Powder Keg in Palestine

In light of the increased tension and violence in Jerusalem over the course of the past month (including 30 Palestinians deaths and 7 Israelis), a Protest for Palestine was held on the 17^th of October on Kensington High Street opposite Kensington Palace Gardens where the Israeli Embassy is located.  The demonstration was organised by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, Palestinian Forum in Britain and Friends of Al-Aqsa Mosque.  I shot two not dissimilar protests last year (one directed at the BBC and one at 10 Downing Street).  In their demonstration notice, Stop the War Coalition stated:

We have come together to oppose this escalating attack on Palestinians.  We welcome all who stand with us in our opposition to all forms of racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.  Supporters of Palestinian rights encompass all faiths and none.  Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Atheist, religions and non-religious people all stand together on this protest….We stand with Palestinians in their struggle for a future free of racism, colonialism and apartheid.  There is no place for racism in a progressive movement fighting for justice and human rights.

I was fortunate at be able to get right into the centre of crowd where several individuals were leading the chanting prior to speeches.  What I find fascinating about these protests are the large range of people participating – from young to old and of all races.  From a photographic point of view, what I found particularly ironic is the juxtaposition of this extremely serious subject with the seemingly carefree posh shopping area of Kensington.

A Taste of Scottish Elegance and Fly Fishing

For my birthday this year, my partner surprised me with a trip to Morayshire, Scotland.  He’d told me about his adventures in previous fly fishing trips to the Highlands, but I really had no idea what it was all about.  For one thing, it’s not just for men.  Secondly, despite wading into a fast-moving river up to one’s waist, fly fishing is quite graceful, gentle and meditative.  Thirdly, lunch by the water is fantastic.  Lastly, the hotel where we stayed was authentically Scottish and elegant and a superb place to socialise with fellow fisher-people/friends at the end of the day.  It’s a bit like a ski trip, only instead of ski instructors, there are highly experienced and wonderful ghillies.  Would I do it again?  For a long weekend, in a heartbeat.  

You can view some of my photos of the trip below or in the online photobook I created here.