It's quite rare for early photographs to feature people in their working clothes. Whilst working people had their photographs taken, visits to photographers' studios were occasions when you wore you "Sunday best". I don't know what the origin of this particular photograph was (other than it was taken in the Oxford Electric Studios in Cardiff) … Continue reading Desktop Calendar : 6 – 8 August 2023

You can never be sure with found photographs. The only thing we can be sure about with this old photograph is that it comes from the photographic studio of Alfred Joslin of Bank Street, Carlisle. Joslin was active around the time of the First World War, and the clothing of this young lady suggests that … Continue reading Desktop Calendar : 3 – 5 August 2023

This somewhat bizarre photographs dates back to September 2012 when I was involved in a deep discussion about the contending vales of randomness and organisation on my News From Nowhere blog. It took me quite a time to remember that each line of the poem was based on the title of each of my blog … Continue reading Desktop Calendar : 31 July – 2 August 2023

We took a walk around the Yorkshire Sculpture Park on Wednesday and I spotted this delightful scene. You never know when you visit the park whether things are exhibits or merely chance objects - which is part of the enjoyment of a day out there. I spent some time trying to spot how they had … Continue reading Desktop Calendar : 28-30 July 2023

I have no idea who took this photograph. Usually it was me taking photographs of my brother, or him taking photographs of me, and thus pictures of us together are rare. It was taken in the late 1960s: Roger was living on a barge and about to sail it to Europe, making a living by … Continue reading Desktop Calendar : 25-27 July 2023

All I did was to ask AI to design a typeface featuring colourful wild flowers. This is what it came up with. Our artificial intelligence week not only continues, but gets sillier. "AI, re-imagine me as a Norse God" Personally, I think I look rather fetching! The last of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) series. This … Continue reading Daily Calendar : 19-24 July 2023

For want of something better to do, I started work on a new book today. It will be called "1001 Images To Scan Before I Die". Given the fact that I am averaging about one scan a day, and given my age, it has to be said that this is a somewhat ambitious project. This … Continue reading Daily Calendar : 13-18 July 2023

I took this photograph in Belgium a few years ago when I was doing a thing on "photographic oxymorons". Not even the intervention of a spiritual deity could bring about a transformation to the chilly waters of the English Channel. Stones that have soaked up their fill of hard work, paths that are squeezed like … Continue reading Daily Calendar : 7-12 July 2023

This is possibly a photograph of my Great Uncle, Albert Burnett and his wife Rose Ellen. It was part of a collection of old photos that came to me via their daughter and her step-daughter. I have no hard evidence it is them - but I rather like to think it is. A Foggy Day … Continue reading Daily Calendar : 1-6 July 2023