With all the cold grey weather recently I thought I would go back to some summer colour to brighten things up.
Today high definition images of the surface of the sun have been released and they were quite amazing but I think the golden centre of a flower is just the thing to bring some warmth
and sunshine when the real thing is hidden behind layers of cloud.
These abstract images are from shots of fountains near to the Lego House in Billund, Denmark taken on my road trip in 2018.
I love taking photos of water, it offers so many opportunities for some stunning images whether that is ripples, reflections, or rushing rapids, or perhaps refracted light through dewdrops, waves and waterfalls. Or as here in these two mid air sculptures as the water reaches the top of its trajectory and hangs momentarily before falling back on itself.
If you look long enough you can see all sorts of different shapes, a bit like staring at clouds and seeing faces or rabbits, and in the second shot you can see the ripples on the surface where smaller droplets have fallen and left their mark.
I have memories of visiting this magnificent chateau at Pierrefonds from my first visit to France as an 8 year old when I stayed with my penfriend and his family.
It really is a wonderful place and a great setting for a wedding party.
It is also one of the locations used in filming the TV series Merlin
I have shared pictures of the Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte before, it is really a majestic building and it is worth sharing a couple more images which I hope you like.
The herd of Fallow Deer has been at Dunham Massey since 1352. They are well used to the many visitors who use the park every day however they are wild and wary, watchful and alert so you can't always get very close.
I wondered as I watched these youngsters how many generations of deer have gone before.
I think these are so cute.
Canada Geese are a fairly common sight on lakes and ponds, and for that reason we probably take them somewhat for granted and don't pay them much attention but they are really quite beautiful.
I was watching this one preening and I marvelled at how flexible its neck is.
As humans we have 7 vertebrae in our necks, the same number as Giraffe but geese have between 17 and 23 and that is why they can twist and turn so much.
These are cropped from the same image of the river Glaslyn rushing past and over some rocks.
I have used a long exposure to slow the motion of the water and it has produced these wonderful abstract images where the water looks like hair or perhaps like brush strokes of oil on canvas.
I rather like these pictures and hope you do too.
This gate was at the end of the path leading into the village of Beddgelert. I love the sculptured wood, the elongated shadow and the sun glowing through the tree. Although it was a very cold day there is a warmth to this image with the soft light.
I wanted to see how the image worked in black and white and I think it works really well, possibly even better than the colour version...
What do you think?
I said the other day that my posts will have a watery theme for a while following my visit to Aberglaslyn Gorge in North Wales.
I love being near water, the sounds and smells and the sights combine to please my senses and capturing some of the essence of that in a photo is a challenge I like to take on. I love the sense of movement and I love the wonderful colours.
Fast moving water frozen in a photograph can produce a great abstract image like the one below...
So over the next few days there will be a watery theme to my blog.
Just after New Year I went for a day out in North Wales. I went to Beddgelert, a lovely village that I have been to many times walking along the river and eating ice cream.
This time however the ice cream parlour was closed (it is mid winter and the number of visitors is pretty low) and rather than stop in the village I drove a little further out and parked up so that I could walk back along the gorge.
This is Aberglaslyn Gorge and the rough path works its way along the river's edge through spectacular scenery. The walk itself its just about four miles return or there is a slightly longer circular walk that takes you over the mountain via an ancient copper mine.
The light in the gorge was lovely and the noise of the water as it thundered through the valley was incredible.
One of my favourite native species of bird is the long tailed tit. These tiny birds gather in family groups and small flocks and they fly around noisily chattering to each other. At the end of the day they will roost together in trees and bushes all huddled up to stay warm.
There really is no other bird quite like it, it is amazing how much cute you can get in such a tiny package.
I know these aren't the greatest shots of (what I believe is a female kestrel); I can blame the poor light, or the cold wind, or the fact that the bird was moving and that it was quite a long way off. However I really like these images, really like them.
I love the layers of light and the way the little light there is brightens up the plumage. I love the form of the bird as it hovers searching for its next meal.
I watched for some time and three times it plummeted down but each time coming up "empty-handed" before moving on to another patch of ground where from a different vantage point I later saw it devouring its prey
I had gone to photograph birds but I couldn't resist getting these shots of cow parsley seed heads. I really love the structure of these plants even though the flowers have long since died off.
First impressions can be deceiving, in the poor light and from a distance I initially believed the bird in the first picture to be a robin but as I got closer I realised that it was in fact a female Stonechat. She didn't sit around for long so I was pleased to be able to get this shot , it is not the sharpest image but it is a really cute pose.
Nearby was the more brightly coloured male, perhaps they were a breeding pair who can say, they did fly off together...
These lovely birds were spotted at Lunt Meadows nature reserve, it was my first visit there and although it was very dull and grey it was still a worthwhile visit and no doubt I will be back.
The back streets of Castleton reveal some lovely gems; narrow streets, dry stone walls and cottages built from local stone.
At the start of my walk the sky was overcast, and there was mist in the valley which lends itself to a nice atmospheric image in the first of today's shots.
I think the subject matter lends itself to black and white too.
The first of today's images is of Mam Tor at the far end of the great ridge seen from Back Tor a dramatic rock outcrop that overlooks Edale which can be seen spread out before us in the second image. On the skyline on the far left of the image Kinder Scout is also visible.
Some people will do anything to get a rush... I think it would be amazing to lift off from a hillside like this, and borne aloft on the wind to glide across the landscape. It would also be pretty terrifying.
Here you can see the view along the Great Ridge from Mam Tor to Hollin's Cross, Back Tor and Lose Hill.
In the final shot the flyer is looking down and across to Winnat's Pass.
Walking up to the top of Mam Tor you get spectacular views all around. This view shows the winding road into Edale cutting through Mam Tor and looking across to Rushup Edge.
Getting this shot took some nerve on my part as I had to inch close to the edge in order to get the road in full without being cut off by the ground in front of me. I was even more nervous when another photographer a little further down slipped while trying to get a similar shot so I had to be careful to maintain a sure footing on the slope. It was worth the effort though, I love this image with the low winter sun lighting one slope of the hill and the black snake of road following the contour of the hill down into the valley.
