Weekly Photo Challenge: Graceful
Posted on January 21, 2017
The symmetrical curves of the arches in this cloister of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi are the epitome of ‘graceful’.

‘The Bus Came By..’
Posted on January 20, 2017
To be perfectly honest, as a general rule I don’t find ‘public transport’ a particularly interesting subject for photography. However, as this subject has come round again in Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge it gives me an opportunity to post this picture, taken in downtown Sydney.
As an image, I admit it doesn’t really have much to offer, but if you happen to be a Deadhead it raises a smile, assuming that you are familiar with the lyrics of the Grateful Dead’s second-set improvisational vehicle (sic), ‘The Other One’:
Escapin’ through the lily fields
I came across an empty space
It trembled and exploded
Left a bus stop in its place
The bus came by and I got on
That’s when it all began

Thursday Doors: Burano
Posted on January 19, 2017
Things have stayed pretty local as regards Thursday Doors over the past few weeks, so just for a change, somewhere a little more exotic – and colourful – this time.
There are two principal islands in the Venetian Lagoon: Murano, which is famous for its glass-making and Burano, something of an artists’ hangout and probably best known for its brightly-painted houses.

which of course means colourful door surrounds, even on the more decrepit examples:


Albeit that there’s a reassuring drabness about this example:

Although this must be the hands-down winner – Charlie Chaplin and all:

Thursday Doors 19 January 2017
Macro Moments: Week 27 – Caterpillar
Posted on January 18, 2017
We spotted this exotic-looking caterpillar in our room at the hotel on the nature reserve of Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Macro Moments Week 27
Mundane? Water
Posted on January 16, 2017
Given that about two-thirds of the earth’s surface is covered by sea, it’s difficult to think of anything more mundane than water. But it becomes a little more interesting if a tiny proportion of it – like this detail of a water park near Sydney – is suitably framed (in this case by the brick border of the walkway).

Mundane Mondays
52 Weeks Photo Challenge: Week 23 – Trees
Posted on January 16, 2017
On a clear and frosty morning, the sun shines through the line of oak trees that borders one of our fields.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Ambience
Posted on January 14, 2017
Ambience: the sense of a place. This is poolside at the hotel on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Quite possibly one of the most relaxing places we have ever been to (several times).

Roman Head
Posted on January 13, 2017
I saw this striking carved head on display in the museum attached to the Argentomagus archaeological site – a Roman town built over an Iron Age village – in the Indre département of central France.

Thursday Doors: More from Mezieres
Posted on January 12, 2017
Back in November I posted images of some of the doors and gates to be found in our local village of Mézières-sur-Issoire. Those two posts by no means exhausted the local possibilities, however, so here are some more from Mézières.
The local economy is still predominantly agriculture-based and the largest open space within the village is not the statutory place de la Republique, but the Marché des Ovins – the sheep market. These first three doors are to be found there:



This barn is just down the road from the church; you can’t beat a door within a door:

Although this one is obviously no longer still in use:

And finally – just to prove that the village does still have such things – an occupied private house:

Thursday Doors 12 January 2017





