Last On The Card – July 2025
Posted on August 2, 2025
This is Poppy, my niece’s chocolate brown Labrador puppy. Daft as a brush, obviously, but here she had found a (relatively) quiet corner during a frenetic children’s birthday party. I was already there….
Monochrome Madness – Any Colour
Posted on July 24, 2025
There’s a very interesting twist on the idea of monochrome in this latest Monochrome Madness Challenge. The automatic assumption is that monochrome must mean black and white or, at most, sepia. However if something – or image thereof – has only one colour, whatever that may be, then it can fairly be described as monochrome.
This is, of course, a rose – and Madame’s favourite to boot, as it reminds her of her grandmother, who grew these in her own garden. I don’t recall us ever having so many blooms at the same time as this summer, and the scent is blissful: just what you imagine a rose should smell like: heady and almost sensual.
Cellpic Sunday: When life gives you lemons…
Posted on July 20, 2025
Lens-Artists Challenge: Quiet Hours
Posted on July 14, 2025
This week’s challenge is to post an image that captures the idea of ‘quiet hours’. Clearly, there are many interpretations: the ‘hours’ element can refer to a particular time of day, while ‘quiet’ could be just something conveying tranquility or serenity.
I’ve gone with the latter, with this photo having been taken in the late morning on an inlet of the River Creuse. Not a cloud in the sky, not a breath of wind, scarcely a ripple to distort those crystal-clear reflections. It was very quiet….
Cellpic Sunday: Canoes at Crozant
Posted on July 13, 2025
The photographer’s dream scenario: a leading line, reflections and red foreground objects. An idyllic summer’s day on the River Creuse at Crozant.
Monochrome Madness: Begins with ‘H’
Posted on July 9, 2025
An interesting challenge for the latest iteration of Monochrome Madness: can I spy something beginning with ‘H’?
Well yes, albeit after a little thought. This is the harbour of the city of La Rochelle, as the sun begins to set.
Lens-Artists Challenge: Creativity
Posted on June 30, 2025
I’ve never considered myself as particularly creative (except perhaps in the art of avoiding hard work or getting my hands dirty), so for this week’s Lens0Artists Challenge, with the theme of ‘Creativity’, it makes more sense to me to highlight the creativity of others more blessed than myself in that department.
The island of Murano, in the Venetian Lagoon, is world famous for its production of glass, especially ornamental glass items that are designed and made by individual craftsmen. The production process is fascinating, if a little scary – that stuff if hot.
Monochrome Madness: Transport
Posted on June 25, 2025
I have no end of pictures of various forms of transport suitable for this week’s Monochrome Madness theme of ‘Transport’. I think I’m especially well-equipped for tractors – unsurprisingly, given our location in the depths of rural France.
However, I thought I’d go with this. No, it’s not a child’s drawing of a bicycle – this is Leonardo da Vinci’s design for a bicycle, on display in a museum in the city of Venice. Note the characteristic mirror writing.
It looks a bit of a bone-shaker, to be honest, but it can’t be denied that he was well ahead of his time.
Lens-Artists Challenge: Reflections
Posted on June 23, 2025
Ah, reflections. What photographer worth their salt could resist capturing an example of nature’s best BOGOF deal?
This reflection was captured in the charming Belgian city of Bruges, so famous for its canals that it’s often been described as the Venice of the north.
Cellpic Sunday: As seen from above..
Posted on June 22, 2025
This, I am reliably informed, is an Agapanthus – originally from southern Africa but – in this particular instance – now residing in one of our newly-created flowerbeds.
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