Gary Dumbrill

No—but I wish I was—enjoy.

A Neoclassical black basalt bust of Mercury by Wedgwood, seen in profile against a black background. The god is depicted with youthful, idealized features, wearing a winged helmet that marks him as the swift messenger of the gods. Made from matte black basalt stoneware, the bust combines classical elegance with 18th-century industrial craftsmanship.

Mercury, sometimes called Hermes—or Hermis in Arabic. I think I took this picture at the British Museum, but I can’t be sure—he gets around a bit. Famously known as a cattle thief, messenger, travel guide, and a bit of a trickster.

Two women walk side by side in the rain, wearing bright red raincoats.

A rainy day in Pyongyang.

My morning read began with the daily news, then this Desmond Tutu book. It seems that the contrast between the dream of what we could be and the nightmare of what we have become grows greater every day.

A rusty the rail car set against a blue sky.

Rusty the Rail Car — As seen somewhere in Hamilton, Ontario.

Gary, in Royal Marines uniform at RM Depot Deal, is shaking hands with Major General Whiteley (who later became General and Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe). The photo was taken in the Drill Shed at the Royal Marines base in Deal, Kent, which no longer exists. At that time, the first stage of Royal Marines training started at Deal before trainees were transferred to the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre at Lympstone.

Me, a lifetime ago—receiving an award from Maj. General Whiteley for being the best shot in my troop with the Self-Loading Rifle (SLR 7.62mm). I didn’t tell him that, next to me on the range was the worst shot in the troop, whose stray rounds were probably hitting my target.

I've spent way more time than that in China over the years; saw pandas, walked the Great Wall, met a lot of young folk happy to put up with this old English bloke desperately trying to show off my three Chinese phrases :-)

Subway trains at an underground station with a conductor standing on the platform.

I can't recall whether this was Puhŭng or Yŏnggwang Station in Pyongyang—regardless, the architecture was striking, and the rolling stock (repurposed Berlin U-Bahn carriages) a blast from the past!

평양의 부흥역이었는지 영광역이었는지 기억은 안 나지만, 건축은 인상적이었고 열차(재사용된 베를린 지하철 차량)는 과거로의 시간 여행 같았어요!

I agree—my only caveat is that the gut is sometimes shaped by social & personal prejudice/bias, so ask it some hard questions before trusting—but I suspect your dad added that warning too.

Museum Subway Station platform with a pubic telephone on the centre and a part of the “museum” sign behind.

Museum Subway Station - as seen in Toronto.

I do the same thing. If ever you come up with an answer let me know :-)

Looking down at the stage of the ancient Theatre of Ephesus from the stone seats.

Me contemplating modern artists who performed in the ancient Theatre of Ephesus—Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Joan Baez, Pavarotti, Sting, Bryan Adams, Elton John and more—echoes of their voices lingering in the air where Ephesians once chanted, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.”

Good choice—and good point—I’d have a few questions for Paul if I met him.

I have been there too—amazing temple—I love the sky on that shot.

Great photo and a great library—and think about it—of all the professions librarians are the only ones who give people coming for help what they ask for or are attempting to find.

What a great photo!

Wow - amazing trip!

I love the reconstruction helps imagine what it must have been like.

Great photo.

Great photo and an amazing place.

Great photo - but the library is not so good - when I went there all the books were out and long overdue :-) Seriously though, what an amazing place this is.

An ancient street paved with work stone with the ruins of buildings on each side. In the foreground is a woman looking around her, in the background further up the street there is a couple.

The Arcadian Way in ancient Ephesus—as seen in 2015. Watching visitors, I tried to imagine Antony and Cleopatra, Emperor Hadrian, and the Apostle Paul passing by (all of whom walked this street). If you could meet any ancient figure who walked—or may have walked—this street, who would it be?

A traditional street food breakfast.

Before the rush — a quiet morning moment as workers at a breakfast shop in Baishizhou, Shenzhen prepare for customers.

Looking up at a building made of raw concrete, steel and glass built in a Brutalist architecture style, that emerged in the mid-1900s characterized by “raw concrete” massive, geometric shapes looking like a fortress.

Looking up at the McMaster University Health Sciences Centre—Brutalist on the outside—functional and caring on the inside.

Photo looking down a narrow sunny street with an old tiled-roof building on the right. A woman walks in the middle left holding an umbrella to shield herself from the midday sun—the woman is Chinese, but her face is not seen, so her identity is a mystery. Though not literally Mary Poppins, the scene suggests that idea. Using “Mǎlì Bōpíngsī” in the caption privileges a Chinese take on this Western theme and adds to the mystery for those who do not read Simplified Chinese. 照片俯视一条狭窄阳光明媚的街道，右侧有一座带瓦顶的老建筑。一名女性走在街道中偏左的位置，撑着伞遮挡正午的阳光——她是中国人，但面容未露，身份成谜。虽然她并非真正的“玛丽·波平斯”，但画面让人联想到这个形象。标题中使用“玛丽·波平斯”体现了对这一西方主题的中国化解读，也增加了不识简体中文读者的神秘感。

玛丽·波平斯 (Mǎlì Bōpíngsī) — as seen in Baishizhou (白石洲), Shenzhen, one of my favourite cities.

Large blue transparent plastic water bottles (the kind used in water dispensing machines), each covered in a thin layer of clear plastic wrapping, are stacked on a street corner in China. The water bottles dominate the photo frame as the main subject. In the background, light brown and yellow buildings can be seen. A child wearing a blue school uniform walks past, and Chinese writing is visible on a nearby wall.

Water, water everywhere, and quite a lot to drink — as seen in Baishizhou (白石洲), Shenzhen, China.

People gathering around a jōkōro (a large urn) with intense wafting in the air.

Reflections at a jōkōro (常香炉), as seen somewhere near Tokyo—if I remember correctly, this may have been at Sensō‑ji Temple (浅草寺).

Painting of a young woman known as the "Gypsy Girl" by Boccaccio Boccaccino, circa early 16th century. The half-length portrait shows a dark-haired girl with large, expressive eyes, wearing a blue headscarf, a red cloak, and a white blouse—colors traditionally associated with the Virgin Mary symbolizing purity (white), divine love (red), and heavenly grace (blue). Her gaze is turned slightly to the side, with a serene yet introspective expression typical of Marian portraits. The dark background emphasizes the softness of her features and the luminous quality of her garments.

"Gypsy Girl" by Boccaccio Boccaccino—as seen at the Uffizi—I like how his juxtaposition of a figure seen as an outsider who evoked suspicion & social anxiety at that time, set against Marian visual conventions, challenges othering, eroticization & marginalization. I wonder if this was the intent?

I love it — to me, the work is pleasing to the eye, yet it conveys a sense of loneliness, with the idea of people living in the same place but leading separate lives that remain disconnected, even when they pass each other in the stairwell.

Photograph taken looking down a dark staircase lit at the bottom by a window.

Another staircase — this one at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. I enjoy photographing stairways; they are places of transition, evoking a sense of mystery and adventure, and hinting at things yet to be discovered.