The World of Zarra Okumephuna

'Electronic Billboard'

2009-07-04T14:57:00.001+01:00

Title: Electronic Billboard.

Location: Piccadilly Circus, London.

Tag: okumephuna, piccasdillycircus, billboard.

Story: Outdoor advertising is taking a new dimension. The era of still pictures on billboards is gradually coming to an end. In fact it is already buried and replaced with a new method that is not only 21st century in outlook but in sync with computer age we are already in. The above electronic billboard in Piccadilly Circus, London attests to that. More like a big outdoor television, only that this time it broadcasts only advertisement regardless of the outdoor weather.

'Football Ritual'

2009-07-03T15:07:00.001+01:00

Title: Football Ritual.

Location: Peckham Rye, London.

Tag: okumephuna, peckhamrye, ritual.

Story: The game of football which is a common language understood by all come with all sorts of frenzy and madness including its preparations. Here local team 'ritually' airs their jerseys in preparation for the game. They thought that the ritual could help them win the game.

'Stop The Killings'

2009-06-24T22:25:00.002+01:00

Title: Stop The Killings

Location: Westminster, London.

Tag: okumephuna, westminster, nohome.

Story: A sign in front of the United Kingdom House of Parliament calling on the members of parliament and those who care to listen to do more to stop the killing of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

'No Home Till The War Is Over'

2009-06-24T22:13:00.001+01:00

Title: No Home Till The War Is Over

Location: Westminster, London.

Tag: okumephuna, westminster, nohome.

Story: This group of Tamil women from the war torn Sri Lanka converted the lawn in front of the House of Parliament as their home refusing to go until the United Kingdom join the rest of the world in making a bold move towards resolving the Sri Lankan civil war.

'Animals and Balls'

2009-06-23T12:28:00.002+01:00

Title: Animals and Balls

Location: Peckham Rye, London.

Tag: okumephuna, peckhamrye, animalsballs.

Story: Football is no more a monopoly of humans. It fascinates me to see how animals enjoy playing this game that humans enjoy too. One of such animals is the dog and they have perfected this game to the extent that their accuracy in capturing a bouncing ball is quite amazing.

'Motion'

2009-06-17T23:44:00.001+01:00

Title: Motion

Location: Inverkeithing-Scotland, Peckham-London.

Tag: okumephuna, Inverkeithing/Peckham, stopwar.

Story: It could be fun taking pictures of animals, humans or objects in motion. That desire to capture all these in motion is the reason behind my taking these two pictures. The picture of the bird flying away was taken in Peckham Rye in South London while that of the moving vehicle with a head of a lady in reflection was taken just before Inverkeithing in Scotland.

'Stop The War'

2009-06-17T13:47:00.004+01:00

Title: Stop The War

Location: Westminster, London.

Tag: okumephuna, westminster, stopwar.

Story: A lone protester opposite the Palace of the Westminster over the continued occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.

'Taking The Photographer'

2009-06-16T00:36:00.003+01:00

Title: Taking The Photographer

Location: Lewisham, London.

Tag: okumephuna, lewisham, photographer.

Copyright: Okumephuna Chukwunwikezarramu.

Story: I took this picture with my camera phone and the reason I took the picture is to pass a message of taking the picture of a photographer. She was busy taking a picture of something that am not aware of and I used that opportunity to take her back. It is more of ‘who watches the watchman’.

'Am The Original Devil!'

2009-06-16T00:19:00.003+01:00

Title: Am The Original Devil!

Location: Champion Hill, London.

Tag: okumephuna, championhill, devil.

Copyright: Okumephuna Chukwunwikezarramu.

Story: Despite the fact that this young man has two horns on his head like the devil, he is still happy and agreed to pose for me. One of the beauties of democracy is that people are allowed to enjoy their freedom and carry it to any level; so far they do not interfere with the rights and freedom of others. I am thinking of what would people’s reaction in a very undemocratic and conservative community.

'Gosh...We Are Tired!'

2009-06-09T15:45:00.005+01:00

Title: Gosh...We Are Tired!

Location: Kensington, London.

Tag: okumephuna, kensington, tired.

