Rare animal spotted: water buffoon

London Mayor Boris Johnson tumbles into the Ravensbourne river during a photo call. © Magnus Andersson

London Mayor Boris Johnson was down in Bellingham this morning to promote volunteering, in this case helping to clean up local rivers. The gathered media were all issued with thigh-high waders as we proceeded to take pictures of Mr Johnson collecting various rubbish and weeds.

It was a little tricky wading around the river with a backpack and cameras round our necks, but things went swimmingly (sorry) and we all managed to get some nice close up shots. After a while though, we all agreed that it would be nice to have a shot of him on the long lens as well, just him and the river.

The problem was, Boris wasn't paying attention to us when we asked him to stay in one place, and before you know it, Boris stepped into a deep hole and down he went.

He was a sporting chap about the incident though, asking us if 'we'd got our shot now?' It will most likely be in all the papers tomorrow and I'm sure the headline writers will have some fun with it too...water buffoon, in too deep, sink or swim, etc etc.

Here's a clip from BBC showing the incident.

The person saying 'thank you' 23 seconds in? That'll be me.

Doom & gloom

© Magnus Andersson

OK, so I haven't posted much the last few days, but its been quite hectic, what with one of our team on holiday, so us three photographers are taking turns doing the imaging (processing images for press), which meant that there's only two photographers available for assignments, hence we're rushed off our feet.

The second reason is football. Euro 2008 is under way and Sweden notched up a 2-0 against Greece last night, so well done the lads, but I have to say it wasnt very entertaining. I shouted at the TV most of the time.

The third reason is not really a reason, but its depressing none the less. A brilliant conversation between two photographers talking about the difference between UK & US in terms of photography. Maybe its time to start applying for that Green Card lottery?

However, its not all doom and gloom for me as I'll be going on holiday again on Friday, and for a week or so I can forget about it and just go fishing, canoeing and camping with my dad, hang with my nieces and only carry a small compact camera where I go. Yippy ki yay, motherfucker.

After that we have Wimbledon, and I've got my pass and my long lens ready. I've never been before, and we never really shoot sport here at the paper, so it should be much fun and lots of mistakes to be had.

Picture: taken while I was still studying photojournalism at uni; the then London Mayor Ken Livingstone on the day he refused to apologise for likening a Jewish reporter to a concentration camp guard.