Will’s stag night was a fairly quiet affair…just the way we both like it…and so it turned out so did his old school friends. We met at Charters on the river Nene. Had a few beers and then crossed over to the Peterborough Beer Festival where we sampled some real ales from the 350 on tap, and then had a go on Dodgems.
The festival was on its last day and many of the breweries had sold out and shut up but there were still plenty of options to choose from.
We finished the night out at the curry house and were surprised the Indian had run out of Pilau Rice…when does that ever happen?
Back to Will’s for a late night game of brag..I didn’t do very well so suggested we played shoot and took over as winner.
Today is a beautiful sunny day, so why am I in a dingy corridor in the depths of ruin? Simple, I am stepping totally out of my comfort zone following the footsteps of the Urban Explorers with Tom(?), William Cheung and Tony Dudley.
I’m in a Victorian Asylum, the air is acrid, the floor below my feet precarious and the light spilling from holes in the roof is creating huge contrast problems for photography.
The building, Denbigh’s lunatic asylum, was closed in 1995, and when we visited it was in a bad shape but still worth photographing. Since our visit it’s been vandalised much more, looted and set on fire and is now beyond renovation.
I climb the clock tower on a very iffy circular stair case seemingly held together with pigeon poo and wandered around many areas of the site, at the time guarded but he must have been asleep!
The potential health risk from the pigeon poo, asbestos and flaking lead paint compete with the risk of being arrested for being in a building I’m not supposed to be in, but the thrill to explore and, in my case, the last chance to see and record some amazing architecture in its sad final state of dilapidation, tips the balance.
A fabulous experience and I can see why so many people enjoy the hobby of urban exploration.
Here’s a selection of photographs documenting the visit.
Olympus launch the E-520 Launch in London. We met at the Amber Bar, Baltic Restaurant 74 Blackfriars Road SE1 8HA and then headed over to the Gerkin to eat on the 38th Floor 30 St Mary Axe London
Host
Jermome Demare, Mark Thackara, Greg Connell, Harjit Sohotey
Press
Peter Bargh, Ian Farrell, William Cheung, Rachel D’Cruze, Bob Martin, Terry Hope, Jamie Harrison, James Mansfield
Combined with the distribution of Pentax products Intro 2020 hosted an event on the Queen Mary 2 voyage to Hamburg. I was in Stateroom Category A2 Stateroom 11022.
I got to meet and spend time with the fabulous photographer Michael Birt
Hosts
Jim Mackay, Jane Nicholson, John Dickens, Jeremy Martin
Press
Peter Bargh, Debbi Allen, Charlotte Griffiths, Ian Farrell, Jon Adams, Ian Andrews, Andrew James, Angela Nicholson, William Cheung, Darren Harbar
Nikon flew photo magazine journalists and retailers out to Dubai on the BA 107 London to Dubai to launch the Nikon D200 digital SLR camera. I was in Seat 51C. We stayed in the Hyatt Regency Hotel and ate at some fine restaurants during our stay. The itinerary was as follows:
Tuesday 7th Arrive late evening.
Wednesday 8th 6-10am Buffet breakfast in the Kitchen restaurant. 10:30 Product Launch in Pearl rooms. 12:30 Lunch in Foccacia Restaurant Hyatt Regency. 13:30 Break out sessions. 15:00 Photo challenge one: Walking tour of Souks. 17:30 Photo challenge two: creative lighting Dhow Sunset Cruise along Dubai Creek with pre drinks and canapes. 19:30 Gourmet Seafood Dinner at the Aquarium Restaurant at the Yacht Club.
Thursday 9th 06:30 Breakfast and photo challenge three: Sports mode at Godolphin Royal Stables and millennium Grandstand. 11:30 Breakout press sessions at the Hyatt. 13:00 Buffer lunch in Al Dawaar Restaurant – revolving restaurant. 14:30 Action Arabian Adventure – City to Desert in 4×4 Jeeps. Dune bashing and sand skiing followed by sunset champagne and canapes. 20:30 Dinner as Spectrum on One at Fairmont Dubai Hotel.
Fly home Friday 10th on BA108
Hosts: Jeremy Gilbert, Jenny Grace, Kate Cartwright, Simon Coleman, Bruce Linton, Hardeep Pank, Kevin Jordan
Guests: Peter Bargh, Dan Lezano, Debbi Allen, Nigel Atherton, William Cheung, Damien Demolder, Mat Gallagher, Darren Harbar, Terry Hope, David Phelan, Chris Rutter, Simon Stafford, Rosie Tanner, Andrea Thompson
Dealers: Reg Atkins, Elliott Jacobs, Kerris Jones, Jean Kertesz, Steve Marley, Colin McCarthy, John Mitchell, Jason Mitchell, Trevor Marshall, David Parkinson, Nick Richens, Tim Stavinrou, Abby Swain
Sony Alpha 100 was launched to UK journalists in Marrakech, Morocco. We flew over from London to Marrakech on BA 6918. ( Seat 24C)
Sony arranged a few professional photographers to assist – these included the Magnum photographer Chris Steele-Perkins who was in my group.
Our first night was in luxury tents in a Desert Encampment nr Kasbah Agafay with Moroccan salads, lemon Chicken Tagine, vegetable Couscous, orange salad and wine. Following morning we had a Jeep transfer to our hotel Palmaraie Golf Palace where the press conference was in the Cristal room.
Breakfast by the pool at Le Grand Bleu restaurant, and lunch at Dar Rhizlane Excursions include Les Deux Tours tour of Ochre City, Majorelle Gardens and Jemaa El -Fna, Placen the Riad and the souks. We also did Terres D’Amanar walking tour and spent an evening at Nikki Beach
TIPA – not sure which year, but we were in Madrid. Myself and William Cheung stayed on for an extra and popped round to Spanish Publisher and TIPA president, Juan Varela, for dinner. We had traditional Tapas and wine and spent a very enjoyable evening living like the Spaniards.
TIPA organised a visit to the Monastery of El Escorial and a trip by train to Sergovia
And in the evening we ate at Casa Patas and were then entertained by traditional flamenco dancers
I dragged Will off to find a Spanish Cash Converters and bought a couple of CDs
Canon whisked us off to France to watch the Champions League Final at Stade de France. The game was between Real Madrid and Valencia. I was in seat Porte E Terrasse 110.
We travelled by Eurostar and stayed in the Paris Hilton Hotel.
Hosts
Ashley Ollett, Angela Mason
Press
Peter Bargh, William Cheung, John Clements, Terry Hope, Chris Cheeseman
Press event with Canon to Paris to the 2000 UEFA Champions Leaguefinal where Real Madrid vs Valencia played at State de France in Saint-Denis. This was the first time in the Champions League or the European Cup that two clubs from the same country competed in a final.
We also had a trip to Paris to see L’Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile and a church but I cant remember which one!
Hosts Angela Warnes
Press William Cheung, Terry Hope, Chris Cheesman, John Clements (and many more that I cant remember)
