M A Andrew Black and White Photography Blog

Spent some time on Saturday at Jodrell Bank, which boasts the largest radio telescope in England. This huge dish is 76m in diameter. The observatory was established in 1945 by Sir Bernard Lovell, who wanted to investigate cosmic rays after his work on radar in the Second World War. It has since played an important role in the research of meteors, quasars, pulsars, masers and gravitational lenses, and was heavily involved with the tracking of space probes at the start of the Space Age.

Istanbul is an ancient city that contains some truly stunning architecture. Over the years, the influences of Christianity, Islam and the Ottoman empire have helped sculped the  city into a unique place. The pictures here show the Blue Mosque - so named because of the Izmir blue tiles used in the construction of its roof,  The Haghia Sophia - one time church, one time mosque and Haydarpasa train station. At this train station, which sits on the Asian side of the Bosporous, you can catch trains to  Baghdad.

In the financial heartland of the city of London, you find a number of interesting buildings. The Lloyds building and the Swiss Re - The Gherkin - are practically side by side. I am still undecided as to whether the Lloyds building is beautiful or plain ugly. I suppose this is the genius of the design.

The old city of Marrakesh is lined by an interminable ochre wall. It’s only once you find a break in this barrier that you are able to swap Old Testament type alleys and derbs for wide European style boulevards. Strangely, it’s not long before you yearn to be back within its snaking confines once more.