“Why?” It’s rapidly becoming the question that people ask when I announce my next travel destination, and my Christmas in Iceland trip was no exception.

To be fair I did have doubts. Having spent a winter in Norway a few years ago I was expecting short daylight hours, cold and snow. And it was Christmas so I was expecting a few things to close. But I was also expecting some wonderful, directional light, ideal for photography; I was expecting crisp, blue skies and pristine snow; I was expecting cozy bars and restaurants; and I was expecting to see the Northern Lights.

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is Fresh. I include this image partly because it’s taken in a market that was overflowing with fresh fruit, but mainly because it always amuses me. The sleeping lady was, seconds later, woken by her colleague laughing at me taking the picture.

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks competition! I’m entry 216.

My entry for this weeks PhotoFriday contest, Stillness, was taken near Oslo, Norway. Scandinavia specialises in these beautiful, still lakes and pine forest scenery.

It slightly bugs me that the first thing a lot of people ask about my photography is what camera I use. I tend to think that it’s the photographer that counts rather than which particular machine you use, but, still, it’s a popular question and so here is the answer.

EOS300D

FEATURES: Reasonably compact (by SLR standards!), simple and quick to use, intelligent feature-set

After my positive experience with the EOS300, this was the obvious choice for my first digital camera. And the first thing to say is that there’s nothing wrong with the 300D, it’s just that…

This weeks PhotoFriday challenge is Destruction. My entry is a US tank left destroyed in Vietnam. I guess it did more than it’s fair share of destruction when operational.

Please vote for my entry in last weeks “Thin” theme. I’m entry 318.

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is Girl. My entry is number 543. This image was taken in Hoi An, Vietnam. Approaching this little girls home, she ran out with this huge grin on her face.

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks competition, Bright. I’m entry 447 (“–> Stephen <–").

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is Bright. My entry is number 447. Here the bright, morning sun is shielded by the trees. It was taken in Oslo, Norway.

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks competition, Boy. I’m entry 419 (“–> Stephen <–").

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is Boy. My entry was taken in Vietnam. A whole group of kids came out to see us. I don’t think they see many foreigners in this area.

Please also vote my my entry in last weeks competition, Silver. I’m entry 244 (“–> Stephen <–").

Friends, leaning against a car chatting. This was in Trinidad, Cuba in 2004. Taken on my Canon EOS300D with 18-55mm lens. Come back next week and vote for me, I’m entry 432.

Please vote for my entry in last weeks “Four” competition! I’m entry 494 (–> Stephen <–).

The company where I (currently) work is always trying to get people to transfer over to the New York office. There are a number of personal reasons why I didn’t want to do that, however the main reason was always that it — basically — just didn’t appeal. It really didn’t seem to be very much different from London, where I currently live, but, well, more. So when I visited New York in April I was not expecting to like it very much.