More snow fell last evening,  so I had to post these taken this morning in Wimbledon Common. There were many dog-walkers and the occasional jogger enjoying the near magical scenery.

Just preparing our workshop for Venice in 2 week’s time. I hear it’s absolutely freezing so we’ll be prepared for cold weather photography. Plenty of hot chocolate and pasta. There’s still time to get flights if anyone’s keen on joining! Bring a sleeping bag if accommodation is scarce. It’ll be a fantastic trip, the last time I was in the canal city was in 2006 so it’s about time we made another trip. The Bellini is calling.

It rarely snows in London, and when it does, everyone gets excited, despite the disruption a little accumulation may cause to the transport networks, roads and airports. Perhaps it has to do with global warming, greenhouse gases and all that stuff, after all, 100 years ago, the river Thames did freeze over, and the Victorians used to skate on it. There were no skaters in sight this morning in Hyde Park however, although parts of Serpentine lake had ice. Only the coots and ducks were skating. I did see a very manky old heron, perched on a wooden stump looking very sad, and obliging to be photographed  by some onlookers not more than 10 feet away.

Last night when it was snowing, I photographed under the dim lit park next to my flat, this morning the snow had stopped falling, and the sky was overcast in grey daylight. I took a walk in Hyde Park.

Lion dance performer, Malaysia Hall, London 2012

Took a drive across the Peak District, and came across the first snow fall of 2012. Captured this photo from my phonecam. This National Park is absolutely beautiful, and is only a couple hours drive north of London.

To all my friends who celebrate the coming of the Year of the Dragon, Twilight Saga fans, Lycanthropes, shapeshifters and other worldly creatures who swear by the Moon, Happy Lunar New Year !

(This photo was taken in Penang in 2006, during the making of the ‘Malaysians’ book which is still available! Plug. This is the amazingly ornate Yap Temple, (or Temple of the Yaps?) on Lebuh Armenian. No dragons were injured in the making of the temple.)

Photographing shadows in the night. I sometimes shoot under street lighting in the night. Shadows of trees cast moving figures against stone walls, like giant shadow puppets swaying in the breeze.

The message of recycle. Local councils will collect Christmas trees left on pavements and turn them into wood chips for recycling.

January 21st, Saturday 2012 £125 pp  : 10:00 am – 5:00 pm : Meet Trafalgar Square

Free hugs, Piccadilly Circus, 2011 © S Lee

Andy and I will be running this 1-Day practical photography workshop in Central London on Saturday the 21st January.

This popular full day ‘hands-on’ workshop will benefit those who are interested in understanding the processes behind basic digital photography, camera handling, shooting in different Modes, learning to get the most out of their digital cameras. Will also be suited to those wanting to polish their photography techniques in composition, photographing people in the streets and candid images. We will demonstrate using lenses to achieve different depth-of-field effects, exposure control, selective focusing and daylight flash techniques.

Based in Central London, we will ‘walk and shoot’ and return for a review of the day’s efforts.

Do get in touch with us if you have any queries : Andy Craggs andy_craggs@hotmail.com or Steven Lee svllee@gmail.com