I'm a native east Londoner, born in Forest Gate but living near Romford on the Essex/London borders. I have been a keen photographer since the age of 16. My photography represents a wide spectrum of personal interests varying from pictures of historic places to images from human rights campaigns I took part in during the late 1990s. I was a professional journalist from 1972 until 2002 when ill health caught up with me. I now suffer from M.E./Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This limits the frequency of my photography and my choice of subjects.... most images are close to a car park.

All my photographs are strict copyright and may not be reproduced without my prior permission.

I have a passion for photographing churches, castles, sunsets and anything British either rural or urban. Apart from my mother's home county of Norfolk I also love Dorset, Sussex, Kent and some parts of Essex. Other parts of Essex are more 'challenging' photographically, especially nearer to London.

Another passion is naval history from the 'steam and steel' period as well as combat aircraft of both world wars and WW2 tanks. I was a museum assistant at Firepower, the Museum of the Royal Artillery, but eventually had to give that up. I'm still a member of the Lance and Longbow Society.

I've written two sets of wargames rules - "Bills, Bows and Bloodshed" for the so-called Wars of the Roses and "Eggshells Armed With Sledgehammers" covering WW1 naval warfare around the Dogger Bank/Jutland period.

(continues below photo)

Myself 2

Born on June 9 I'm a typical Gemini - mercurial and inquisitive. I have been told that I suffer from a 'deplorable excess of personality'. My family seem to have inherited that trait. My personal politics are liberal but not dogmatic. I am not quite 'green' - more sort of 'peppermint' coloured.

I am heterosexual BDSM and proud of it.... safe, sane and consensual on the 'dominant' wing of the lifestyle. I was chairman of SM Pride nationally from 1998 to 2000 and I'm a former Spanner Trustee. I was co-organiser of the 1999 and 2000 SM Pride marches.

For those unaware of the term BDSM Wikipedia has this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDSM

In the late 1990s I worked as a dungeon monitor [BDSM health and safety person] at Torture Garden, Age of Reason and other nightclubs and I still maintain a keen interest in lifestyle health and safety. During my time with SM Pride my telephone number was listed nationally and I found myself counselling people from all walks of life with BDSM issues or who were simply coming to terms with themselves as 'non-vanilla' people.

I have appeared in several television documentaries and chat shows talking about our lifestyle. One episode of 'Secret Suburbia' featured myself and my eldest daughter Emma with Emma holding forth on the perils of having a pervy Dad. In her commentary she said: "There's no one quite like my dad.... he's.... errr... unique!" Bless her!

Around 10 per cent of the sexually active adult population is BDSM inclined but not so many choose to admit it. Many of my scene friends have 'come out' as BDSM to friends and family. Some have even found that their parents or children have similar interests as well, giving rise to yet another nature/nuture type discussion.

By way of a disclaimer I should point out that none of my testimonial writers and very few of my Flickr contacts are BDSM people - my Flickr friends are mostly people who know about my sexuality and who are either content to ignore it or accept it as non-threatening.

South Park me

South Park me...



View my DNA at bighugelabs.com

Whipper_snapper's favorite photos from other Flickr members (1,827)

  • Nunhead Cemetery by wilfy2007
  • All Saints, West Ham by O.F.E.
  • Snow England UK february 6th 2012 - watching over me.. by wilfy2007
  • Snow England UK february 6th 2012 - Cemetery by wilfy2007
  • bleeding heart round 2 by Mudcat2010
  • Snow Callum by Coolgirlsar
  • Lions seated in servitude - forever and ever by ManicMandy
  • The Heights of Salamanca Cathedral by Lawrence OP
  • Fly Past by LLAPhotography
  • by i'm a witch
  • York- Jan 2012 (12 of 33) by Martin Hesketh
  • York- Jan 2012 (18 of 33) by Martin Hesketh
See more...

Contacts (212)

See more...

Groups (5050)

Show more... Show fewer...

Galleries (1)

 

Testimonials (6)

  • view profile

    paperwhite says:

    "Joining Barry's 'Church and Churchyard Nature' pool introduced me to his lively and original photostream and his many wonderful architectural sets. His photographs taken on his recent trip to Ludlow are outstanding, and along with the interesting histories he has provided for each place they give a real sense of how much he enjoyed the visit and the appreciation that he has for the kindness of his friends. Like Barry I too have CFS/M.E. and know that recovery is uncertain and slow. Fighting the illness inevitably leads to relapses, and the goal of being 'ill and happy' is one we both share.

    The adaptability of digital photography for both outdoor and indoor shots and the excellent macro results that it gives make it a great way to achieve this aim, and I look forward to seeing more of Barry's work as he continues to explore and document the world around him."

    1st August, 2008

  • view profile

    Susan See says:

    "I always look forward to seeing new Barry images as I always learn something new about his homeland which only makes me yearn more and more to get my ass across the pond!"

    19th September, 2007

  • view profile

    Simon_K says:

    "Barry's photostream is a valuable document of England, a personal account of a nation's story. And this does not just mean the past, of course; through Barry's work we see the world today, caught by his lively eye and mind. His is one of the most thoughtful photostreams I know, a work of intelligence and enthusiasm. I always find something new."

    13th January, 2007

  • view profile

    Keri (finding solace in photography) says:

    "Barry is a tremendous photographer and a tremendous friend. He and I are bonded by our passions for history and historic buildings, as well as photography. His photostream is a delight to surf as, through his photographs, I get to see pieces of England that I will probably never get to see myself. His photographs are lyrical and I enjoy reading his descriptions and learning from them. He is yet another Flickrite across the Pond with whom I wish I could spend time."

    14th October, 2006

  • view profile

    Martin Beek says:

    "Barry's photographs are always fascinating, I came across his work in one of the many architectural sites on Flickr, I've been hooked ever since. England is full of odd little places, old churches and forgotten and out of the way buildings; Barry's photographs are an excellent guide to places and traditions that pass all too soon. He's a fine photographer too with a great eye for a good composition, his pictures really convey a sense of place. He leads the way in providing well written and interesting information on his postings, I've much enjoyed his witty comments and replies. His work really deserves a big audience, there's so much here to admire, and I'm sure there are so many more places that Barry's photography will lead us."

    21st August, 2006

  • view profile

    Balliolman says:

    "Barry is a photographer with an eye for detail and the unusual. Combining these qualities, Barry, consistently offers images which both intrigue and interest the following of flickrites he is developing (just note the many comments each posting attracts).

    Barry's notes and informative commentaries complement his photography and his sense of humour shines through. If this is the first time you have seen Barry's work you have made a discovery, if not, then like me, you doubtless appreciate the unique way he shows us the world."

    28th May, 2006

Joined:
January 2006
Hometown:
Eastern London - Romford
Currently:
United Kingdom
I am:
Male and Single
Occupation:
Journalist/sub-editor