Consider The Lilies

These orange lilies were a gift from a friend. Not only are they very orange, but there is also a little piece of light green peeping between the leaves.

CMMC: Orange and Light Green

Even The Clouds Are Straight

A particularly dramatic sky early one recent morning. You expect the chemtrails from overflying aeroplanes to be straight, of course, but on this occasion the clouds seemed to be as well.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Straight Lines

Through A Window

The windows of the open-air memorial of Oradour-sur-Glane are all devoid of glass but offer many perspectives of what lies beyond.

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Through A Window

The only good hornet…

Apologies to Cee, who I know doesn’t really like creepy-crawlies, but just this once I wanted to plead her indulgence.

This evil-looking b*****d is a hornet (‘frelon’ in French) and you don’t mess with them. Their sting is extremely painful and toxic and they are psychopathic about using it.

Swat one and they release a pheromone that summons the swarm. Do that outdoors and you’d better get inside and close the doors and windows pretty sharpish, because their mates will be round looking for revenge. Swat one indoors – well, just stay there.

At this time of year they are dying off (how sad; never mind) and this specimen was crawling on our doorframe one morning, barely alive and about to breathe its last. I wouldn’t have got so close with my smartphone otherwise.

Sorry again, Cee.

CMMC: Macro 6 October 2021

Arches Of Chartres Cathedral

The three great main doors of Chartres Cathedral are each framed in a whole series of carved gothic arches.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Arches

Summer’s Last Hurrah

The last picture on my smartphone in September.

The Last Photo – September 2021

Bramble-Resistant

For her Black & White Challenge this week, Cee wants to see a concrete structure.

So be it. This concrete pylon supports the electricity cables that still deliver power out here in the sticks. They are obviously pretty durable, as they have to be, but nothing is going to stop the ubiquitous brambles from having a go.

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Concrete Structures

It’s That Time Of Year Again

The nights are drawing in, it’s turning chillier and drifts of fallen leaves are starting to gather in the local sheep market.

Autumn is upon us.

CMMC: Autumn or Spring

Shooting A drive-By

Even in the depths of the countryside (i.e just up the road in Asnieres-sur-Blour), where few tourists ever venture, the locals sometimes can’t resist dressing up in ‘archetypal’ clothes – beret and red neckerchief – and parading up and down the street in their lovingly cared-for old tractors.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Circles and Wheels

Aspirational

A shop sign near Circular Quay in the centre of Sydney.

PPAC #15 24 September 2021