The Brompton against a wall photo!

Some of you have been kind enough to get in touch about all sorts of things, but there seems to be a definite theme emerging this week. Walls. More specifically, the rather strange habit of taking a photograph of your Brompton against a wall. 

If I am being completely honest, I am probably one of the worst offenders. I do it all the time. So, I thought I would try to explain myself. Perhaps, in doing so, I might also explain why some of you find yourselves doing exactly the same thing.

When I am out and about on my travels, I like taking the odd photograph of things that catch my eye. A nice view, an interesting building, a landmark, a doorway, a street scene… and, yes, the occasional wall. Actually, quite a lot of walls. There is something about a wall that just seems to work. It is ordinary. It is not trying to steal the limelight. It simply sits there doing what walls have been doing for centuries, while the Brompton gets to look rather splendid in front of it. And perhaps that is the secret.

A busy background can sometimes distract from the Brompton. Put it against a fairly plain wall and suddenly you notice the bike itself - the frame, the little details, the proportions and, of course, the colour. In my case, with a particularly vibrant Orange Brompton, a slightly dull wall is almost the perfect supporting actor.

Brick wall? Excellent. Stone wall? Lovely. Concrete wall? Yes, especially if part of a Brutal structure. 

It is also something I can do almost anywhere. I don’t need to find the perfect viewpoint or wait for the right conditions. If I spot an interesting wall while I am out exploring, I can simply stop, unfold the Brompton, lean it against the wall and take the shot.

And there we have it. Another photograph. Another wall. Another small piece of evidence that I may have developed a completely unnecessary appreciation for masonry.

But perhaps there’s something else going on. The Brompton is, after all, a bike designed to take you places. So, when I photograph it against a wall while travelling, the wall becomes part of the story. It tells you where I happened to be, while the Brompton tells you how I got there. Maybe that is why I like these photographs so much. They are not necessarily pictures of spectacular places. They are little snapshots of ordinary moments - me, my Brompton and whatever wall happened to be there.

So, if you have ever wondered why I photograph my Brompton against walls quite so often, hopefully that explains it. And if you do the same thing yourself? Don’t worry. You are amongst friends. Although I may start judging you on the quality of your walls. (North London ones are the best, right!?

Until next time, stay safe out there people!