52 Week Smartphone Challenge: 19 Ageing

“It’s the same story the crow told me, it’s the only one he knows

Like the morning sun you come, and like the wind you go”

 – Grateful Dead: ‘Uncle John’s Band’

 – – – – – – – – – – –

About three years ago, we scattered some seeds of an orange poppy and they keep coming back every year, providing splashes of vibrant colour all over the garden. Like life itself, they come, they age and then they go.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

52WeekSmartphoneChallenge 19

The Tip Of The Iceberg…

When we bought our French house (aka ‘Brokedown Palace’), this is the state that the barn was in. Those bales of rotting hay were all that were holding up not only the roof (such as it was), but pretty much the entire edifice. Since part of the bâtiment belongs to our neighbour, getting it fixed was something of a priority. It cost about as much as we originally paid for the house and land in the first place.

And that was just the tip of the iceberg…

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Decay

Ten Years Ago…

Ten years on, and this boy now plays the piano beautifully….

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: A Sense Of Hearing

Monday Window: Saint-Junien

A derelict building in the town of Saint-Junien:

#MondayWindow 4 May 2020

52 Week Smartphone Challenge: 18 Weight

“Heavy as a stone. Light as a feather” says the prompt for week 18. Well, how about as light as a dandelion?

52WeekSmartphoneChallenge 18

En garde

This fiercely proud lion stands guard in the Musée d’Orsay, on the left bank of the Seine in Paris. Notice the even fiercer lion standing guard behind him.

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Heads

A touching image

A friendly pat for a curious Shetland pony.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Sense of Touching

Monday Window: Thiers

Found in the principal church of the Auvergne town of Thiers:

#MondayWindow 27 April 2020

52 Week Smartphone Challenge: 17 Balance

Week 17’s prompt reads as follows: “Balanced composition is pretty straightforward unless you are trying to shoot in the “Accidental Renaissance” style. So shoot a balanced image in the Accidental Renaissance style.”

I must be honest: I had to go away and look up ‘Accidental Renaissance’ when I read that. For the equally uninitiated, this gives a fair idea: ‘Renaissance artwork is instantly recognizable for characteristics like dramatic composition and a striking contrast between light and dark. Sometimes, these elements unexpectedly pop up in modern-day images.’

I’m not sure that this image really fulfils the brief, but the vignette is quite striking, and it’s nothing if not balanced. Of course it’s a selfie, but does that ornate masonry reinforcing rod makes me look like a little devil or an old goat?

I leave it to others to decide.*

* Oh. Apparently, ‘both’ is another option.

#52WeekSmartphoneChallenge 17

Spiral staircase

I’m always fascinated by the elegant geometry of spiral staircases.

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge