Tapestry close-up
Posted on May 4, 2018
Cee’s Black & White challenge this week is ‘Close-up’. That ‘s usually a cue for a tight shot of a flower, or maybe a creepy-crawly of some description. However, close-up doesn’t necessarily mean macro, just something that shows more detail than a standard image.
So this is not a macro photograph, but rather a detail from a tapestry in the Cité International de la Tapisserie museum in Aubusson. The monochrome treatment highlights the painstaking intricacy of the handwork that went into creating the overall image.
For reference, here is the colour version:
Thursday Doors: Poitiers (1)
Posted on May 3, 2018
The city of Poitiers is just over an hour’s drive north of here and is the administrative centre of the Vienne département. It is an old place – the English army defeated the French here in 1314 (having passed within just a few miles of Tranquility Base on their way up from Bordeaux).
This may explain why there isn’t a huge amount of the original town left. However, there are plenty of solid and worthy 19th century bâtiments in the centre – with, of course, their matching solid and worthy doors.
Such as these:
These two doors are neighbours:
Not all these examples are quite so grand:
And, to finish, a pair:
More from Poitiers next week.
Thursday Doors 3 May 2018
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Trip
Posted on May 2, 2018
Frank wanted an image on the theme of ‘trip’ for this week’s Tuesday Photo Challenge. As he noted, this is open to various interpretations, although not not all of them are photogenic (and/or legal).
Geographically, the longest trip I’ve ever taken – apart from the time I measured my length on an unforgiving pavement in Confolens while in search of doors to photograph – is to Australia, over Christmas and New Year, quite a few years ago now.
Even though I’d been to Sydney on business a few times previously, this was the first time I was able to take a more considered view of my exotic surroundings. Imagine going all that way and then also having the opportunity to take a further trip on one of these fancy-looking boats moored in Sydney Harbour.
Boots and shoes
Posted on April 27, 2018
I spotted this juxtaposition of two photographs in the window of a shoe repair shop in the old part of Cahors. Footwear: the same but different.
Thursday Doors: Encore Cahors (3)
Posted on April 26, 2018
The gift that keeps on giving…
Another selection of the myriad doors of the town of Cahors. I ended last week with the observation that the predominant colour of the doors was – not really surprisingly – brown. Like these:
Bored yet? How about a bit of white relief, as it were:
Or even some anarchic blue:
And finally something quite different. This shop-front – a former boulangerie – is quite readable:
There are still a fair few doors to come from Cahors (and I’m saving some of the best ’til last), but for the next couple of weeks we’ll be in the city of Poitiers.
Thursday Doors 26 April 2018
Weekly Photo Challenge: Lines
Posted on April 25, 2018
Strong vertical lines demarcate these bolts of cotton fabric on the shelves of Madame’s favourite shop ever, Classic Quilts in Dubai.
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Heat
Posted on April 25, 2018
After last week’s rain, this time it’s images of ‘heat’ that Frank is seeking for his Tuesday Photo Challenge at Dutch Goes The Photo!.
There’s no shortage of – often intense – heat in the Arabian desert, even in the oasis city of Al Ain. That goes equally for the world-famous zoo as well. And what sensible pair of lions wouldn’t seek some shade to protect themselves from that heat?
Benched
Posted on April 20, 2018
This well-weathered wooden bench is just outside the Cabinet Médicale, on the main road through our local village of Mézières-sur-Issoire. It’s been there for quite a while.
Thursday Doors: Encore Cahors (2)
Posted on April 19, 2018
Back to the town of Cahors yet again, for more doors from the medieval quarter, starting this week with a particularly shabby one:
Time to inject a little colour:
And some rather better cared-for examples. This one eases the transition from blues…
…to greens:
But there’s no getting away from the fact that brown is the prevailing colour:
Next week another selection from Cahors, then, by way of diversion, somewhere as yet unseen…
Thursday Doors 19 April 2018
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Rain
Posted on April 17, 2018
Answering Frank’s call for posts on the theme of ‘Rain’ for this week was a bit of a challenge. I’m something of a fair-weather photographer, so if it does happen to be raining then the chances are that I’ll be inside and not out getting wet and taking pictures.
Here’s an acceptable compromise, though. I captured this image in the Hunter Valley wine-growing region of Australia a few years ago. It wasn’t actually raining at the time, but it was just about to.
And how.
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