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pauldebois

Photographer based in London. Work: Lifestyle, gardens, landscape and people.
Photos & features through: www.gapphotos.com
Alter ego: rowing coach.

Swamp cypress, Taxodium distichum. You can only s

Swamp cypress, Taxodium distichum.

You can only see these from the river along the water meadows at Syon House. Originally from the United States and introduced to Britain in the 17th century. The ones at Syon apparently date from the 18th century.

Beautiful tangled roots which seem to cope with the strong tides and daily inundations along the river.

And from a family of trees that would likely have been around at the time of the dinosaurs. Vast areas in the United States were cut down by loggers in the 19th century, but the ancient habitats are now becoming protected. So it's nice to see a small offering in West London.

#documentingspace #naturephotography #landscapephotography #riverthames #thames #londonsriver #urbanriver #citywaterways #hiddenlondon #exploringlondon #secretlondon #treeshapes #naturalsculpture #treelines #taxodiumdistichum #swampcypress

Sun, moon and cherry blossom. Last time we had su

Sun, moon and cherry blossom.

Last time we had such a profusion of blossom on the cherry tree was during the first months of lockdown. And there was a bumper crop of cherries.

A battle between parakeets and pigeons we normally lose.

#flowers #flower #flowerphotography #flowerphotographer #floral #nature #garden #gardenphotography #gardenphotographer #gardeninglife #gardencolour #plantingideas
#editorialphotography #featureshoot #magazinefeature #whitecherryblossom

Victoria Embankment. Early morning Thames skylines

Victoria Embankment. Early morning Thames skylines through London plane trees.

A rare wander along the river in central London. With Waterloo and Blackfriars Bridges.

#skylines #cityskylines #waterloobridge #blackfriarsbridge #streetphotography #urbanautica #alteredlandscape #city #cityphotography #architecture #sociallandscape #treeshapes #londonplanetrees #cloudscape #earlydays #victoriaembankment #exploringlondon #riverthames #thames

Flowers of the day @innertemplegarden Early morn

Flowers of the day @innertemplegarden

Early morning wandering. Amazing how quickly things change in a week. The cherry blossom is pretty much over, but we were greeted by an expanse of Narcissus. Also by two wrens, who were a little vocal - maybe a little too close to their nest. If indeed they were a couple. 😊

#flowers #flower #flowerphotography #flowerphotographer #floral #nature #garden #gardenphotography #gardenphotographer #gardeninglife #perennialborder #perennialflowers #gardencolour #plantingideas
#editorialphotography #featureshoot #magazinefeature #innertemple #narcissus

Fritillaria meleagris, Snake's head fritillary, Sn

Fritillaria meleagris, Snake's head fritillary, Snake’s head, chess flower, leper lily - there are quite a few names for this small fellow.

I first came across them in the paintings of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and thought they were a figment of his imagination. But they are real and do grow wild in the UK. Though it is thought to be introduced rather than a true native species.

Quite pleased to have actually grown these in my front garden this year, the first time after many attempts.

#flowers #flower #flowerphotography #flowerphotographer #floral #nature #garden #gardenphotography #gardenphotographer #gardeninglife #perennialborder #perennialflowers #gardencolour #plantingideas #instagarden #bloom #petals #nature #flowery #flower-portrait

Last light, Strand-on-the-Green. #strandonthegre

Last light, Strand-on-the-Green.

#strandonthegreen #lastlight #lowlight #skyline #cloudshapes #skywatching #colourblue

Notes, Grand Union Canal. Observations in passing.

Notes, Grand Union Canal. Observations in passing.

Ghost boats, house boats and canal life ephemera.

#subjectivelyobjective #documentingspace #overlookedbeauty #streetphotography #urbanautica #alteredlandscape #city #cityphotography #architecture #kensalrise #grandunioncanal #willesden

Who can resist the offer of a ladder! The cherry

Who can resist the offer of a ladder!

The cherry blossom at its peak at Inner Temple Gardens this week. Very lucky to see this garden early in the morning when the road is nearly silent. You can hear birds, the ripple of the water fountain and every now and then, Big Ben. Amazing for central London.

Great to be working with Sean and Sophie @innertemplegarden this morning.

#flowers #flower #flowerphotography #flowerphotographer #floral #nature #garden #gardenphotography #gardenphotographer #gardeninglife #perennialborder #perennialflowers #gardencolour #plantingideas
#editorialphotography #featureshoot #magazinefeature #innertemple #cherryblossom

Vets Head of the River Race today. First race this

Vets Head of the River Race today. First race this year for us!

#rowing #sculling #rowinglife #tss #watersport #vestaheadofriverrace #tidewayscullers

Street trees. Front garden and roadside displays.

Street trees. Front garden and roadside displays.

If you wander your local streets, there is a lot to see at the moment. Maybe the late frosts have not been severe enough to hit flowers and blossom, particularly Magnolias.

Worth taking a look whilst on your daily routines!

#flowers #flower #flowerphotography #flowerphotographer #floral #nature #garden #gardenphotography #gardenphotographer #bloom #petals
#editorialphotography #featureshoot #magazinefeature #magnolia #cherryblossom #magnoliastellata

Syon Reach this evening. All Friday afternoons s

Syon Reach this evening.

All Friday afternoons should involve rowing, chocolate brownies and good company!

