Nymphs

Flower of fancy

Vanishing Dream

Destiny

Oblivion

 

Every time that I visit Chirk I admire these statues. I know they might not be to everybody's taste but I think they are magnificent. I particularly like the two which are placed next to each other which are called "Destiny" and "Vanishing Dream". 

They are in a naturalistic and symbolist style (apparently) and while the figures are nude for me the power of each sculpture is in the facial expressions and the symbolism. I don't understand the symbolism in each sculpture, for example why one is standing on a serpent, or another has her hands bound behind her back and another has her eyes bound with cloth, but they are elegant and beautifully crafted.

I have shared images of them before I know but today I have gone all out and shared several images and included shots of all four sculptures which I have not done before

They were made by Andrea Carlo Lucchesi who work predominantly in London. He died in 1924 aged 64. The sculptures collectively known as "The Nymphs" were owned by Lord and Lady Howard de Walden who leased Chirk Castle between 1911 and 1946 and were brought to the castle from the couple's London home. Originally they stood in the family's dining room until Lady Howard de Walden insisted they be moved to "a more appropriate location"

Chirk; Inside and Out

 Two more shots of Chirk Castle, one from the formal gardens and the second from inside the castle courtyard.

The snow continued to fall while I was taking these shots but I was not deterred. I think this castle looks good in all weathers and the heavy sky and snowfall just add to the atmosphere.

Pearlescent Bark

I have stuck with just one image today, an abstract image of the bark of a tree. 

I have played about a little with the edit in lightroom for this image and I am really pleased with the result. I wouldn't normally take risks with colour because I know that I don't see things the way most people do and while I like the effect of this edit I cannot be sure what other viewers will see.

The colours in the bark were all there, the result of sap leaking out of the tree, as well as stains from the rain and algae. I have increased the saturation of specific colours to add a little drama and to emphasise the pearlescent effect. 

I  grew up believing trees are green and brown but when you look closely there is always so much more to see, and enjoy.
 

Out In The Cold

 Another shot from Chirk castle, and another of the Lucchesi bronzes facing out across the lawn and the topiary. This statue is called "Destiny" and it won gold medals at Dresden in 1895 and at the Paris Exposition in 1900.

As you can see the snow was starting to come down quite fast when this shot was taken, even though a matter of minutes beforehand there had been clear blue skies, and almost as quickly as the snow storm arrived it passed. However, even though the sun came out again it remained bitterly cold and while the bronze nymphs remained outside there were no brass monkeys to be seen...

Statuesque

 Around the gardens at Chirk Castle there are a few beautiful, classical sculptures and although I have seen them many times I am always drawn to look at them whenever I visit. I think there is a real quality to them and I am captivated by their expressions.

In the first of today's images the cherub is almost hidden away in Yew hedge at the side of a small rose garden and perhaps that is why the child/cherub is holding a rose sniffing the delicate scent. This is quite a peaceful and happy scene in contrast to the second image. I have not shown the stature in full, which is of a woman with her hands bound. It is a bronze (one of four) by Andrea Lucchesi and is called "Vanishing Dream" and her wistful or sad expression is a reflection of something lost. I think the mood of the sculpture is enhanced by the fact that it was snowing quite heavily when this shot was taken as can be seen from the streaks of white across the image.

Although there is something pleasing about the first image I much prefer the second because of the quality of the artwork itself, the powerful expression and the overall atmosphere it creates.

On this recent visit I did not photograph the four bronzes but I think on a future visit I will do so and it will undoubtedly be the subject of a future post.

Frozen in Time

 

Here are a couple more shots from my recent visit to Chirk Castle. This is definitely one of my favourite castles and even on a very cold winter's day with the sun frequently interrupted by heavy snow it offers lots of great photo opportunities.

The building itself is closed for the winter but the grounds are open and the exterior as always looks marvellous.

Whoosh

As I said yesterday I went to Chirk Castle to see the annual display of snowdrops in the castle's beautiful grounds. I took a few photographs of the carpet of flowers but I wanted to try something different and I would love to know what you think of the images below.

 I have used a long exposure for these images (2 seconds for the first image and 0.8 seconds for the other two) using my EF 24 - 105 mm f4L USM zoom lens. While the shutter was open I pulled back through the full range to create the movement in the finished image.

I was inspired to try this effect because on the way to Chirk I drove through a snow storm and I wanted to create something that represented the experience of driving through snow. With the snowdrops it seemed appropriate. I think that maybe in the second image I have come closest to what I had hoped and I think that pictures two and three are the better images but as with any abstract image it is open to interpretation.

I would really like to know what you think.

Looking at Yew

I have been feeling a little under the weather this past week so hadn't been out for a few days so today I headed out to Chirk Castle near Wrexham in North Wales to look at and possibly photograph the display of snowdrops .

On the way there I almost turned back due to a heavy snow storm but when I arrived although the conditions were very changeable it was definitely worth the effort of getting out and as well as some shots of the snowdrops (including some experimental images) which I will eventually share I got a range of other images from the castle and grounds which I am really pleased with.

The best display of snowdrops is found in the "Pleasure Ground Woods" and on the entrance to the woods there is an old yew tree. I was struck by the depth and the detail in the ancient bark and took the above shot to showcase some of the detail. As I looked more closely at the image I noticed a chilling face so I rotated the image and cropped it slightly to bring the face into focus as you can see in the image below. It looks to me like an alien face either with the creature's own hand covering its mouth or perhaps being restrained or silenced... I hope you like this as much as I do.

