I was quite excited when I realised a Saturday afternoon with my camera in Oxford coincided with one of the University of Oxford Graduation ceremonies. I took the shot below a couple of years ago but unfortunately it was something of a grab shot and my camera auto-focused on the wall behind.

This time round I thought I'd be able to re-shoot it, adding another iconic Oxford Uni shot to my portfolio. Unfortunately this time I just always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and this one which was my best attempt isn't quite sharp enough..... Another for my 'Ones that got away' set I think (and another date to add to next years diary).

Tags:   UK - Oxford - University of Oxford - Hats off for the Graduates_DSC5769

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The recent Louis Vuitton / Yayoi Kusama collaboration at Harrods included a 15m high fibreglass statue of the artist, shop window displays and several pop-up stores and installations throughout the store.

This shot of the interior isn't quite as sharp as I'd have liked so I've had to get a bit heavy handed with the image in Photoshop. Hopefully you agree it was still worth uploading ?

Click here for more unusual London shots : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157647920607519

From the Harrods website, "The nonagenarian Japanese artist is famous for her immersive works originating from personal obsessions and hallucinations, channelled into otherworldly sculptures, paintings and public art. “At Harrods, we’re bringing Yayoi Kusama to life, placing a 15m sculpture of the artist outside our entrance, where she is seen to be painting her colourful dots across the magnificent façade of our Grade II-listed building,” says Alexander Wells-Greco, creative visual director at Harrods. “‘Crafting Infinity’ also includes playful installations inside the store, spheres of all-surrounding colour and instantly immersive mirrored walls to mesmerise our customers.” Meanwhile, dedicated pop-up spaces host the accompanying collection that was first teased at Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2023 show, featuring not only bags and leather goods, but the entire gamut of product categories and savoir-faire. From complex embroidery and leather marquetry to limited-edition perfumes, all are Kusama-fied with the artist’s signature flowers, pumpkins and dot art."

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Tags:   UK - London - Harrods vs Yayoi Kusama 06_sq_5008074 Yayoi Kusama Yayoi Kusama art Contemporary Art Modern Art reflections reflection Harrods Louis Vuitton Kensington London Britain Great Britain England United Kingdom Square format BSquare SQUARES sq Department Store Escalator

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There I was walking down Broad Street in Oxford a couple of months ago when I glanced through this arch to see some students lining up. Experience told me they'd throw their mortar boards in the air so I went running up to the gate, quickly framed the shot just in time to see the hats go up in the air. Looked at my screen and thought I'd nailed the shot, exposure was spot on and the hats were perfectly placed, just as well because there was no repeat performance. As I started walking back to my car feeling pretty pleased with myself I zoomed in for a closer look only to find my oh so clever auto-focus had snapped onto the building leaving me with one of my worst 'ones that got away'.

Having now got a couple of months distance from the shot I thought I'd see what I could do in post-production (the answer, not a lot) I thought I'd still upload it. I could post-rationalise and say that for me the sharpness of the building represents permanence and the blurriness of the students demonstrates their transience but I think I should just settle for accepting it's a good reminder not to take things for granted.

Tags:   UK - Oxford - Graduation celebration_DSC6712 Students Graduation Graduation Ceremony gowns Martar Boards celebration sepia tinted toned b&w Black and White mono Monochrome InstantFave OMOT FlickrElite

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Just about on the edge of acceptability with regards sharpness (for me anyway). This shot of the Model / actress Caprice Bourret was taken in London years back just outside the Photographers Gallery (before it moved from Great Newport St) and it was a shot which gave me a new found respect for Paparazzi photographers. I saw Caprice in front of me, maybe 20m away and by the time I'd got my camera out of my bag she was surrounded by people asking for autographs, taking photos etc and this was about as good as I could get.

Click here to see other celebrities I've shot : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157623119746845

From Wikipedia : "Caprice Bourret (born October 24, 1971) is an American businesswoman, model, actress, and television personality. She lives in London where she runs her company, By Caprice Lingerie Ltd.

Caprice Bourret was born in Hacienda Heights, California, to an American mother, Valerie Bourret, and a French-Canadian father, Dale Bourret. In 1996 she moved to the United Kingdom and quickly became one of the most photographed women."

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Tags:   UK - London - Caprice candid Caprice Celebrity Model Paparazzi Caprice Bourret candid street photography Famous fame woman blonde female beautiful Great Newport Street 15 Westland Place, London, N1 7LP Westlands Place Shoreditch London © D.Godliman Darrell Godliman www.dgphotos.co.uk dgphotos All Rights Reserved Copyright travel tourism Europe British Isles United Kingdom UK Great Britain GB Britain England Capital city OMOT FlickrElite InstantFave Travel Photography Travel Photographer Architectural Photography

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Feel free to tell me if I'm losing it a bit with todays two cycling uploads. Both of these have failed on a technical level, mainly for being too close with too wide a lense, but there's still something about them I rather like. The casual observer might not realise this shot features a couple of Copenhagen Icons, the copper Knippelsbro Bridge control tower and the Christiana Bike Company child carrier.

Tags:   Denmark - Copenhagen - Cyclist panned 02sq_DSC1969 Knippelsbro Bridge Knippelsbro bike biker cyclist cycle Christiana Bike Company

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