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
Weekly Photo Challenge: Corner
Posted on August 24, 2017
This angular building in Abu Dhabi is comparatively new, but reflects traditional architecture. It has the characteristic appearance of a wind tower – an old design that was able to capture the cooler breezes that circulate well above the ground and direct them down towards the ground.
Nowadays, of course, they have A/C.
Tuesdays of Texture: The Wall
Posted on August 23, 2017
A rather different perspective – from a roof terrace – of the cloister of the Cistercian Abbey of Noirlac:
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Pink
Posted on August 22, 2017
‘Pink’ is the theme chosen by Frank for this week’s Tuesday Challenge. I suspect that flowers will prove to be the most common source of inspiration: it was certainly my initial idea and I have a fair few images in my library. However, I decided to try to look for something a little different and came up with this.
In the centre of the French city of Limoges you can find this vintage carousel, or merry-go-round. It’s kept under wraps through the winter, of course, but during the summer tourist season it’s in full swing. It’s well-looked after and in excellent condition considering its age.
And, as you can see, it’s also very pink in parts:
Elephants!
Posted on August 18, 2017
Cee’s topic this week is ‘small subjects’. So here are a pair of elephants.
I should explain that this carving – part of Madame’s extensive elephant collection – is in fact only about an inch long.
Thursday Doors: Abbaye de La Reau (1)
Posted on August 17, 2017
The Abbaye de La Réau is an outstanding set of monastic buildings, some dating back to the 12th century, in the Vienne département of central France. In addition to the massive religious buildings, the site also includes the secular edifices that were a practical necessity to support the community of monks that lived here. The whole site is being sympathetically restored both internally and externally and a recent visit revealed many interesting doors – again, both internal and external – to be shared here over the next few weeks.
To begin with, though, some external views, starting with the great doorway of the Abbey itself:
The roof of the Abbey has completely gone, but the walls still look as solid as ever, even if some former doors have been closed up:
This is a view of the adjacent, and much more recent, residential block:
Although it seems clear from this image that some of the living accommodation was reclaimed from earlier uses:
This is in the grounds, next to what is now the Visitor Centre:
And finlly, for this time around, this building lies just outside the walls that enclose the complex:
Thursday Doors 17 August 2017
Weekly Photo Challenge: Shiny
Posted on August 17, 2017
This week’s photo challeneg from WordPress goes by the initially baffling title of ‘Ooh, shiny!’. In fact, it’s about the things that can distract us.
Rather like Andrea, who set the challenge, normally I’m pretty focused on whatever I happen to be doing at the time. However, if there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to send me running to get my camera – apart from rainbows – it’s spotting insects buzzing around our flowers.
In particular, I’ve tried on numerous occasions to get a half-decent image of this little creature, a Hummingbird Moth. It’s not easy, because they don’t remain still for any time at all: the exposure on this photo is 1/750th of a second and still the wings are blurred. However, I think I got the rest of it as right as I’m ever likely to, so I think it was worth the distraction.
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