 

The Long Border

Today's offering is another view of Chirk Castle from the bottom of the informal garden. 

I have titled today's post "the long border" but actually the hawk house and shrub garden are more visible in the view leading up to the castle. There are some simple but elegant yew topiary as well.

National Treasures

I have taken many photos of Chirk Castle in the past but when I visited last weekend it was my first visit since I got my 17-40mm lens so I was keen to try it out and I really like the perspective in this shot. 
The sky was a bit flat so I have made a slight adjustment in Lightroom to bring the exposure down and introduce a little contrast. I hope you like it.

Golden Beauty

I think this is a variety of Narcissus called Narcissus pseudonarcissus "Flore Plena" although I am not 100% sure. Whatever it is it is a beautiful and delicate little flower which brings some very welcome  colour and warmth to a winter garden.

I love it and hopefully you will too.

A Winter Tradition

Around this time of year it has become something of  tradition to go to Chirk Castle to see the carpet of snowdrops. In the past I have also been to Attingham Park and other gardens but I think the display at Chirk is my favourite.

I have chosen one shot for today but in the coming days I will be posting more pictures of the snowdrops and some of the other winter flowers which are coming into bloom, bringing a little more colour and heralding the spring. I may also post some images of the castle itself later in the week, so please come back each day to see the new pictures.

A Surprisingly Delicate Flower

This delicate little blossom is from a Rhododendron, it took me by surprise when I saw it because I had never noticed them before and I hadn't realised that such a large and overbearing plant such as the Rhododendron had such a tiny flower.

This specimen was in a fairly exposed spot on the edge of the woodland and as you can see some of the flowers have taken a bit of a battering.

A Firm Favourite

The Cyclamen is one of my favourite woodland flowers. At Chirk I saw a really lovely bed of them and they would have made a terrific photo however they were in an area that was cordoned off and so I couldn't get close enough to get the pictures I wanted. Seeing them gave me hope that there would be more but as I walked through the woodland I saw just one plant.

The pictures above are of that plant. The first one close up was lit naturally. I like the way the delicate petals appear quite fleshy. In the second picture I lit the flower using a pocket torch to bring out the vibrancy of the colours.

I was disappointed no to see more of these flowers but at the same time I was pleased to find such a nice specimen to share with you.

Winter Blue

This lovely blue flower added a splash of winter colour to a rockery garden at Chirk Castle. The unopened buds look quite succulent but when they open they reveal delicate bell shaped flowers. It's a real beauty.

But what is it?  If you can identify it please leave a comment here or on my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/chipster63photography/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

New Growth and Old

I was quite clearly right to go with the new blossoms for yesterday's post as can be seen from the number of times it has been viewed here and via my facebook page Chipster63photography  (together yesterdays blog plus Spring is Springing have been viewed 426 times so far) so hopefully continuing the theme with today's pictures of a beautiful Camelia will be just as popular.

There were two large bushes in the courtyard at Chirk Castle planted next to each other, one had a mass of brightly coloured flowers while the other had many buds but no flowers at all. The first three pictures above show different stages of growth as the flowers emerge and bloom.

The final picture by contrast in colour and texture is of what appeared to be sage or another herb gone to seed (although I am far from certain what it is). This wispy structure looks delicate and covered with frost when in fact it stood quite confident and tall and rather than frost it has a fine covering of tiny hairs. 

Return To RallyFest

Yesterday I posted a few shots from around Chirk.

Today and tomorrow I am returning to the WRC RallyFest at Chirk Castle with a selection of shots of different drivers and their cars on the limit.

Around Chirk

I have been frustrated over the past few days because I haven't been able to post anything due to a problem with the Blogger upload  but fortunately there is a work around and I am back and smiling...

Today's pictures are three different winter scenes from around Chirk castle. The first is a view of one of the turrets that is rarely seen on a visit to the castle, a walk in the woodlands around the castle however is full of little treats and I love the perspective in this shot of the tower.

The second is one of many views of the topiary that I have taken on my visits to Chirk, I think the deep green stands out against the wintry sky.

I really like the final image of the snowdrops, there were lots of people visiting the castle on this particular day, specifically to see its now famous display of these wonderful winter flowers.

Courtyard at Chirk

Today's pictures were taken early in 2014 at Chirk Castle.  If you search through past posts you will find a number of photos of the castle and grounds.  As you approach the castle you pass through a cobbled courtyard and some farm buildings and that is where I got these shots which I hope you will like.

WRC Champion of the World

Some action shots for today (and probably over the next few days too) taken at Rally Fest at Chirk Castle yesterday.  It was a special stage of the WRC and the shots for today are of Sebastien Ogier (pics 1 & 2), Andreas Mikkelsen (pic 3) and Kris Meeke (pics 4&5).

Ogier wasn't fastest in this stage but won the rally overall and was winner of the World Rally Championship so congratulations to him. Mikkelsen finished the rally third and third in the drivers standings for the season.  Meeke finished second in the rally and fifth in the championship.

This was my second time spectating at a rally, I love the atmosphere, the sound of the highly tuned engines as the drivers power the cars around the challenging stages and I love how close you can get to the action. This the first time I had tried my hand at photographing such an event and it was a real challenge. The weather conditions were awful, the light was poor and capturing the cars at high speed  was especially difficult.

I will select some more of my better shots in the coming days and hope that even if the subject is not to your taste you will be able to appreciate the achievement.