Richard Alton Photoblog

‘The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.’  Ellen Parr Curiosity gets a bad press – people often confuse it with being nosy. So if someone tells you that curiosity killed the cat, they probably mean you should mind your own business. As a photographer, you’re then left

When I worked in London, I’d often take a detour across Westminster Bridge on my way home. Except in winter, there would still be enough daylight to take photos. I came across this couple one April evening. I expect they’d come from north London, to relax and take in the sights. As

‘Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight.’ Phyllis Diller

“I like ‘organic’, which isn’t always pristine.” I stumbled on Susan’s work through Flickr, the photo sharing website. We both love dogs and black & white photography, which seemed a good beginning. Then as I explored Susan’s images, I was drawn into her creative world. Sharing home with husband Leon, six dogs

Walt Disney’s ‘Jungle Book’ has a lot to answer for. Having watched the film as a child, I was convinced that a jungle was thick tropical forest where the animals danced to swinging jazz. The truth isn’t as entertaining. Apparently ‘jungle’ comes from the Hindi word ‘jangala’, meaning open, savannah-like terrain, uninhabited

‘We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.’ Henny Youngman (1906-98). Having reached a hundred blog posts in just over two years, it’s time to take stock. So I’m asking for your feedback. What do you like about the blog? And which items do you pass over, because you’re not

For many years a friend teased me. She would praise one of my black and white photos, then suggest that colour might have worked better. Smiling, I’d explain that I preferred black and white, before changing the subject. But when I moved to Zambia, the choice didn’t feel so clear-cut. Suddenly, faced

‘Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.’ Robert Frost (1874-1963)

‘To me, photography is an art of observation.’ Elliott Erwitt For a long time Elliott Erwitt has been one of my heroes. And while he’s best known for his humorous dog pictures, the range of his photography is much broader than that. Mr Erwitt likes his pictures (or snaps as he sometimes

Imagine – you’ve hit the photographic jackpot. You’ve just sold a candid portrait, taken on Brighton beach, for an advertising campaign. It’s a generous fee, so now you can afford that new lens. If only life was that simple. Without the written permission of your subject, you can’t go selling pictures of