Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House

For those, who are wondering what to do in their free time this week, we advise visiting 2015 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House.

The exhibition lasts until the 10th of May, so you don't have a lot of time. And it is worth hurrying up as you will see the works of winning and shortlisted photographers of the world's largest photography competition.

We hadn't bought the tickets in advance (the entry is £ 8.50), so we waited in a line for nearly half an hour to get in. But if you are in a good company, time flies!

The exhibition is big and interesting, so make sure you have at least a couple or more hours to admire the photos.

Some of them are so amazing, that you find it hard to believe that they are not paintings!

Others give you an urge to travel more or submerge you in deep thoughts about the problems and issues the world has to face, such as Ebola crisis in Africa, bloody events in Ukraine, poverty or global warming. 

This year's Sony World Photography Awards, which is in its eighth year, attracted a record-breaking numbers of entries, with 173,444 images submitted from 171 countries. The winners were announced on 23 April. 

The Sony World Photography Awards has five competitions: professional, open, youth and mobile phone. Each of them has a number of subcategories. 

See winning images here.

Also renowned Magnum photographer's Elliott Erwitt's career is represented at Somerset House as part of the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition.

Museum of London: a Little Bit of Something for Everyone

Like many others in the UK, MOREmins is not so happy with the Arctic air that brought chilly nights and days to London. But this kind of weather has given us a perfect opportunity to visit some of London's greatest museums which are warm inside, very interesting and the entrance is free.

As we heard so many good opinions about the Museum of London, we decided that the time to visit it could never be better.

The Museum of London is located just a short walk from St. Paul's and close to the Barbican Centre. There is a little bit of something for everyone: from original artefacts to interactive displays.

It's a perfect place to learn the story of London and its people from prehistoric times to the present day. 

The Museum of London was opened in 1976.

The museum is close to the Barbican Centre.

In the March of 2015, the museum revealed plans to move at the nearby Smithfield site.

The museum is located on the London Wall that can be seen from inside.

There are lots of perfect dresses to admire.

Fancy a ride?

Times when international calling was really expensive.

This bronze lift was installed in Selfridges in 1928. By the 1920s Selfridges was the most glamorous department store in London.

This bronze lift was installed in Selfridges in 1928. Among Selfridges' novelties were the uniformed young women who operated these bronze lifts.

American shopping magnate Gordon Selfridge had opened his Oxford Street store in 1909. 

Victorian Walk with recreated shops and public buildings in the People's City: 1850's-1940's gallery.

Victorian Walk with recreated shops and public buildings in the People's City: 1850's-1940's gallery.

Victorian Walk with recreated shops and public buildings in the People's City: 1850's-1940's gallery.

Something for visitors with a sweet tooth.

This special coach is over 250 years old. It is still used in the Lord Mayor's Show every November to carry the new Lord Mayor through the streets of the City.

Many of the features of the coach emphasize the importance of London's port and of the City's trade.

This special coach is over 250 years old. It is still used in the Lord Mayor's Show every November to carry the new Lord Mayor through the streets of the City.

Platform shoes were worn by both men and women in the 1970's.

In the 1980's trainers became a fashion statement rather than just a sports shoe.

Fancy another ride? :)

London 2012 Cauldron. At the climax of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony its 204 stems rose up in the centre of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.

Roza Otunbayeva: ‘I Have Broken the Vision that Women Can't Run the Country’

Roza Otunbayeva is the first female president of Kyrgyzstan.

There are so many exciting things to do in London that sometimes we wish there were more days in a week. For instance, it is always worth to check London School of Economics’ public events which are mostly free of charge and open to general public.
 
It is an opportunity to hear well-respected professors, businessmen and even meet the world leaders at these events if you are lucky (and fast!).  Just keep in mind, that sometimes you are required to book a free ticket in advance. 
 
MOREmins was excited to attend a public lecture of Roza Otunbayeva who was the first female president of Kyrgyzstan in 2010 - 2011.

She was also the first woman to head a country in male-dominated Central Asia, so her insights were particularly interesting.
 
Mrs Otunbayeva's lecture was part of the project Above the Parapet, which seeks to capture the experiences of high profile women who have shaped public life.

In the beginning of the lecture Mrs Otunbayeva emphasized, that she came to LSE to talk about her own journey, not about politics. But of course it was impossible to avoid this topic as her career in politics and diplomacy started decades ago.

Kyrgyz woman took power after bloody street riots in April 2010 which ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

Mrs Otunbayeva served as a president of Kyrgyzstan until December 2011 when a newly elected president was sworn in. It was the first peaceful transition of power in Central Asia and Mrs Otunbayeva earned international plaudits for agreeing to relinquish her seat.

"LSE main entrance" by Umezo KAMATA - Own work.

The former president of Kyrgyzstan Roza Otunbayeva during her public lecture at LSE.

Now the leader works for her foundation, where among other issues, she pays a lot of attention to women’s mentorship and their rights. 

During the public lecture at LSE Mrs Otunbayeva said that she put forward a lot of women candidates to high positions when she became a president. In her belief “it is a job for every woman leader” to do.

"Women can make a peaceful resolution of many things. Women are patient. Women have intuition. Women have something as a seventh feeling. (...) I want to see the future of my nation secular, bright, open for women, for girls," Otunbayeva said during her public lecture at LSE. 

While answering the questions from the audience about how she dealt with difficult situations during her political career, Mrs Otunbayeva said: “It was difficult, it was not easy. From women someone would expect hysterics or very emotional reaction to something in a time of fire, in a time of intensive conflict.  It seems to me that, what I have done, I have broken the vision that women can't run the country, that women can't be at the helm of the situation when the situation is very bad,"  talked Mrs Otunbayeva.

Find the podcast of this event here.

All the best,

MOREmins