Horny
Posted on September 4, 2020
A veritable forest of horns in this group of Arabian oryx in the nature reserve of Sir Bani Yas island in Abu Dhabi.
At the sign of The White Horse
Posted on September 2, 2020
The Auberge Cheval Blanc stands at the main crossroads in the nearby town of Bellac.
For the avoidance of doubt, the horse looking out of the window isn’t real.
Then again, neither is the window….
(P.S. I’m taking it that the restaurant is being run as a commercial enterprise)
Monday Window: Mezieres-sur-Issoire
Posted on August 31, 2020
Behind the altar in the church of our local village, Mézières-sur-Issoire.
Monday Window 31 August 2020
52 Week Smartphone Challenge: 35 Symmetry Portrait
Posted on August 29, 2020
This week’s Smartphone Challenge required a bit of lateral thinking. This is what was asked for:
“Symmetry is a strong compositional technique most often used in landscapes and architecture. So break the mould by using Symmetry in a portrait”
This posed two difficulties, the first of which is that I don’t really ‘do’ portraits. Secondly, other than a reflection, I struggle to see symmetry as a natural element of a portrait. I’ve seen images that have been doctored to make the two halves of a face look absolutely symmetrical (in essence, the right side is a flipped duplicate of the left side). The effect is vaguely unsettling and certainly unnatural.
But then, so you could argue, is this. I took a selfie (in front of one of Madame’s more colourful quilts) and then used the kaleidoscope effect in Pixelmator to create what, it’s fair to say, is quite a striking image.
But it’s nothing if not symmetrical.
52 WeekSmartphoneChallenge: 52 Symmetry Portrait
Taking a rest
Posted on August 28, 2020
A weary worker takes the opportunity to take the weight of his feet on a bench in Dubai.
Residency in Dubai
Posted on August 26, 2020
Last week, Cee wanted images of old buildings; this time it’s modern homes. I stayed (relatively) local for the old buildings – being pretty much surrounded by them in this part of France, quite apart from actually living in one myself.
Of course there are modern homes here too, but most of them are just not very interesting to look at. Whereas in Dubai pretty much everything is modern and a lot of it is architecturally noteworthy. This is the Pearl Resdence, one of the almost literally countless residential apartment blocks in the city. That’s another one reflected in its plate glass frontage.
Monday Window: Al Ain
Posted on August 24, 2020
Fortunately, this lion at Al Ain Zoo in the United Arab Emirates was on the other side of the window.
52 Week Smartphone Challenge: 34 Colour without colour
Posted on August 22, 2020
This week’s Smartphone Challenge is to tell a colourful story, but in monochrome.
This clematis is actually a delightful shade of purple, but in black and white it contrasts very well with the green leaves behind. The monochrome treatment also helps to highlight the intricacy at the centre of the flower.
52WeekSmartphoneChallenge: 34 Colourful in B&W
In need of repair
Posted on August 22, 2020
This was the interior of our barn when we bought Brokedown Palace. Yes, that is a big hole in the roof in the middle of the image.
What were we thinking?
Rooftops of Sarlat
Posted on August 20, 2020
Look out from the glass-walled lift that’s installed in the church tower of the medieval town of Sarlat, in the Dordogne, and old buildings is just about all you get.
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