I don't claim to be a photographer, but I enjoy taking photographs. The Internet is filled with people who like to show off using photoshop techniques to bring out the best in their pictures, (have we seen enough black and white photographs with a colour splash?), but I do sometimes take a picture that I am pleased with. The one the other day was an example. I took several attempts at the above pictures, but couldn't quite put across the story that I wanted the picture to tell. The contrast between a fully illuminated Christmas tree and the dark desolation of an empty market place gives the image of a heart-breaking, tragic place that time forgot.