Qype Party and Ghost Walk: the photography event

Once again Qype have produced a great little event to entertain us. An evening based at the very pleasant Hop Cellars, and including a potter around London’s riverside with some bloomin good stories. Click on the links for my Qype reviews of the event and the venue. I hope to do a separate review of the walk later…

A great evening, and no real complaints, but for me the amount of photography going on did end up being an annoyance. I don’t really want to come out ‘against’ it, as I know many people enjoy the pictures. Plus, heck, Qype lays on these events, and it’s good for them for there to be loads of pictures. But it did become an annoyance for me, and I can’t help wondering if I was the only one? It would be a shame if some folks ended up keeping away from these events because they don’t want flashes going off in their faces every few minutes.

I’m sort of agnostic about getting my picture taken. I don’t mind the odd one, but when it comes to Qype I do sort of like to be a bit anonymous. That’s why I don’t have my picture on my Qype profile. It reduces the chance a venue is going to recognise me the moment I walk through the door (as if they would! Maybe I just like playing the big reviewer!) Also when taking pictures myself I’m careful about other people. Sometimes you can’t avoid getting them in (I do try…), but if you see someone actually featured in my pictures then I’ve asked if they mind being on a website. I think it’s common courtesy and I sort of expect it of other photographers too.

So on this night out I found myself constantly moving to avoid the lens of one photographer in particular. At times it felt like he was actually trying to catch me out. Maybe just being a little obsessive on my part, but if true then really out of order as far as I’m concerned. I also felt for the guy leading the walk, though he didn’t complain. Every place we stopped he had flashes in his face several times. Then the camera would be turned on the crowd. I mean, did the picture really change that much according to which brick wall folks were standing against? I can understand taking pictures of locations. But nope, this guy just wanted to take pictures of people at every stop. Obsessive, catalogued, recording rather than art if you ask me. OK, I know that the more pictures you take, the more chance of getting that really good one. But sometimes it really is better to get a few pics then relax and enjoy, and actually experience, an event.

Remember too that this is outside at night. Of course with streetlights everywhere it wasn’t too dark. But I still feel that camera flashes are not going to help with any possibility of adjusting to the dark and seeing into dark corners. Low lighting makes the flashes more unpleasant too.

You could fairly argue that any Qype event is a media event and anyone there is fair game for the Qype papparazi. Yep, though it’s a point I think bears discussion. What do the folks attending really want? For or against constant heavy photography? It’s seems to be becoming more and more socially accepted that certain categories of people are fair game for photography, whatever they say. Including all celebrities and attendees at some events. On the other hand I’ve been to quite a few SF conventions with actors attending, and at those it’s not considered polite to blind the guests. The general rule is that during talks flash photography is allowed just for the first few minutes. If you see a guest in the corridors you ask before taking a picture. At autograph sessions pictures may be with the guest only, permission only, or totally banned. Maybe we need some ground rules at Qype events too? Discussion welcome…

Nationwide Swindon Half

Last Sunday was my third time at this event, and I really didn’t know what was going to happen. Recently with my job I’ve been travelling long miles every day (and I do mean 7 days a week), on foot, bus and bike, and suffering with my knees. Except for a little on my rounds I’ve not really been running. So coming into this I was sure I had the endurance, but no idea how my body would react to running. I wasn’t too sure how my knees would hold up. I also felt a little off colour the day before and on the morning.

As per usual it was a fabulous event. I wouldn’t have minded too much if the morning mist had persisted. Instead it largely cleared and the sun beat down. For most of the way I was carrying two bottles: one of the energy drink provided, and another of water to splash myself down with! Last year was also hot, and two people collapsed in the last mile, so I wasn’t taking any chances.

I set out taking it fairly easy. Pushing a little, but not expecting too much. At halfway I was doing OK so I started to push on a little, overtaking several people along the way. And in the end… well, I didn’t get a PB for the half marathon, but I did get it for this event. 3:13:23, which is around 2 minutes off the best I’ve done at Swindon before.

Reasonably happy. As I build more running into my rounds at work I think I could see some definite improvement.