Story: The meaning of this picture is very obvious. After the whole marathon, both are tired and need some rest.

'Am Ready Shall We'

2009-06-09T15:41:00.003+01:00

Title: Am Ready Shall We.

Location: Kensington, London.

Tag: okumephuna, kensington, shallwe.

Story: After the whole chatting, frolicking and whatever, the mood here has finally changed to that of am-ready-shall-we. However I have no idea of what they are ready for now!

'So You Can Kiss Too'

2009-06-09T15:35:00.003+01:00

Title: So You Can Kiss Too.

Location: Kensington, London.

Tag: okumephuna, kensington, kiss.

Story: The mood in this picture is obviously that of surprise that those you think are not up to no bad are actually up to it. Here the black dog was really flabbergasted that the white one could kiss so passionately and so well.

'That Smells Good'

2009-06-09T15:31:00.004+01:00

Title: That Smells Good.

Location: Kensington, London.

Tag: okumephuna, kensington, smell.

Story: It is interesting to know that dogs like that which men like most too. In this picture I shot in the Kensington Park around Oval Station in South London, there is no doubt these two dogs are up to being naughty and dirty in the public.

'Watch Me Being Naughty'

2009-06-09T15:24:00.002+01:00

Title: Watch Me Being Naughty.

Location: Kensington, London.

Tag: okumephuna, kensington, naughty.

Story: This naughty dog gave me a nice posing when he was about doing his naughty business of urinating in the park. He must be a role model for other dogs.

'Mounted Branch'

2009-06-08T00:29:00.003+01:00

Title: Mounted Branch.

Location: Camberwell, London.

Tag: okumephuna, camberwell, mounted.

Copyright: Okumephuna Chukwunwikezarramu.

Story: I was greatly impressed that despite a new law in place in the UK against taking police officers and similar force men on duty, I was allowed by this two metropolitan police to take this picture. Police on horseback called the Mounted Branch in the UK policing system plays an active and integral part in policing the nation. A normal tour of duty for the horses consists of a patrol of 3 to 4 hours, although at times this may be extended depending upon the duty they are required to perform. Fitted around this is the care and maintenance of the horses and tack which they perform assisted by civilian grooms based at the stables. Though based at a particular stable they might perform duty anywhere that their specialism is required and for this purpose they may be transported by Horse Box to distant locations. Mounted Officers play an important part in the community with visits to Schools and various clubs but they are generally required to perform two main functions, high visibility patrols and public order.

'The Tamil Tigers'

2009-06-08T00:04:00.004+01:00

Title: The Tamil Tigers.

Location: Westminster, London.

Tag: okumephuna, westminster, tamil.

Copyright: Okumephuna Chukwunwikezarramu.

Story: After nearly 30 years of civil war for autonomy and independence by the Tamil ethnic group in Sri Lanka, the war was eventually brought to an abrupt end recently. In the weeks following the last days of the war, a lot of ethnic Tamils around the world staged demonstrations to call attention to the plight of their kinsmen back home. The above pictures captured some of the moments in London.

'Deptford Anchor'

2009-06-07T23:47:00.002+01:00

Title: Deptford Anchor.

Location: Deptford, United Kingdom.

Tag: okumephuna, deptford, anchor.

Copyright: Okumephuna Chukwunwikezarramu.

Story: As of the time of uploading this picture, the history behind it was not very clear to me. However it should be noted that Deptford achieved fame in 1800s as a shipbuilding dock as well as being one of the epicentres of slave trading in the UK. Olaudah Equiano, a famous Igbo slave and writer used to be a frequent visitor here. Therefore the anchor above must have something to do either with ship building or slavery.

'The Sun and the Water'

2009-06-07T03:54:00.005+01:00

Title: The Sun and the Water.

Location: Brighton, United Kingdom.

Tag: okumephuna, brighton, sunwater.

Story: What I love in this picture is the beauty of nature am trying to portray there. It is a big shame I took the pictures with a camera phone with a very low pixel and therefore could not get a high quality product, however the tranquillity of the sun resting literally on the water tickles my curiosity.

'The Palace of Westminster'

2009-06-07T03:26:00.004+01:00

Title: The Palace of Westminster.

