London Ice Sculpting Festival 2014

As I'm currently working in Canary Wharf I was able to nip across to see this year's London Ice Sculpting Festival, held at the Wharf's new Wood Wharf. During lunchtime I headed over there in the sunshine to see what it was all about, in time for the first event - teams carving from a small single block of ice with the theme of "River Life."

There were only ten countries involved, and they seemed a bit spread out across the newly-developed area, but the space was filled by tourists, workers from the nearby offices and dozens of photographers. It was nice to actually be able to take photos in the Wharf without fearing a security guard would come and tell you off any minute (the whole area is privately-owned and photography is frowned upon!).

I had a good wander around, watching the people at work - mainly men, I noticed - scraping and chipping away, filing, chain-sawing... Every once in a while a huge spray of ice would cover nearby spectators. I became rather transfixed by the African team, who had a design showing waves and weeds and fish (I think). Others were mesmerised too. I left before the first event had finished, so don't know which of the teams won.

Here's a selection of the competitors and their works of art (in progress), as well as some of the spectators (and an Ice Man):

My Favourite Photographic Moments of 2013

Outside it's been raining all day; a lovely start to 2014! What better way to spend the day than compiling a selection of photos that I took in 2013, as I did for 2012. Again travel was a bit limited, but we still managed to get a few trips away, with and without the dog. Here's some of my favourites, in roughly chronological order.

Iceland

 

Austin, Texas

Brussels

 

Cornwall & Devon

New York City

Bournemouth

As well as trips away I also headed out to Little Chalfont a few times where my parents live, and captured some shots of the lovely fields and woods nearby during the different seasons.

And obviously a few shots were taken of Henry, our adorable blue roan cocker spaniel. Not as many as when he was a puppy, but still a few...

There are other dogs in my life too, and I spent a good few months photographing the local dog population. Here are some of Henry's friends!

I haven't taken that many photos of friends and family this year (including a narcissistic self-portrait!), but here's a couple I like.

And last, but definitely not least, some images of my wonderful home town, London.