Stairs

Properties, grand and more modest, often contain stunning staircases recalling an age when design and the grand entrance were more important than a small footprint and lowest cost. This sample of beautiful stairs was collected in 2009.

Geisha & Maiko

Maiko, the apprentice Geisha (aka Geiko in Kyoto) are expected to be seen, and delight in doing so amongst the cherry blossom in Kyoto. The dress of these young girls is more flamboyant than that of the mature Geisha. Girls may become Maiko at 16 with a 5 year apprenticeship to become a fully fledged Geisha. The collar of the under-kimono worn by the Maiko is usually of a red and white patterned material, and shows vividly against the white neck of the Maiko. Differing hair styles indicate the period of their apprenticeship, using their own hair for display, rather than the wigs that Geisha wear. The word maiko is made of the kanji 舞 (mai) meaning "dance" and 子 (ko) meaning "child". They are a major symbol of Japan.

Climate Change

Climate change in Australia 2006/7:

The “good life” in Australia is economically founded on the mining and resources boom. Some believe this industry intensifies global warming, exacerbating climate change, which may in turn affect that life-style. Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter and worst per capita emitter of greenhouse gases despite the absence of sooty skies. Carbon emissions and the emerging water crisis are recently high on the Australian political agenda with major cities predicted to soon run dry of water and dams near empty with no quick fix. If taps run dry, Australians fear that disposable time/money will reduce, curtailing this lifestyle and tourist dollars. Over 900,000 hectares were lost in bush-fires this season and crops have failed in the worst droughts since records began.

These images are to promote debate by depicting this good-life, the industries involved and some effects of the extreme Australian weather seen travelling across the continent.

Dereliction

2nd World War airfield buildings, Norfolk UK.

Taken on a bright August afternoon with the light streaming into these broken buildings. They have been post processed to bring out the atmosphere of this unusual place.