Tag: Photography

Sonels Black and White Challenge: Upward

Posted on Posted in England, Exeter, TravelTagged , , , , , , 12 Comments

I first noticed this new structure on Exeter quay one day in the winter. It had the sun gleaming on it but I didn’t have my camera! I’ve been back a few times since but sadly the light has never been as good. I didn’t know what it was at first but its an abseil tower and part of a new £5million outdoor education and training centre.

Abseil 1

From a distance.

Abseil 2

and a bit closer. Would you jump?

There’s still time to join in with this weeks challenge at http://sonelcorner.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/black-and-white-weekly-photo-challenge-upward/

Travel Theme: Wild

Posted on Posted in England, Photography, TravelTagged , , , , , , , , 15 Comments

Ailsa has chosen ‘Wild’ as her travel theme this week and I’ve chosen Scorhill as my wild destination. The drive up the hill is only around three miles from a little town but it’s steep, narrow and the Devon banks are high some of the way. If you’re lucky and get one of the half dozen parking places then you can walk a little higher before dropping into the valley. At the bottom lies the stone circle in my photo – I’ve never managed to find a way of capturing it so that it looks like a circle I’m afraid. The cirlce is believed to be Bronze age, making it up to four thousand years old but artitacts from eight thousand years ago have been found there.

Scorhill

I hope Scorhill is wild enough for you, but there will be wilder here !http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/08/02/travel-theme-wild/

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Foreshadow

Posted on Posted in Flowers, Gardens, Photography, Weekly Photo Challenge: PossibilityTagged , , , , , 29 Comments

This weeks challenge is well timed for me. I’ve been trying to record an Agapanthus from bud to bloom for the last couple of weeks. Some of the photos are taken quite late in the evening, some earlier and todays just now at 5.30. There have been days with gloomy weather, some with sun and some rainy so the image quality varies quite a bit. Also getting in the right position has been amusing  today, I had to go from the opposite direction to see the most open parts of the flower and got tangled in the shrubbery!

So the foreshadow,

15.07.13

Some places along the way.

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and today the finale.

02.08.13

How will you interpret this weeks challenge? http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/08/02/foreshadow/

Teatro Antico Taormina . . .

Posted on Posted in History, Photography, Sicily, Travel, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , 13 Comments

. . . and some of the views from it!

The theatre was built by the Greeks and then re-built by the Romans, on the side of a hill overlooking Giardini-Naxos and Mount Etna. Originally it could seat 5000 and the Romans used it for gladiator battles, today it is still in use. We had just missed a film festival and the throne in the photo was for the next production, Verdi’s Rigoletto.  I can imagine that it would be mind blowing in this setting. Apparently Plato conceived his theory of forms in the amphitheatre, and it does have a feel about it that somehow grabs at the belly.

Sicily is full of antiquities, but if you go, visit Taormina and the theatre that is part of its ancient heart.

Walsh Glass

Posted on Posted in Art and Design, PhotographyTagged , , , , , , 11 Comments

A few days ago I was at the Mid Devon Agricultural Show where I met Matthew Walsh who was on the next stand. He makes wonderful studio glass, including these wall plaques connecting together to show the fluid movement of the carp, butterflies or seahorses.

Very elegant vases.

Paperweights glass 8

The sweetest little birds 2013 Jul 27_6391_edited-1

Clocks

But these perfume bottles were my favourite! glass 6

Matthew was actually my hero for the day, he helped me with his hammer when I was setting up, so here he is! matthew

Matthew says  ‘My aim with all my work is to bring pleasure to all who see it.’ Well he certainly bowled me over, his work is exquisite, click each image for a better view, or have a look at his website.

http://www.walshglassdesigns.co.uk/Glass/Welcome.html

 

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Masterpiece

Posted on Posted in Childbirth, Photography, Uncategorized, Weekly Photo ChallengeTagged , , , , 60 Comments

Welcome to a brand new masterpiece, baby Scarlett arrived at 2.30 am today, weighing 8lbs 1 oz! She is my new grandchild and I am a very happy and proud Mma. Well done to my brave daughter and clever, handsome extra son!

Scarlett

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/out-of-this-world/

I’m sorry I don’t think I’ll be able to catch up with  your blogs, I haven’t had much sleep in the last couple of nights waiting for Scarlett and now I’m shattered but I’ll see you soon!

 

Lazy Poet’s Thursday Poem

Posted on Posted in England, Photography, PoetryTagged , , , , , 11 Comments

I was inspired by a TV program, A Poet’s Guide to Britain, and so  think I might do a Dartmoor series. Of course this depends on how lazy I am . . .

Houndtor

On Houndtor

The glistening granite of millennia

clings like the crest of a dragon

on the horizon beneath a thunder cloud sky

scramble a pathway between and look east

to where a habitation of stone once lay

but now sprinkled like so many marbles

on soil trampled and bovine nibbled

leaving only echoes of medieval voices

causing ears to question when mist descends

to infuse ancient hearth where fire burns no longer

and generations that huddled have migrated

to pleasant valleys far from nature’s scorn

replaced by fair weather wanderers

unaware of those who stepped before