can still listen, so I guess we do.
ReplyDeleteGZ: Tulips always give a boost!
ReplyDeleteFrances: That sign is for a Cadent gas repair site in St. John's Wood that's been there for a couple of weeks, at least. I feel your pain!
Mitchell: I also hope they save the tree. If they replace that wall (actually I think it was a wooden fence) then it should have support.
YP: I can never find any BBC channels. It's always talk radio (right-wing, of course) or Christian stations. Maybe I need to look at a station guide for my area.
Bob: It actually looks beautiful in the summer: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5518531,-0.1978337,3a,75y,43.76h,110.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sE-RiGsTAEezRZ_xEm1uUsw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en
Ms Moon: I saw a lot of similar stickers are graffiti in New York when I lived there. I think it's just a city thing.
Boud: It's shocking, some of the hires the Met makes. Are there so few people who want to be police officers that we have to scrape the bottom of the barrel?
Ed: I think graffiti is a mostly urban phenomenon. You may not see much, if any, where you are.
Robin: I am always noticing artful detritus! LOL
Ellen: Yes, I noticed that too! I assume it was installed with permission from whoever owns the wall.
Ellen D: I liked that too!
Debby: Now that I use my phone for so many pictures the whole raison d'etre for the "random iPhone photos" posts is somewhat out the window!
Sharon: Yes, that artist definitely has a distinctive style.
Bug: Yes, this one leafs out in summer and looks amazing, but at this time of year it looks dead.
Kelly: It was alive as of last year, so I assume the leaves will come. I think it's just too early for that particular type of tree.
Margaret: I do too!
Catalyst: It does! I like the energetic brush strokes.
Bike Shed: Yes, I archive all of them in a couple of different ways. I put them on Flickr and have them tagged by subject, so I can (hopefully) quickly find photos with similar subjects or themes. And I archive them by date on external drives, which is fine as long as I know when a particular picture was taken.
Janie: Yes, there have been several famous incidents between police and people of color. The Stephen Lawrence case comes to mind, as does the shooting of Mark Duggan in 2011 which sparked rioting.
Andrew: I'm sure it still exists, but I have no idea who might be listening nowadays! Maybe people with old car radios?
Love the street painting. And too bad about the storage thing... the concept has good potential. Loving your tulips -- what a great combo of colors.
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