SWXX

The first Christmas Tree of 2012

Zarina Holmes — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:56:20 +0000

The days are getting shorter and colder. It gets darker quicker, but that doesn’t mean that we should put our cameras away.

This is the time when we get to see cheerful Christmas lights around town again.

SWXX took these night time shots while taking our photography students out for an outing in Covent Garden. It was the evening of 31st October and we were looking for Halloween revellers.

Workers preparing to put Christmas lights up in Covent Garden. Photo © Zarina Holmes / SWXX

Christmas lights in Covent Garden. Photo © Zarina Holmes / SWXX

The council had sent out workers to put up Christmas lights around the area that night. We went into a pub which was facing the Covent Garden Piazza, and spotted workers erecting the first Christmas Tree of 2012 by chance.

We can’t believe Christmas Day is less than six weeks away!

It’s that time of the year again. Photo © Zarina Holmes / SWXX

Filed under: Community, Design & Lifestyle, SWXX On Location Tagged: Christmas, christmas tree, Covent Garden, lights

Copenhagen cycle and photo exhibition with Bikeminded and Danish Cycling Culture

Zarina Holmes — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 00:38:25 +0000

We had a great time at Copenhagen cycle photo exhibition at Duke of York Square, which was organised by Bikeminded and the Royal Danish Embassy.

The exhibition showcased photographs of Danish cyclists in Copenhagen by Mikael Colville-Andersen, the renown photographer and cycle blogger of Copenhagen Cycle Chic. It made us want to cycle around Copenhagen ourselves.

Copenhagen cycle exhibition at Duke of York Square in Chelsea. Photo © Zarina Holmes.

Andersen’s work is now published as a photobook by Thames & Hudson.

SWXX also got to learn a lot more about Bikeminded efforts promoting exciting campaigns and events to get people onto a bike in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Red Velorbis for The Royal Danish Embassy. Photo © Zarina Holmes

We had fun trying out the lovely Danish bicycles such as Avenue and Velorbis that were also displayed there. They are wonderful things of beauty.

Gold! Avenue bikes. Photo © Zarina Holmes

If you enjoy cycling as a fun and social activity, you can join Bikeminded’s Notting Hill Mystery ride on 31st October. They will collaborate with real actors to re-enact the 1940s post-war scene while cycling around Notting Hill.

Velorbis. Photo © Zarina Holmes.

As usual, Zarina can’t resist going for Gold. Avenue bike. Photo by David Salas for © Zarina Holmes.

Velorbis. Photo © Zarina Holmes.

Share the love of cycling. Carry passengers. Photo © Zarina Holmes.

Filed under: Community, Culture & Pursuits, Cycling, Design & Lifestyle, Local Enterprises Tagged: Avenue, Bikeminded, Copenhagen, cycling, Mikael Colville-Andersen, Royal Danish Embassy, Velorbis

Hammersmith & Fulham’s Learner Handbook 2012 / 2013

Zarina Holmes — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 21:50:28 +0000

We are cycling enthusiasts here at SWXX, so our photographers decided to join the HFALS Bicycle Maintenance workshop at Macbeth Centre in Hammersmith this autumn.

Incidentally, an image we took is currently featured on the front cover Hammersmith & Fulham’s Learner Handbook 2012/2013.

Bikeworks workshop. Photo © Zarina Holmes

It was taken for a photography commission by Bikeworks, an award-winning social enterprise using cycling as tool to tackle social and environmental challenges at a community level. Bikeworks is a partner of Hammersmith & Fulham adult learning and skills service programme.

The bicycle maintenance workshop is well worth your time and really useful if you are a regular cyclist.

Spanners and allen keys are fun. Photo © Zarina Holmes on Instagram

Filed under: Community, Cycling Tagged: Adult learning, Bicycle, cycle maintenance, Hammersmith and Fulham, workshop

The queens and kings of Notting Hill Carnival

Zarina Holmes — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 18:20:45 +0000

SWXX had a great a time at the Notting Hill Carnival during the August’s Bank Holiday weekend.

Barely two weeks after the Olympics ended, London was celebrating again with the largest street party event in Europe.

Family day carnival on Sunday. Photo © Zarina Holmes

Fortunately for the revellers, the Met Office’s prediction of heavy rainfall during the Bank Holiday didn’t happen.

Although the Notting Hill Carnival is of Caribbean origins, it is very much a part of British culture today and celebrated by all ethnicities.

The usual highlights of the carnival are the sound systems, the floats, the great Caribbean food and the fun atmosphere. As previous year, Sunday was family day and Monday was adult day.

As a Londoner, I have been following the Carnival years. Since 2009, after the Nissan Design Europe photography commission, I decided to document the event every year.

There are always new angles and ways of looking to discover. I particularly enjoy the theatrical aspect of the carnival, especially the dancers’ costumes and make-ups.

Made in Britain. Photo © Zarina Holmes

I prefer photographing the adult day, because it was more raw and in your face.

The event was peaceful, although occasionally you see trouble between the lads. However, there was always strong police presence. I always had a great time, and never had any hassle from anyone.

My favourite part of the Carnival was searching for the Carnival Queen. They were all gorgeous, but there is always one that stands out from the crowd.

This year she is SWXX’s Carnival Queen.

She’s our Carnival Queen this year. Photo ©Zarina Holmes

The Carnival Queen is not only beautiful, she also reflects the joyful crowd surrounding her. She is the spirit of the carnival.

More Carnival photos below. We have never seen so many good looking people in one place.

Photo © Zarina Holmes

Filed under: Community, Culture & Pursuits, Go visit Tagged: British, London, Notting Hill, Notting Hill Carnival, party, W11

Beautiful Britannia at Cissbury to celebrate a winning summer 2012

Zarina Holmes — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 16:25:23 +0000

Summer 2012 has been the most uplifting and jubilant season, starting with the Diamond Jubilee celebration in May, and followed by the London Olympics in July and August.

As national pride surge, the Beautiful Britannia elements are creeping into the latest fashion and product design.

The Union Jack’s red, blue and white is no longer synonymous with tacky tourist souvenirs normally found in Leicester Square.

We owe that to the brilliant Team GB kit that were designed by Stella McCartney. Thanks to her, the three national primary colours are everywhere and in vogue this year.

What cyclist doesn’t dream about the British cycling team’s aerodynamic helmets, as worn by Bradley Wiggins, Victoria Pendleton and Sir Chris Hoy.

If you are looking for tasteful souvenirs to remember this special summer, look no further than Cissbury on Wandsworth Bridge Road, in Fulham SW6.

Previously, SWXX has spoken to owners-curators, Etta and Miranda Wyatt, who have impeccable eyes in spotting local craft talents.

The summer 2012 collection at Cissbury is bright, whimsical and uplifting, reflecting the optimistic mood in London at the moment.

The souvenirs are also classic and timeless, with potentials to become future vintage and collectible items.

I especially love heritage souvenirs by Tinker Tailor, a London-based craft company founded by Carolina Apfel.

Tinker Tailor’s crafters use traditional English embroidery using velvet and metal threads, making the souvenirs appear regal.

Apart from bespoke Christmas and weddings decoration, they also create heirloom pieces.

Cissbury is SWXX surprise discovery this year.

There are plenty more adorable souvenirs that would make lovely memorabilia of a truly glorious summer.

Cissbury is at No. 93 Wandsworth Bridge Road, London SW6 2TD.

Filed under: Design & Lifestyle, Fashion, Home design, Local Enterprises, Objects of Desire Tagged: British, Cissbury, embroidery, Fulham, London 2012, Olympics, summer, Tinker Tailor