Month: February 2017

Weaver birds at the Botel

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My friend Celestine, a Ghanaian poet, blogger and Mistress of haiku said she’d like to see my photos of weaver birds nests, not far from where she lives. Taken at the Cape Coast nearly ten years ago and with one of my earlier digital cameras, they aren’t the best quality images, but still part of my special memories of Ghana.

Here’s a gallery for you Celestine.

This was the grounds of the hotel, or rather the Hans Cottage Botel, a lovely and unusual resort, set on a lake, with ‘friendly’ crocodiles’. They like their crocs in Ghana, but they are probably my least favourite animal on the planet. We only stayed one nignt at Hans Cottage and I remember it being quite restless for me, dreaming of crocs leaving the lake to stroll along the boardwalk in search of supper! I have no idea how Sylvia copes with the gators in her back yard, she’s way braver than me.

 

Black and White Sunday, Before and After

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Every month Paula chooses before and after for her black and white Sunday theme. You choose a photo and share it in colour, and after processing it to monochrome. The idea it that it makes you more aware of detail, shapes and composition. The challenge has made me look more closely and think about the kind of image that might work in black and white.

Do you think this one does?

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAHere it is in colour.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Any preference? If you’d like to join in Paula would be very happy to see you!

A Good Match

Posted on Posted in Fashion, PhotographyTagged , , 18 Comments

This week, share a photo of things that complement each other.

This is Ben Huberman’s challenge at the Daily Post. Do you think my daughter and I have a matching style in this photo? If so does that mean I wear clothes that are too young for someone of my age? or does Nina dress like an old fogey?

n+mum2

I don’t think either applies, because pretty much anything goes these days. I wore leggings in the 80’s and I do now and I’ve never been very interested in fashion.

Thursday’s Special Robert

Posted on Posted in i phoneographyTagged , 5 Comments

Paula’s post about focus for her Thursday Special is particularly inspiring this week, as is her image. When she mentioned portraiture, I remembered this i phone photo of a friend in my writing group. Robert is reading Broadsheet, a poetry publication. He is deeply concentrating I think because he isn’t a poetry fan. Although a talented writer, it isn’t his thing and I always appreciate the feedback he gives when listening to my poetry efforts!
robert
Do yo have a photo that illustrates a choice of focus that you’ve made?

Teignmouth Pier

Posted on Posted in Devon, Photography, TravelTagged , , , 16 Comments

The Grand Pier at Teignmouth was built in 1865, is 696 feet long and is one of only 50 remaining in the UK. It has all the usual rides and slot machines that you would expect in a traditional seaside attraction, and is a lovely place for a promenade to breathe in the healthy sea air.

tei1 Spot the rainbow! These pics were all taken within half an hour on a winter afternoon five years ago.

tei2Look how the sky changed in such a short time.

tei3But that isn’t why I’ve chosen these photos.

tei4

 

How has this splindly structure stood firm for 150 years? Against all the odds I’d say.In 2014, Teignmouth’s pier was badly damaged by winter storms, and  much of it’s floor was washed away. After five months and hundreds of thousands of pounds it re-opened and will no doubt thrill many more people in the years to come.

 

Hollyberrie fantasy

Posted on Posted in Art and Design, i phoneographyTagged , , 9 Comments

Yesterday I spent the day with my friend Sylvie, a belated birthday trip at the Craft for Crafters show, Westpoint. There was so much to see, we ambled up and down the aisles for hours. One of the prettiest stands was Hollyberrie Studios, where we met the lovely Pauline Spence.

Originally a water colour artist, she now has a passion for textiles and embroidery. Her work is incredibly intricate, some fantasy based.

This fairytale castle had so much detail, I didn’t know where to look, every little girls dream!

Here’s a closer look, but I only had my i phone.

This piece all folds away into the box, dragon and all.

Pauline’s work has won national competitions and been featured in magazines. She has City and Guilds  teaching certificates and loves to run workshops, sadly I wouldn’t have the patience or even the basic skills, but she can be contacted if you search for hollyberrie studios.

This four seasons clock was both Sylvie and my favourite.

Traces of the past, Bombardier Scattergood

Posted on Posted in Exeter, History, i phoneographyTagged , , , 8 Comments

The Theatre Royal in Exeter opened in 1886. Less than a year later, during a performance of Romany Rye, it fell victim to one of the worst fires in British theatre history. There are various opinions as to how many people were in the theatre at the time, but somewhere around 900 seems likely. Of those 900, some 180 died.

My photos show the memorials in my local cemetery, one over a mass grave, the other for Bombardier Scattergood, who at 25, died while attempting to rescue others.

Paula’s Black and White Sunday this week is ‘traces of the past’, a great way to look at history.