Defences

 I managed to get out again today for a few hours and I got a couple of shots of some birds I have never photographed before which was quite exciting for me. However I have yet to sort through my pictures before I can share anything with you but be prepared they are going to be special.

So for today I am sharing two more images from my "trip" last week and here they are.

I think they are quite dramatic images of the sea defences at New Brighton, what do you think?

Coastal Defence

 Here is a shot from a little closer to home.

These are some of the sea defences along the shore near New Brighton. I think they make a really interesting subject and I have an idea for a different shot which, if the weather is kind tomorrow I might go and capture as the tide goes out. Who knows I might be lucky.

I am so lucky to be living so close to the sea, I love the sights, sounds and smells of the sea.

Vanishing Point

I have shared something similar before from this underground station (Malostranke) in the centre of Prague.

I remember my first impression of this place was that it resembled something out of Doctor Who. I waited until the platform cleared so that I could get some shots. The lighting was really poor and so the resulting images were pretty grainy. 

I have cropped this to remove the writing and the railway lines which were a distraction and I have made slight adjustments to remove some of the graininess

Monochrome Twilight

I had gone looking for a series of ponds where I was told there would be some good opportunities for some wildlife shots. I had followed the sound of a large and very noisy flock of birds that I think were settling to roost for the night but the area was too overgrown for me to get access for any good photos. As the light was fading anyway I decided to head back to the campsite that was home for the night. 

Walking back along the track through the barley I was struck by the lines drawing my eye to the oak trees at the edge of the field directly ahead and I knew immediately it would make a great shot. Initially I thought that the soft light of evening would lend a warm glow to the image however the sun off to the right was just too low and the scene was a little too cool so I tried again in black and white and I feel this creates a much more atmospheric landscape.

Across The Lagoon

A couple of similar views across the Lagoon in Venice. There are plenty of churches and religious monuments in Venice, I recently shared a picture of a little chapel hidden away in a side street that is a thoroughfare and today I have this interesting post with it's beautiful stained glass which is there to bless the Gondoliers.

I have chosen two views one in colour to show off the soft evening glow and the glass illuminated by the setting sun, the second in black and white and in portrait mode which I think works really well with the combination of verticals that draw the eye in.

Lac de Joux

On our roadtrip travelling from Annecy to our final destination in Alsace we slipped across the border into Switzerland and we made our way through some small villages and along very pretty valleys.

Today's shot is one of the few that I got while in Switzerland because we were just passing through but I would definitely like to go back for a longer visit. 

This is Lac de Joux near L'Abbaye in Vaud region. I think the driftwood adds a nice focal point drawing you into the shot.

The second image just has a few minor adjustments to contrast and exposure in Lightroom and is as close to the real view as shot in camera. The first image though has been adjusted using a de-saturated contrast preset and I think it looks really nice.

Up or Down ?

So today's  pictures were taken this morning at the Chateau du Haut Kœnigsbourg in Bas-Rhin.

The question in the title relates to the first picture more than the second and I wonder can you tell whether I was looking up or down?

It isn't immediately obvious but I was in fact looking 62 metres down an old well, where water was hoisted from a cistern below. I wouldn't have wanted that job.

The second picture you can see shows the exterior of the Chateau taken from one of the towers. The Chateau is a medieval fortress perched on top of a hill 2000 feet above sea level, about 1300 feet above the valley below. In the distance lies the river Rhine and the border with Germany while behind and out of the picture stands the Ballon des Vosges a range of mountains I would love to explore. I was here several years ago and would love to retrace some of that visit and find new wonders in the forests and mountains.

This truly is a beautiful area of France and possibly my favourite part of the trip. Certainly if I could have spent more time in just one of our stops along the way this would be my choice without any hesitation.

Sadly time has run out for us and tomorrow morning we will start on the journey home, a journey of around 700 miles. That's a lot of ground to cover in one day but with the occasional break and refreshments en route we'll be just fine.Out

Nicely Framed

Canon 24mm - 105mm 1:4 L

ISO 125    65mm   f/10   1/125 sec

ISO 125    102mm   f/8.0   1/125 sec

ISO 100    73mm   f/10   1/125 sec

Three more views today from Easby Abbey.

I love wandering around ancient ruins and trying to imagine what the building would have been like during its heyday. Trying to imagine the sounds and smells and recreate the bustle of activity in the different parts of the buildings. Who would have been wandering the corridors and running up the stairs and who would have looked through this magnificent window when it was in its full glory.

I also marvel at the skill of the masons who constructed these buildings with the limited technology available to them. 

It is also fun to watch the expressions of the modern day visitors as they also explore the ruins, especially the children climbing on the walls and playing hide and seek and telling their parents to "come and see!" 

Part Of The Circle

As well as shooting pictures of the whole stone circle at Castlerigg I selected this stone for special treatment. I loved the colour and shape of the stone and from this perspective I think it makes a great image.

The stones at Castlerigg have been standing for around 5000 years and when they were erected they must have served a purpose, perhaps for a ritual with some spiritual meaning. Now they are cold, abandoned and mysterious. But a closer look at the stones show them to be host to colonies of moss and lichens which give them rich tapestry of layers of colour and texture.

Don't Perch So Close To Me

I took this shot because I wanted to use the posts supporting the jetty to lead the eye towards the snowy fells (Causey Pike) in the distance and I think that works quite well. 

I also liked the fact that the gulls were sitting on top of the posts giving life to the image but what I hadn't fully appreciated until I got the pictures home was that the gulls were sitting on alternate posts all the way along and in fact there had been another gull on the post immediately to my left out of shot but it flew off just as I arrived.

It was a cold morning and walking along the jetty was quite a risky business because it was incredibly slippery. I think it was worth it though.