My thighs were extremely sore for several days. Not used to the running motion… especially up and down hills!

Useful

Well I’m back in the East End Outpost in Marlborough again. Just had to post something that creased me up in Sainsbury the other day. I was looking for glucosamine in among the vitamins and minerals. One tub had a very useful label:

“This package contains a security device that is not microwaveable”

So there you go. If you are going to nick glucosamine please don’t microwave it.

Qype: Spitalfields Market in London

London - Shopping - Markets

So the old building has completed it’s makeover, and on the whole I like it… I think other’s have covered the market really. On my most recent visit I only had eyes for the surroundings. To the nice old hall they’ve added brushed metal ligh fittings in the ceiling. And various elements in pastel-lighted glass. It sounds like it would all clash, but actually it works. The glass work is rather lovely, with panels of glowing colour at the gates, a lift shaft with moving images and another building covered in writing in subtle, but glowing tones.

On the downside: one of my memories of this place is having my first Mexican at one of the slightly ramshackle stalls they had in a food court area. That area seems to have been lost, and replaced by new, posh restaurants. I think they have a sushi chain coming in… Nothing against chains, but I’d have liked to have kept those old informal and individual food stalls.
Check out my review of Spitalfields Market - I am moonrising - on Qype

Qype: De Beauvoir Town in London

London

De Beauvoir Town covers an area, formally an estate owned by the family of that name, stretching from the canal to Ballspond Road. In 1821 William Rhodes acquired a building lease, without stipulations of what was to be built. He planned a layout involving a grid pattern, with a central Octagon and with streets going out to four circular squares around that.

However development was piecemeal and there were legal problems with the De Beauvoir family. As a result only parts of his original plans came to fruition, with some roads visible on the diagonal to the general grid, and De Beauvoir Square, originally intended to the be South East square, being the only one that actually exists. I’ve put the flag on what would have been the octagon. Though many of the streets have lovely old houses of various ages, size and design (a favourite for those that want the prized N1 postcode, while appreciating Hackney rather than Islington prices), to the South are some of the most depressing council estates around.

It’s a lovely area to wander around, as long as you stay North of Downham Road. Northchurch road is closed to through car traffic, but not bikes, so can be full of whizzing commuters at certain times of day! St Peter’s Church, on the corner of De Beauvoir Square, has a café in the crypt. The N1 Garden Centre is definitely a hidden gem.

A much more in depth story and maps can be found at the website given. Another slant on the story is given at http://www.benyonestate.com/page.jsp?ID=2

Only just written, but just had to add… this area was also until recently home to the Mole Man: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2006/aug/08/communities.uknews and was apparently used in the filming of 28 Weeks Later.
Check out my review of De Beauvoir Town - I am moonrising - on Qype

Qype: McDonald's Restaurant in London

London - Restaurants - Take Away

Visited recently, though to be honest I can’t remember what I had. Probably a double cheeseburger grabbed on the way to an appointment…

What I did notice was the décor. While this has had a makeover to the new McDonald’s colour scheme, it’s rather noticeable that there’s not a comfy sofa or posh chair in site… Is that a comment on what McDonald’s expects of Hackney central? LOL
Check out my review of McDonald's Restaurant - I am moonrising - on Qype

Qype: The Plant Room in London

London

Funny the things you discover a road somewhere as you are passing… In this case it’s one of the major roads coming into Old Street, but not a very pedestrian one. I was walking along, when beyond the speeding cars I noticed firstly some rather good graffiti art, and secondly a load of plant pots around the bottom of a billboard hoarding. I nearly passed on, but was just too tempted, and braved the crossing.

On closer inspection I found a little corner of land, enclosed with a high wire fence, and in the shadow of a huge hoarding. Here rows of shelving have been set up, holding row on row of large pots. Those pots contain a massive variety: some are empty, others contain flowers, other vegetables. I wasn’t sure what I was looking at: a garden centre maybe?

A sign on the fence revealed all. It’s actually a clever twist on allotments, with local residents being able to hire a row of pots to grow what they like. What a great idea!
Check out my review of The Plant Room - I am moonrising - on Qype