theonlyD800inthehameau
Photography by theonlydeadheadinthehameau
Lens-Artists Challenge: Juxtaposition
Posted on February 24, 2026
When i saw that this week’s challenge was ‘juxtaposition’, my first thought was of one or more human figures set against part of the colossal ruins of the city of Petra, but as I searched my photo library I happened to come across this one first.
It shows a team of window cleaners carrying out the (almost literally) uphill task of cleaning the exterior of the headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. I took it from my own office in that edifice, which was on the 23rd floor. I can’t remember how many floors there were exactly – about 36, I think, so these poor guys still had a way to go, in 40 degrees-plus heat and supported only by an individual safety harness.
Before I retired, at least they were given a safety cradle to use, but it certainly made me resolve never to complain about my own job again.
Cellpic Sunday: Rooms with views
Posted on October 13, 2024
We were away last weekend on a (very) special occasion trip. Our destination was the city of La Rochelle, on France’s west coast.
En route, however, we broke our journey in the city of Poitiers, where we stayed overnight in a budget hotel whose chief attraction was its proximity to the railway station. We certainly didn’t choose it for the views:
On the other hand, in La Rochelle we splashed the cash on a suite in a considerably more upmarket establishment, where the views were a signifcant step up from the poor relation in Poitiers.
Cellpic Sunday: Another room with a view
Posted on March 10, 2024
During a recent visit to the UK we stayed at a hotel near St Pancras and Kings’ Cross stations. This is the rather unexpected view from our room.
I cropped the original to establish some symmetry between the two walls and darkened the shadows on the left one for a more pleasing contrast.
What Lies through this window?
Posted on September 23, 2022
This mysterious window can be found in Aubeterre-sur Dronne.
Call the glazier
Posted on January 12, 2022
The best you can say about these windows is that they let the light in.
Along with everything else.
This tower is part of the ruins of the medieval castle in St. Andrews.
Through A Window
Posted on October 9, 2021
The windows of the open-air memorial of Oradour-sur-Glane are all devoid of glass but offer many perspectives of what lies beyond.
Let There Be Light
Posted on April 28, 2021
Cee’s challenge for this ‘assignment’ is to juxtapose natural and man-made light.
This photograph shows the interior of the old church in the ancient village of Saint Cirq Lapopie. On the wall on the right is the natural light of the sun, but the rest of the illumination is provided by the sunlight passing through the man-made stained glass widows.
Urban Erosion: St-Junien
Posted on January 13, 2021
An all-too common sight in the old centres of so many towns in rural France that don’t benefit from any significant levels of tourism.
Monday Window: Sarlat
Posted on December 21, 2020
There’s a grand old house, furnished in period fashion, in the middle of Sarlat, a medieval town in the Dordogne départèment of south-west France.
Monday Window: Bellac (again)
Posted on December 14, 2020
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