Brittany. 1979. #scape #seascape #sea #FranceTravel #photography #classicmono @bskyphotos.bsky.social#scape

This stammering mouse tries in vain to express itself in a confused monologue; it hesitates, stumbles over words, can't remember what it wanted to say-everything comes to it in unintelligible snatches. RYAN GANDER 1... I... I.... 2019

James Lee Byars's (1932-1997) sphere of 3,333 red roses asks us to contemplate impermanence and death, a work he completed shortly before his death from cancer. Exhibited in the Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection. Paris. 2026.

An enigmatic figure who emerged on the American scene in the late 1960s, James Lee Byars (1932-1997) lived a nomadic existence in search of a spiritual incandescence. His emblematic hue is gold, symbol of the sublime, the sacred, and transcendence.

Paris #6: I've not seen a sign-writer at work for years. A happy moment indeed. Blvd Beaumarchais. 2026. #artist #Paris

Paris by night. Cafe in the Place Sainte-Catherine. 2026. #classicmonochrome #urban #streetphotography @bskyphotos.bsky.social#classicmonochrome

The Leonora Carrington exhibition in Paris is a tour de force. Wide ranging and comprehensive it was hence interesting that there was only one piece that showed any influence from the Far East despite her interest in Buddhism. Untitled but dating from 1936.

It's been months since it's been possible to sit outside wearing a t-shirt, on a barmy evening enjoying a beer. Happy hour in Paris.

Paris #5. Visiting Paris in 1984. (With photos!) grahamthomasauthor.wordpress.com/2023/01/18/p...

Paroisse Saint-Paul Saint-Louis. Paris. 2026. @bskyphotos.bsky.social

Five of the Top Ten are Japanese films.

In fact just typically crap, sentimental Antipodes advertising. Something they specialised in due to some longing for a far away home country.

There are times when it is better to keep your mouth shut.

25th February is George Harrison's birthday. This is Harrison photographed in Japan, December 1991, by Brian Roylance.

Les Deux Magots. Paris. 2026 #classicmonochrome #Photography #cafes #Parisienne #LeftBank #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin @bskyphotos.bsky.social#classicmonochrome

Paris #4. Visiting Paris in the 1970s. "I was on my way back from a journey that had taken me through the length and breadth of Morocco. The year was 1974 and I had taken trains from Algeciras in the south of Spain to reach Paris..." grahamthomasauthor.wordpress.com/2023/01/17/p...

Eglise Saint Germain des Pres. Paris. The oldest church in the city. Feb 2026. #classicmonochrome @bskyphotos.bsky.social#classicmonochrome

Paris #4. Les Enfants Rouge is one of the best unstarred restaurants in Paris. Owner-chef and waiting staff are Japanese. (Not to be confused with the dreadful market of the same name.) These are entrees. Pumpkin; artichoke soup; uni; and a terrine. #FrenchFood #Paris

A proper neighbourhood restaurant in Le Marais. Paris. Feb 2026. @bskyphotos.bsky.social

Paris #3. Not the most aesthetic of shots but I liked all the red inside Ryst Dupeyron - Vintage and Co. This is a cave that specialises in its house Armagnac - some of the many bottles grouped by year are on the shelves at the back.

The Chapel of Saint Symphorien, built c1020, and the frescos that also date from the time. A stone marks the likely grave of St Germain; and even the simple entrance is impressive. #Paris #church #history

Paris #3. A magical moment. Stained glass reflected in a scallop shell in the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the oldest church in the capital. #Paris #catholicchurch #FrenchHistory

Paris #3. The city becomes more layered on each trip with stray memories and associations accumulating like the pages of a thick scrapbook. We now haunt the same places like ghosts that no one sees because they did not see us when we first came. grahamthomasauthor.wordpress.com/2023/01/17/p...

Paris #3. This restaurant specialises in cassoulet. And very good too. À très bientôt! L'ASSIETTE 181 rue du Château 75014, PARIS #FrenchFood #BestParisRestaurants #ParisTravel

Saint Paul. Le Marais. Paris. Feb 2026. #france #ParisTravel #Photography #urban @bskyphotos.bsky.social

The usual way overseas is to charge overseas tourists but it needs an easy way to identify tourists and domestic visitors. As we don't have a national identity card it would mean carrying some other proof. That would be faff. There could be a national museum and gallery digital or plastic card but..