#asl #coachinglife #sculling #riverthames #teamwork #syonreach

Stargazer lilies. The scent is amazing, though not

Stargazer lilies. The scent is amazing, though not for everyone!

#flowers #flower #flowerphotography #flowerphotographer #floral #nature #garden #gardenphotography #gardenphotographer #bloom #petals #nature #flowery #flower-portrait
#editorialphotography #featureshoot #magazinefeature #stargazer #stargazerlily

Night rowing. One of the @putneytownrc senior men’s crews training last night.

Being on the river at night is amazing, as you have a completely different perspective. Everything surrounding you is bigger, the sounds are different and you are very small! You just need to be super aware of safety and make sure your navigation lights are correctly used as these are your only reference points.

I think the last time I shot night action I used film! Some crazy moiré patterns or interference patterns going on with the high iso setting last night. Maybe something caused by flare too. Not sure. 🤷🏻‍♂️ But interesting graphics nonetheless.

#putneytownrc #ptrc #rowing #rowinglife #riverthames #thames #mortlake #racetraining #horr #riversport #hammersmithbridge #chiswickbridge #nightlights #riveratnight #putneyembankment #harrodsfurnituredepository

High tide exploring from last week. For about 30 m

High tide exploring from last week. For about 30 minutes or so on a spring tide, you can paddle over Brentford Ait before the water drops enough to leave you stranded.

1. The centre of the island is like a prehistoric film set which is completely hidden.
2. Views towards Brentford.
3. There are some animal boxes which have been located here. No idea what they are for as the area is frequently inundated with water.
4. Willow curtain. You have to paddle through this tree to get onto the island.
5. There are some impressive trees, some of which must be quite old.
6. One problem with the Thames at the moment is the increased levels of sewage, which is worrying. The static water here has trapped the discharge, which appears as a brown froth on the surface.
7. In the summer a lot of the area is covered by Himalayan balsam, an invasive species. Views like this wouldn't be possible then.
8. Last light.
9. The camera I use, a FujiFilm X100. I love this camera, which I bought specifically to use in the kayak. I have to operate the camera with one hand, the other needed to hold the paddle and keep me steady!

#brentfordait #londonislands #riverthames #urbanwaterways #urbanriver #citywaterways #brentford #kew #lastlight #goldenlight #treescape #viewsfromakayak #fujifilm100x

Prunus cerasifera or cherry plum. At the end of J

Prunus cerasifera or cherry plum.

At the end of January I had an MRI scan. On the ceiling of the scanner room there was a very large back projection of cherry blossom against a blue sky. That stuck in my mind and I have tried several times recently to capture that sense.

Not the same, but maybe an improvement on the original idea. An approach that doesn't always rinse with art directors..."But that's not what I asked for". 🙂

#flowers #flower #flowerphotography #flowerphotographer #floral #nature #garden #gardenphotography #gardenphotographer #bloom #petals #nature #flowery #flower-portrait #cherryplum #prunuscerasifera
#editorialphotography #featureshoot #magazinefeature #gunnersburypark #whiteblossom

Judging and moderation training - most judges from

Judging and moderation training - most judges from the 2025 judging panels for the RHS portfolio and botanical art competitions at the RHS Lindley Library this morning. First time we have gathered en masse!

Medals will be awarded on 12th June and the exhibition will run at the Saatchi Gallery from Friday 13th June until 27th July.

#flowers #flower #flowerphotography #flowerphotographer #floral #floralart #nature #garden #gardenphotography #gardenphotographer #gardeninglife #magazinefeature #exhibition #saatchigallery #rhs #rhsportfolio #competition #botanicalart

Wandering, Gunnersbury Park. Some wonderful colour

Wandering, Gunnersbury Park. Some wonderful colour over the last week.

1. Japanese quince flowers and hellebores.
2. Beech trees
3. Blackthorn
4. English oak, Quercus robur
5. Yellow blossom - not sure what this is.
6. Sweet chestnut

#gunnersburypark #nature #garden #gardenphotography #gardenphotographer #gardeninglife #treeshapes #london #beautifullondon #lostplaces #sweetchestnut #lastlight #oaktree #hellebores #japanesequince

Womens Eights Head of the River Race, or WeHorr 20

Womens Eights Head of the River Race, or WeHorr 2025. PTRC, TSS, ULBC and LEH crews, plus behind the scenes. A breezy couple of hours on Chiswick Bridge watching one of the biggest tideway races of the year. Bring on the summer season!

#putneytownrc #ptrc #rowing #rowinglife #watersport #tidewayscullers #tss #ulbc #leh #riverthames #thames #mortlake

Strand-on-the-Green and Kew Rail Bridge. #editori

Strand-on-the-Green and Kew Rail Bridge.

#editorialphotography #featureshoot #magazinefeature #strandonthegreen #landscapephotography #riverthames #thames #river #londonsriver #urbanriver #citywaterways #kewroadbridge #kewrailbridge

Kew Riverside - Cherry plum. #flowers #flower #fl

Kew Riverside - Cherry plum.

#flowers #flower #flowerphotography #flowerphotographer #editorialphotography #featureshoot #magazinefeature #riverthames #thames #lostplaces #nature_takes_over #prunuscerasifera #cherryplum #springblossom #cloudgazing #lookingup #skywards #bluetheme #wandering #hiddenlondon #beautifullondon

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