Happy, sunny days

Win a round the world trip with Lonely Planet. I've just uploaded a travel photo of some taxis I saw in Taxco, Mexico,  to Lonely Planet's new competition and subsequently spent about half an hour browsing other peoples, getting inspired and dreaminig of sunnier climes.

Taxco Taxis in Mexico

Graffiti and Cupcakes in London

I love big contrasts. The things that smack pattern and conformity in the face. On a recent mooch in London I saw some lovely contrasts. A big city has a veritable plethora of visual loveliness I find.

Firstly I saw this graffiti near-by Brick Lane, the Indian corner of London. I quite like graffiti sometimes, because (i) it makes use of an other blank canvas, (ii) it's often subtly clever (iii) it's not money-making so it's really honest, (iv) it often represents a current social thought or feeling and (v) you never know when you might find it.

Then I went to the Van Gogh exhibition at the Royal Academy, which incidentally is really good. It's a selection of Van Gogh's work across his working lifetime, alongside letters to and from his brother Theo up until a few days before he died. Anyway, really near to the Royal Academy in Piccadilly, is Fortnum and Mason. The epitome of all that is over-indulgent luxury. It's been going strong since 1707. I saw some cupcakes. I wanted to eat them. Instead I looked on longingly like a child in a toy-shop.

Finally, I'll share with you Leon. More culinary deliciousness. I stumbled across the one in Spitalfield's market. Disppointed the market wasn't on, I soon recovered on spotting Leon. It's great seasonal food at shiny lovely prices. It's light-shades are made of recycled oil cans, and the food is served in brown cardboard boxes. The food is simple, I took the chilli with a chunk of lemon and some pea and carrot coleslaw. Very wholesome and very easy to recommend. I bought the bookwritten by founder and resident foodie god Allegra McEvedy. I really like Allegra's style, in herself and her food. As a bonus, the packaging is recyclable, they use produce from local farms, and give left over food to charity. This is a great, pretty ethical whilst oozingly cool restaurant.

It is not what you look at, but what you see

Now that's my kind of quote.

My tenuous link to said quote, is from the Pentax K-x. I want one. I can't quite bring myself to separate with the money, too much saving I should be doing right now, etc. However, it takes some really really nice shots. And in moments of weakness I convince myself I can even 'make' money from it, as I obviously will take such amazing shots as these.

I think it's kind of a trend for people to feel arty these days. And photography is a good way to do that. With DSLRs coming down in price and technology and softwares becoming much more accessible to the 'entry-level- enthusiast I think it makes photography a hot ticket. And the design on the K-x is hitting all the right buttons.