Location: Westminster, London.

Tag: okumephuna, westminster, palace.

Story: The Palace of Westminster also known as the Houses of Parliament is the seat of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons).. The palace contains around 1,100 rooms, 100 staircases and 3 miles (5 km) of corridors. Although the building mainly dates from the 19th century, remaining elements of the original historic buildings include Westminster Hall, used today for major public ceremonial events such as lying in state and the Jewel Tower. After a fire in 1834, the present Houses of Parliament were built over the next 30 years. They were the work of the architect Sir Charles Barry (1795–1860) and his assistant Augustus Welby Pugin (1812–52). The design incorporated Westminster Hall and the remains of St Stephen's Chapel.

'The Sky'

2009-06-07T03:10:00.004+01:00

Title: The Sky.

Location: Westminster, London.

Tag: okumephuna, westminster, sky.

Story: This is the famous Big Ben at the Palace of Westminster. It is the host of the British Parliament. However that is the not the main focus of this picture. My interest in this picture lies on the sky. Am attracted to the beauty and richness in the colour of the sky.

'Lambeth College Clapham'

2009-06-07T03:02:00.003+01:00

Title: Lambeth College Clapham.

Location: Clapham, London.

Tag: okumephuna, clapham, lambeth.

Story: This £20million building of the Lambeth College in Clapham South Side, officially opened on June 6 and has 40 teaching rooms with capacity for 1200 students. It also boasts a new sixth form centre, a 160-capacity performing arts venue, a student careers hub, IT zone, chill out zone and a new media and arts centre, including a rooftop garden overlooking the Clapham Common.

'The Goldsmiths University Arts Complex'

2009-06-07T02:40:00.003+01:00

Title: The Goldsmiths University Arts Complex.

Location: New Cross, London.

Tag: okumephuna, newcross, goldsmiths.

Story: Known as the Ben Pimlott Building and designed by Alsop and Partners, the designers behind the award-winning Peckham Library. The Goldsmiths University Art Complex opened its doors to students on January 10, 2005 and contains Visual Arts studios, Digital Studios and the Centre for Cognition, Culture and Computation, a unique new research unit. The roof terrace is wrapped in a nine-meter high steel ‘scribble’ that forms the eye-catching signature to the building and is highly visible on the south London skyline. The scribble was developed in 3D as part of an accurate CAD model from a series of repeated fabricated steel units. The sculpture is constructed from 229 separate pieces of steel, of which 131 were assembled on site.

'Bellenden Bollards'

2009-05-30T11:58:00.002+01:00

Title: Bellenden Bollards.

Location: Peckham Rye, London.

Tag: okumephuna, peckhamrye, bollards.

Story: Antony Gormley is one of several artists working in Peckham who are taking part in a scheme to regenerate the area with individually designed lamp-posts, pavements and other street furniture. These bollards, made to the height of more standard versions, are installed at Bellenden Road in Peckham Rye, just along East Dulwich Road and Opposite Tesco. Based on the forms of a simple oval, snowman, peg and penis, the bollards are cast in iron and are allowed to rust naturally. Inevitably the reception of the proposed Bollards in Peckham was controversial because of one of the bollards representing a penis. The bollards show a different aspect of Gormley's working method. Unlike the majority of his sculptures they are not casts of his own body, but pieces, which are designed to be both sculptural and functional. Another famous work of Antony Gormley is the ‘Angel of the North’.

'Squirrel'

2009-05-30T01:34:00.002+01:00

Title: Squirrel.

Location: Peckham Rye, London.

Tag: okumephuna, peckhamrye, squirrel.

Story: I consider this picture of a squirrel climbing down the tree my most amazing picture so far. I saw the bravery in his composure and wanted to capture that. To my greatest surprise he had the courage to pose till I finished my shooting. It was simply amazing. He later walked away calmly quite unlike squirrels.

'Flowers'

2009-05-30T01:11:00.003+01:00

Title: Flowers.

Location: Forest Hill, London.

Tag: okumephuna, foresthill, flowers.

Story: This flower decoration within the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill, South East London is simply amazing and really captured my imagination hence taking the picture.