Taking a break.

I visited the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House in London today. An excellent selection of photographs, covering a large range of subjects and styles, with winning images both from professional photographers and enthusiasts. It fills two wings of Somerset House so, if you're going, allow plenty of time to look around.

As the title suggests, the awards are sponsored by Sony who, naturally, take the opportunity to push their brand and products although not excessively. However, around half of the TV screens for showing still or moving pictures were blank or stuck, and those with sound were virtually inaudible. Not a good demonstration!

After I left the exhibition (and a cup of tea from the cafe) I wandered across Waterloo Bridge to the South Bank for a quick look around. This guy was taking a break from skateboarding at the Undercroft under the Queen Elizabeth Hall. The posters on the wall to the right are about the campaign to save the Undercroft from redevelopment (there is a proposal to turn the space into retail shops, to help pay for other planned developments on the south bank). The campaign has gained over 120,ooo supporters. The space claims to be the birthplace of British skateboarding some 40 years ago, and the skateboarding community feel that its history and reputation justify its retention, and are not happy with the proposed new skateboard location under Hungerford Bridge.