Before starting work, I skipped to China to visit my friends Kyle and Jamie, who live in Shanghai and run their own tour company (which is amazing – visit it). I had intended to stay there for a month, but 10 days would have to suffice and we made the most of it.

We spent several days in Shanghai and then went to Beijing to visit our friend Dave, who works in the American embassy.

Living so close to Buckingham Palace is particularly useful when one loves parades.  And this country loves marching.  I went down to the Mall this morning to watch Trooping the Colour, a ceremony marking the Queen’s official birthday. It was a fascinating event.  It’s easy to forget that the participants in this parade are all active soldiers in the British Army.  Most have served, or will soon serve, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Here’s a better explanation from the monarchy’s website:

Although The Queen was born on 21 April, it has long been the tradition to celebrate the Sovereign’s birthday publicly on a day in the summer, when good weather is more likely.  Trooping the Colour is carried out by fully trained and operational troops from the Household Division (Foot Guards and Household Cavalry) on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, watched by members of the Royal Family, invited guests and members of the public. Read more →

I was asked to photograph the fourth and final party of the LSE Students’ Union Postgraduate Assembly last night.  It was held in LSE’s Quad, a café and meeting place by day and club by night.  There was a great showing and a masterful set by one of LSE’s own postgrad DJs, Ted Giletti.

Click on an image below to view a sampling of the photos. Read more →

London was hit with a snowstorm this weekend that crippled the city.  Central London saw only 3 or 4 inches, with greater accumulations in the north and west.  All the airports were shut, the Tube was halted and cars were somewhat absent.  Saturday morning’s snow globe made for some fun photos.

Living in Trafalgar Square means I don’t have far to slide to get it done, either.  The snow is so thick and wet that it was hard to keep the camera dry and the lens clear, but that’s what sealed seams are for, amiright?  The photo above is kind of fun because there are several scenes in one.  Click on it to see it larger.

Fortunately, I made it out on the first flight back to the United States when most of the following days’ flights were still cancelled.  Happy to be home.

Click photos below to expand, or view the full gallery here.

A man walks across Trafalgar Square in the calm between the police barricade and the students marching towards him.  The Tesco behind him his boarded up to protect the windows that remain after the shop was damaged in previous demonstrations.

London has seen a number of student demonstrations protesting the cuts in education funding and increase in tuition this fall.  Most of the demonstration pass through Trafalgar Square or end up there at some point.  That line of police in the photo above was easily surmounted and the groups made their way down Whitehall to Parliament Square.  Click below to expand the other photos, or view the full album here.