The gates of heaven?

Weird thing, I never entirely get which pictures people are going to like.



Some of my more popular shots have started getting tons of hits, and into explore and the like, but this one, was especially pleased with. Really happy with the concept, the story, and the tones and the composition, and it just kind of scrapes along. Not entirely ignored, 30 or so hits, but nothing major.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dagenhamdave/sets/72157614467467613/

Don't misunderstand me, I'm aware that it's regarded as shallow in some circles to want people to look at your photos, but my view is that unless you're just sticking snaps up for the family, why wouldn't you want people to look at your work.

Barking and Dagenham 'explored'

This is the outside of Barking Library looking rather wonderful and most unlike Barking. I really like what they're doing with Barking Town Centre, it's really bright and garish (though not in this shot), but really fun and cool. A lot of people have said about it that they can't stand the way this building looks, particularly this stuff (which was my very first (or second?) picture that 'explored'):



I worry a bit that it will age badly in the long-term, don't know, this sort of stuff often fares poorly in the British weather, but at the moment it's great.

This area should to age rather well:



Barking and Dagenham at it's rural best.

Hey, I've got a blog

Not sure that I'm cut out for this blogging stuff really.

Forgot that I'd even created it.

Not done much with my photos lately anyway. My other half is finishing her degree so my life is mainly based around work and kids. I've become something of a domestic goddess.

Well not really. My house is very untidy, and I've put on a few pounds of ready-meal padding, but hey, my kids feel loved.

She stuck her dissertation in today though, which means that I've got time to start adding photos to Flickr before we all cop it from swine flu.

Took the kids to the seaside for a week, and for about five minutes every day nipped outside the caravan to take a few photos. Strangely limiting, but it encourages you to look a little nearer to home for inspiration.

Best shot from this spell:



Come, Armageddon Come after the Morrissey song.

It's a picture of Leysdown, in Kent, on the Isle of Sheppey. I'm told that Sheppey has some of the lowest levels of poverty, or highest rather, in the whole of the country. They haven't even a senior school. It is slightly barren, but I really like it here. Especially the wind turbines and the Forts out at sea. Gret place, but slightly seedy; in a good way...

The whole sense is of a town that time forgot, like the Morrissey song, (Every Day is like Sunday) pervades; though thanks to the credit crunch, it's busier than I've seen it in years.

This should be good, but I'm not sure that the return of the Costa-del-alcoholics back to UK campsites is necessarily a good thing. My kids like it being busy, nut it didn't stop some little sod nicking their scooter, and another threatening to beat up my daughter. Unheard of behaviour in recent years.

I love the way this photo came out. When I printed it, it was as though you could touch the railing on the right, almost 3 dimensional. Very pleased with it.


My youngest also wanted to go off an play, but I think that she's got a while yet.



Loads more photos to come, from here and Barking, Dagenham an elsewhere soo.

I've a whole bunch of Leysdown pics here, too:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dagenhamdave/sets/72157616862929216/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dagenhamdave/sets/72157605046175791/

Come back capitalism, all is forgiven.