Paris #2. I'll start by linking to a piece on visiting Paris in the 1920s and 30s. The itineraries undertaken were similar to today's -although there was little appreciation for the rats and bed bugs encountered when the first group stayed in 1924.) grahamthomasauthor.wordpress.com/2023/01/17/p...

Paris #1: Creatures of habit. The first and last place we eat on a Paris trip is Terminus Nord opposite Gare du Nord. The decor is splendid, and the food simple, reliable and classic.

Vintage posters featuring Paris: the first - artist unknown - but dated c1900; and the second Paul Colin (1892-1986) THEATRE MARIGNY. TROIS JEUNES FILLES NUES. 1928. Built in 1883, and converted to a theatre in 1894, and modernised in 1925. #Paris #France #vintageposters

To Paris, the City of Lights. For the next week I'll focus my ramblings on this my - almost - favourite city. This will include linking to my various essays on visiting Paris from the 18th century onwards. (Part 1 is linked in the thread - and starts with a Hemingway quote from a Moveable Feast):

#OTD 2020. "One day, I realised I started to look just like my husband" Author Yukiko Mitoya. Bath.

If you know my work, you'll know that looking/visual thinking is central to it. So of course I loved the new French-Japanese film Little Amelie, about a 2-3 year old beginning to understand life through looking. Really innovative.

Possibly an unfortunate choice of words. In 2018, then then Prince Andrew advocated for a new Royal Yacht Britannia to be used as a "tool in the bag" to help British businesses secure trade deals, arguing that a yacht could have the same "soft power" effect as a royal family member.

I expect the ex HRH will be having quite a few of these.

Late afternoon, the Seto Inland Sea from Mount Yoshida near Takamatsu. 2024. #seascape #photography #BlueMonday #瀬戸内海#SetoNaika @bskyphotos.bsky.social#seascape

It's a despicable regime but the British government's advice is very loud and very clear: DO NOT TRAVEL THERE.

Thoroughly enjoyed last night's talk from Shigeru Ban. Not only is he a brilliant architect - and we were spellbound as he explained his approach and showed some greatest hits - but he is a dedicated humanitarian, and a droll and witty speaker.

Tunnel under South Kensington, London. Dates from 1885.

You don't need research to tell you the obvious: young Brits don't want to pick apples, clean toilets, labour on building sites in crap weather... That apparently they do is a nonsensical fantasy made up by politicians.

I've a few copies of Olive bought secondhand in a now closed bookstore in Kotohira. They date from the early 1980s but while the fashion is amazing I do wonder if anyone actually dressed like this. I'm afraid that no one dressed like Briton Trad in the UK. (Well perhaps some Highland lasses.)

A lofty but pretty chancel in St James, Dursley. Originally 13th century but extensively remodelled in a High Victorian style during the 19th century. #church #EnglishHistory #architecture #England

In the mid-1980s Olive magazine in Japan promoted the sale of dartboards, highlighting that they were found in every country pub in England. (Almost true.) But how many women bought a dart board? Olive was published from the early 80s through to 2002, and created the 'Olive girl' aesthetic...

The Golden Age of train travel in the 1930s: the Orient Express with the add-on Taurus Express from Istanbul to Basra, and offshoot to Cairo and Tehran.

I still don't understand this Bird's Custard ad dating from 1897. 'Kitchen Warfare'. The cook throwing an egg at something? A bird? #premierfoods #HistoryOfAdvertising.

Then and now. A vintage photo from the late 19th century of Kiyomizu, and some photos taken a couple of years ago when I was last in Kyoto. #Japan #JapanTravel #Japanesephotography

How did Hirohito remain as Emperor when it was clear he was complicit in war crimes? grahamthomasauthor.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/t...

Takamatsu. 2019. #Setouchi #Shikoku @bskyphotos.bsky.social#Setouchi

Tadao Ando designed the Shikokumura Gallery found in the Shikoku Mura open-air museum. Takamatsu. #Kagawa #JapanTravel #architecture #Setouchi @bskyphotos.bsky.social#Kagawa

Can you see the hazy area in the centre? That's a highly localised patch of falling rain, accentuated by the setting sun. #scape #landscape #clouds @bskyphotos.bsky.social

It's the way the sunlight falls onto the grave in St Mary's Church, Waterperry.