Light At The End

I have chosen two shots of the Chirk tunnel on the Llangollen canal because although they are very similar they are taken from different points along the tunnel and I can't decide which one I prefer. 

I really like the first one because of the longer perspective, the light glinting on the brickwork along the length of the tunnel and the irregular line of the handrail. I also like the ripples from the water dripping from the roof. And then because of the length there is a feeling of being in a tube which I like.

I like the second one because there is more detail in the reflections and the shiny colours.

Now, having "analysed" them I have made up my mind which one I like best...

Snow Capped

I really really love this picture. I had pulled into a little car park alongside Derwent Water to eat my lunch and looking back I saw this magnificent view. I took a number of shots from slightly different vantage points and I watched this cloud slowly moving towards me across the lake.

I love the colours in the sky and in the reflections, I love the pristine snow on the slopes of Skiddaw and I love the way the cloud appears to hang so low in the sky giving a great sense of perspective to the overall image. 

I am especially pleased to have captured this image because as I clicked the shutter first time nothing happened, my memory card was full and unusually for me I didn't have a spare with me. I almost decided that my day's photography was at an end but determined to capture what is one of the best shots of the day I scrolled through my card and deleted a number of images I had taken earlier in the day. I think you will agree that was a good decision. I think you can also see why, like so many other people I am so drawn to the Lake District and why I always have my camera with me.

Angles and Perspectives

Today I am doing something different to my usual landscape and wildlife shots so I hope you will bear with me. I have actually been wanting to share these images for a little while and now I am free to do so.

I recently did a photo shoot for a local firm of architects at the completion of part of one project. It was the first of such projects that I have done but I got some great shots of what is a magnificent house. Some of my pictures will soon be posted on the company website so you can always have a look at SDA Architecture & Surveying to see them and some of the other cool projects they are working on. They were great guys to work with and I am looking forward to working on some more projects with them in future.

So for today's selection I have chosen one external view. I love the gables and the timber cladding and I love the large balcony overlooking the extensive gardens.

The second image is of the main room on the second floor and I love the different angles in the ceiling.

The next shot is of the en suite bathroom also on the second floor which captilises on the angles of the roof beams . I like the lines in this shot which is taken from a very low angle drawing the viewer into the picture.

The final image is of the dining room which is so light and airy with the massive windows looking out onto the gardens.

Tomorrow I will post a few more external views so come back then and have a look.

Pin Mill Two

Two more shots of the Pin Mill at Bodnant Gardens today. This time from the inside using the arches and windows to frame the garden.

I like the warm colour of the wall is the first shot but I particularly like the second shot taken from a low vantage point looking out into the garden.

Remember there is a chance to win a free print of your choice (from my blog of course) simply visit my facebook page Like and Share for a chance to win. The draw will be taken when the number of visitors to my blog reaches 50,000. It won't be long so have a go.

Driftwood Sculpture

A while ago I posted a shot of a miniature stone henge made from tiny bits of driftwood created on a short stop off at Neys Provincial Park. Today's post is of another piece of driftwood art, this one was created by my daughter. I had to get right down to ground level to get the perspective right and I think that with my daughters' creative skills and my photographer's eye this makes a great shot.

Lighting Up Parry Sound

This is a real lighthouse, and although it is quite small the perspective in this picture makes it look much smaller than it really is. It is situated at the marina in Parry Sound in the Georgian Bay area of Lake Huron. On the long drive from Toronto this was a good place to stop and take a break.

As well as the lighthouse there was the huge railway viaduct, boats in the harbour and float planes tied to the jetties, o plenty to see. Unfortunately the visit was cut short because of a sudden sharp rain shower so lunch turned into a picnic in the car before setting off again on the long trip along the Trans Canada Highway.

Different Perspective

These three pictures are of the same section of a footbridge across a river but taken from different angles and so they look like completely different things. The first picture looks as though it is upright rather than horizontal, it is smooth and shiny from the wear of many feet passing on it. The second shot although of the same section of the bridge is more angular and the texture changes as you look from left to right.  My favourite shot is the third one, I like the perspective and the way the focus changes the further into the image that you look.

Ecclesiastical Perspective

If you Google "Ecclesiastical Perspective" (or use any other search engine for that matter) you will find images of churches, inside and out.

Here are a few shots of my own. Like yesterday's pictures these are from the Palace of Versailles. The first and third images are of the Royal Chapel which is quite fantastic.

The second picture is of one of the long corridors and not strictly ecclesiastical although the statues lining the corridor are religious figures (at least I think they are).

The final picture is of the chapel in the  Petit Trianon in the Domaine de Marie Antoinette.  It is still quite opulent with the marvelous marble floor and the fine sculptures but it is quite simple and understated.

I've left the description of the fourth picture til last, because its not a religious building but it is a feature of several French Chateaux that I have visited and it is a "Cathedral" of trees, walking through it is like walking through the nave of a grand cathedral and it is very peaceful.

Coastal Defences

Here are four views of the sea defences near Derby Pool. These incredible barnacle encrusted concrete structures are a really interesting feature, breaking up the shore line at low tide and breaking up the waves when the tide comes in.

Although three of the pictures offer a similar view the different lighting and slightly different viewpoint show off this magnificent structure.  Tomorrow I will post a few more shots of the break water which will add a new perspective so do come back tomorrow.

Under The Bridge

I had a bit of extra time today soon my walk from my hotel to my place of work I took a walk along the embankment and I passed under a number of bridges. I can't remember which one is in the first picture, but the second is the Blackfriars Road Bridge and the last two shots are of the Millennium footbridge which is by St Paul's Cathedral. I like the different structures and I like the perspective particularly looking across the river in the first and third images.bri