Peak Practice

The title of today will be remembered by my UK readers, and I am here in Crich in Derbyshire with the Peak District high on the shooting list for the week. Today I started with a visit to the first stately home highlighted for the week, Hardwick Hall. For the historians, it was the home of Elizabeth Shrewsbury (Bess of Hardwick) who was Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth 1 in the Tudor period of English history, and the second richest woman in the Kingdom after the Queen. The home is truly grand, with some of the finest rooms I have seen. Luckily it was also a re-enactment day so plenty of people in Tudor costume which made some fine photographs to be posted on my web site next week. In the meantime here is a quick (uncorrected) sample.

New Gallery Launched

Following many requests, I have just launched a limited series of individually printed and signed images on my web site. The gallery is still growing, so please check back soon and take a second look!

'Signature' Art prints - Images by Gerry Walden

Willy Ronis 1910-2009 RIP

It was with tremendous sadness that I heard yesterday of the death of Willy Ronis, one of the great photographers who have been a tremendous influence on my black and white photography. Ronis was born in Paris on 14 August 1910 to a Jewish photographer father and a Lithuanian piano-teaching mother, and music and photography played a major part throughout his life.

I first heard of Ronis many years ago, but a visit to an exhibition of his work in Oxford had a great influence on my own work. For me his images of French life will always rate up there with Robert Doisneau, and the Oxford Companion to the Photograph describes him as 'the photographer of Paris par excellence'. His wife featured often in his work, and an image of her bathing in front of an open window in a cottage in Provence (taken in 1949) went around the world as a 'classic' amongst monochrome photographs. You can read more about his life, and his passing, here at the Associated Press web site.

Au revoir Willy, you will not be forgotten.

Bill's Place

The seaside town of Brighton on the south coast of England is renowned for its fine beaches, party conference hosting and bed and Brighton rock, but explore the back streets north of the main centre and you uncover an exciting world of small shops and galleries missed by many of the tourists. Just up North Road leading from Victoria Gardens and within a stones through of the wonderfully ornate Pavilion you will find the old tram station now converted into one of the most vibrant cafes in England and known as Bill's Produce Store. Apart from fine food and coffee, you will find a mind-numming array of ingredients to tempt even the finest chefs coupled with fresh fruit and vegetables to die for. If you are in the area be sure to drop in, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed - then take a stroll around the small lanes before returning for a cup of tea and gateau whilst watching Harry trim the seemingly ever-growing raffia. I was there recently and I hope captured the atmosphere with these images.