Svartsengi Power Station Iceland

The aurora images in yesterday's blog were taken from the Northern Lights Hotel at Grindavik. The hotel is situated right next to the Svartsengi Power Station. This is a geothermal power station producing power and pumping hot water. Surplus mineral-rich water from the plant fills up the Blue Lagoon, a popular bathing resort.

Northern Lights Iceland

 Just over 2 hours after arriving at our hotel near Keflavik, the display started while there was still some residual light in the sky. Retired to bed 3 hours later with the display still there and changing. Here are a selection grabbed from the many. It was the best display seen by our guide this winter. I particularly like the Angel of the North flapping her wings.

Paxton Pits Flight Photos

 Taken last week on a very windy day at Paxton. Not many Herons braving the wind but the Cormorant and the Goosanders were moving around the pits

Snowdrops at Chippenham Park

We visited Chippenham Park yesterday, and the display of snowdrops was better than ever. If you have never been, it is worth a visit; the gardens are open every Sunday in March as the daffodils take over from the snowdrops.

St Ives in Infrared

We visited St Ives on Saturday for the Interprint Competition and also to spend the afternoon photographing around the town. For those who wanted a bit of direction, we had a phototrail with 6 tasks to complete. I had a go but certainly didn't get a satisfactory image for each of the categories. I was using infrared camera which gives pleasing clarity to the shots.

  (1) A picture of or from Chapel Bridge suitable for a Tourist Guide to St Ives

(2) People enjoying their Saturday on Town Quay or in the town

(3) Oliver Cromwell and/or his view of St Ives

(4) All Saints’ Parish Church or Churchyard in Church Street

(5) The Great Ouse

(6) Shopping in St Ives

Paxton Pits Birdlife

 windy day at Paxton but the birds were not put off coming to the feeders - nice variety including male and female Reed Buntings.

Our Broadband is Back

 We have just got our broadband and phone back after 10 days having to visit friends or wifi hotspots to access the web. A squirrel had got trapped in the pole and chewed through the wiring!
Three images form last Saturday taken with a 100mm macro lens as we were expecting to photograph the Orchid Festival in the botanic gardens but they show the quality of this lens.

Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge

 On Saturday morning, I had arranged a visit to the Botanic Gardens for the Orchid Festival and spring flowers. Unfortunately, due to the night's gales and damage to the trees and glasshouses, they were closed. We therefore went to the Fitzwilliam Museum for coffee and found that photography was allowed and large lockers provided for all our extra gear. I had brought my 15mm fish eye with me to lend to Barry but borrowed it back to photograph the wonderful interiors in the museum.