Alte Zürcher Blog

New Blog

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:13:00-0400

This blog is no longer updated and has been replaced by a new one. Go to blog.richardtugwell.com if you want to follow the results

The Blog Has Moved

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:27:00-0400

I've decided to mothball this blog. Well at least I'm not going to be updating it any longer. Why? Well, over the years it has staggered back and forth between being a City Daily Photo blog, a photo blog, a personal blog etc etc. It has an identity crisis. And so I'm starting afresh - ish. The new blog will be less of a photo blog and more about living in Switzerland - Zurich in particular. More words, less photos. Go to blog.richardtugwell.com if you want to follow the results

Züriberg Trees

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:45:00-0400

Friedhof Fluntern

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:04:00-0400

The first time I have been around this cemetery when there has been snow on the ground. For the living it takes on a completely different feeling. For the dead, including this pair - mother and daughter I guess - and their neighbour James Joyce, it makes no difference.

The Old Town Hall

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:24:00-0400

The old town hall in my village is now the local library. Taken this morning as I waited on the early Postauto into town. Cold weather and snow for the last couple of weeks has resulted in the picturesque, but also some of the best local skiing conditions for years

Globus

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:42:00-0400

Happy New Year

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:04:00-0400

Best wishes to everyone for 2009

Zürich Skyline

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:54:00-0400

From the roof of the ETH cafeteria

Seduced by an older woman

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:55:00-0400

That should get me a few google hits, although the woman in question is almost 500 years old. The drawing is by Hans Holbein the Younger and was used to illustrate a London Review of Books article by Peter Campbell. Holbeins drawings, mostly made as preliminaries for full worked paintings, have always seemed much more effective to me. The subject is Grace Newport, The Lady Parker. For a start, what a beautiful name! The quality of this scan is not good - taken again from a newspaper - but for me this looks like a thoroughly modern woman, who could be appraising you with that steady gaze and hint of a smile from any of the glossy front pages. At least I think so. Hilary Mantel called her a "wide eyed child" in another article in the LRB, but she may not have been looking at this drawing - there seem to be many versions - but this one really caught my attention. I've commented before about the differences between painting and photography. For me the area where they come very close is in portraiture, where representation and insight always perform a subtle duet.

San Marco, Piazetta

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:20:00-0400

The lion of San Marco, dominating proceedings as intended, in this familiar view. This was about the only view I could get that eliminated football field sized acreages of advertising and scaffolding due to renovation work at the moment. Even then Jaws and Swatch manage to get a bit part.

The Day The Earth Stood Still

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:51:00-0400

I've been meaning to do a regular series on Swiss advertising, which I find quite interesting for various reasons. Mostly it's quite fun. The following is a recent example (apologies for the poor scan from a newspaper). Using the film promo as an ad spoof is not a new idea, but this has a little twist for me that says something about Switzerland. The event being advertised is the big timetable change that occurs every year. Often it doesn't mean many big changes, but in a country where public transport is an integral part of life, even small timetable changes have to be taken seriously. I know many times and connections by heart for example (sad bastard I hear you say). So what is this? Self mocking or just trying to inject some fun into a regular ritual?

Leningrad Cowboys

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:09:00-0400

Time for a change. Time to lighten up a bit. Time to.. well I don't know... the Leningrad Cowboys defy description. However this excerpt from their Wikipedia entry might give you a clue. "The songs, all somewhat influenced by polka and progressive rock, are performed in English and have themes such as vodka, tractors, rockets, and Genghis Khan"

Ah.. I love the smell of Tri-X in the morning

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:42:00-0400

Piazzeta, misty morning

Snow in Zurich

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:23:00-0400

It's been snowing in Zurich. These photos were shot in the early morning a couple of days ago. Zurich doesn't get a lot of snow, maybe 3 or 4 days a year of heavy fall, and it doesn't last for long. Nothing like some other cities in the world, but what is more important is that it means snow in the mountains for skiing

Caffe dei Frari

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:35:00-0400

As promised. Opposite the Frari, with one of the biggest interiors in Venice, we have the Caffe dei Frari with one of the littlest. Despite it's presence being impossible to miss as you cross the bridge from the Frari on route to San Polo and the Rialto, this small cafe is wonderfully cosy, friendly, unspoilt and slightly unusual. One of my favourites.