Tuesday Photo Challenge: Dark
Posted on September 12, 2017
As most happy snappers will know, the word ‘photography’ is derived from the two Greek words for ‘light’ and ‘drawing’, so Frank has set us a particularly interesting challenge this week, with his theme of ‘Dark’.
No photographic image can be completely dark, of course – otherwise it would just be a black rectangle on the page or screen. But it is the contrast and juxtaposition between light and dark that make for an interesting image, and if there’s one subject that offers infinite variety in the interplay between light and dark, then it must be fireworks.
This was taken on New Year’s Eve in Sydney a while ago. With a hand-held one second exposure it was never going to be pin-sharp, but the blur of the palm trees illuminated by the fireworks adds to the overall impact, I believe.
In Memoriam
Posted on September 8, 2017
Cee’s theme for her Black & White challenge this week is ‘textures’. This stone tablet, mounted high on a wall in St Mary’s church in Beverley, East Yorkshire certainly meets that brief, but additionally has quite a poignant tale to tell.
The inscription is very worn and quite difficult to read, but this is what it says:
NEAR
Are the ashes of Mr Richd Greyburn
Who was ye only son of Mr Willm
Grayburn of this town, Alderman
IN
The dearest memory
Of so dutiful a son
So honest a tradesman
So pious a Christian
Who died ye 18th of May
Anno Domino 1720
In ye 31st year of his age
HIS
Mournful father
hath created
this Monument
Thursday Doors: Beverley
Posted on September 7, 2017
This week, a brief respite from the usual diet of characterful old French rural doors, with a selection from the mix of historic and modern architecture in the attractive market town of Beverley, in East Yorkshire.
This is probably the oldest door still standing, from the early 16th century. It was the gateway to a Dominican friary that once stood in the centre of the town:
The most characteristic architecture is Georgian, however, and there are quite a few interesting examples still to be seen:
This little cottage lies on a narrow street right in the town centre:
And finally a triple-whammy – three architectural styles in a row:
Thursday Doors 7 September 2017
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Water
Posted on September 5, 2017
Following last week’s theme of ‘Blue’, Frank has set a double challenge for this week with the subject of ‘Water’. Most people will have plenty of photos featuring water, of course, but in how many of those images is the water blue? And haven’t we just done that?
There is certainly an element of blue in this image, but at least it’s not in the water (and there’s plenty of that). This was taken a few years ago at the Corniche Water Park in Abu Dhabi and shows one of my twin grandsons being fascinated by the jets coming from one of the water cannons.
Ladder
Posted on September 1, 2017
The theme for Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge this week is ‘Shadows’. This is the top of a ladder which allows sailors to step down into their boats from the jetty at Saint Andrews harbour, in Scotland. The low, bright sunlight casts strong shadows on and from the freshly painted metalwork – too red not to apply some selective colour to the image.
Thursday Doors: Abbaye de La Reau (3)
Posted on August 31, 2017
A final set of doors from Abbaye de La Réau this week.
As we started last week’s instalment with an image taken from inside looking out, here’s another of the same, this time from the smithy/workshop:
This one is in the Visitor Centre:
In the grounds of the Abbey are the ruins of a round defensive tower, a refuge for the monks if some of their theological debates got a little heated:
And a couple more interesting doors from other buildings within the complex:
Thursday Doors 31 August 2017
Weekly Photo Challenge: Structure
Posted on August 31, 2017
The Gothic arches and vaulted ceiling of the cloister at the Abbey of Noirlac constitute an impressive architectural structure:
Tuesdays of Texture: Prie-Dieu
Posted on August 30, 2017
This old and worn ‘prie-dieu’ (prayer stool) at the Abbaye de La Réau could probably do with being re-upholstered, but meanwhile it shows some interesting textures:
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Blue
Posted on August 29, 2017
After last week’s theme of ‘pink’ it’s quite natural for Frank to set us the challenge of ‘Blue’ this week.
I hope this is blue enough for everyone. It’s a detail of the roof of what used to be called the Yas Hotel, on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi – just outside the Formula One racetrack. At night, the colours cycle through the spectrum, but I managed to catch it when it was at its bluest:
Thursday Doors: Abbaye de La Reau (2)
Posted on August 25, 2017
This week we’re continuing our exploration of Abbaye de La Réau with some internal doors. I doubt whether any of these are absolutely original, but most of them are pretty old-looking, it has to be said.
However, to bridge the exterior/interior divide, here’s an image looking out from inside the monks’ living quarters:
A few examples of the doors leading off from this entrance space:
Rather prosaically, this is the door to the (communal) privy. Three seats (holes in a plank, to be more precise), no waiting:
And finally for this week, a door situated in the inner courtyard of the complex. Comes complete with bonus door within a door:
Thursday Doors 24 August 2017
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