Thanks to lovely Michelle (Petite Tea Lover) for nominating us for the Liebster Award!

For those who haven’t heard of the Liebster Award before, it’s awarded to new blogs just getting started which the nominator feels deserve more attention or recognition. The rules are:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.
2. Answer the 10 (or 11) questions given by the nominator.
3. Nominate and link 10 (or 11) bloggers.
4. Notify all the bloggers you’ve nominated.
5. Create 10 (or 11) new questions for your nominees to answer.

So let’s get started on Michelle’s questions…

Why did you start blogging?

He had just bought a fantastic camera [it was a Canon 600D, a good starter DSLR] and was starting to take [apparently] great pictures, and I thought more people should see them. Around a similar time, one of our friends complained that he didn’t know how to have a great day in London on a budget, so we thought we’d combine the two in a “days out” blog, with hopefully some artistic pictures.

She was working in communications and social media at the time, so suggested starting a blog – I liked the idea of having something to focus on (no pun intended) to give my photography more direction as I was getting into it, and this was the perfect opportunity for that.

What/who inspires you?

In terms of the blog, I think we inspire each other [cheesy…]. It’s tempting on a Saturday morning to lie in until lunchtime (and we do, sometimes!) but some of our best and most memorable days have been when we’ve convinced each other to get moving, with a great idea for a day out or something to see. Also in terms of photography, we draw each other’s attention to different things, and we love that. Now that I have my lovely little bridge camera (grateful girlfriend!) it’s a really collaborative hobby, which is even better.

Photographically, I’m inspired by fascinating details, whether it’s a window frame or a street lamp, and how they interact with the broader scale around them. I love beautiful architecture and hidden historical magic. On days out I love immersing myself in the history of the people, whether it’s a family who lived in a stately home or photos of slums in the 1800s at the Museum of London.

It’s great that we both have ideas of things we’d like to do, and often they overlap which is helpful! She has also been really supportive in encouraging me (and being very patient with me) in pursuing photography. 

In terms of what I like photographing, I’m particularly inspired by architecture and nature. London is a great place to explore a huge array of different architectural styles mixed alongside one another, but there are plenty of other places further afield with great architecture to enjoy as well. I’m quite a fan of modern designs; for example, one of my favourite buildings in London is the classic Gherkin, and I love the buildings at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia. I also love walking and photographing beautiful scenery, particularly in my homeland of Yorkshire.

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“The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime”

Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary, August 1914

Marking 100 years since the start of the devastating First World War, we joined others across the country in lighting a candle as part of the ‘Lights Out’ WWI commemoration. It was wonderful to see the candles flickering in the windows up and down the street, along with the huge spotlight over London, courtesy of the ArtAngel Spectra project.

A friend was complaining to me once about not being able to find fun things to do at the weekend. “We don’t have much spare money,” he said, “and my girlfriend and I find it really hard to find interesting and diverting things to do.” Since we love our weekend days out, after this conversation we thought we might be able to bring inspiration and some new ideas to people like him, either in or out of London, for visitors or locals, days out nearby or holidays to places a little further afield – and, in turn, to inspire ourselves!

We’re a couple in our late twenties (just), living in north London. I’m a soft Southerner who enjoys crafting, grammar, drinking tea and other clichéd activities which make me not cool enough to live in Shoreditch. Fortunately, I don’t.

I’m a nostalgic Northerner who likes getting out on my bike, taking photos (so many photos), all things gadgety and electronic, and a good (debatable) t-shirt.

Luckily for us, we’re both pretty keen on exploring, both town and countryside, historic houses and museums, singing, and music in general, and pretty places. Oh, and we do have a secret soft spot for public transport, specifically the Tube. And trains. We’re both fans of London, but enjoy escaping whenever possible too.

Since I really enjoy photography, and am constantly looking for excuses to practise, and I like words, social media and putting them together, we thought we’d make this blog. We hope you enjoy it.