Change in the Weather

Two different days, just about the same viewpoint and time in the morning but very different weather conditions.

Views of Halifax

Spent night in Travelodge in Halifax, which is part of the renovated Dean Clough complex. Reminded of the work of Bill Brandt (right is one of his images from Halifax). Treated my image to give a similar gritty feel. Not enough time to take many photographs - a project for next visit.

Rain in the Lakes

One of my favourite images from the trip to the Lakes - says it all!!

Autumn Stream

The colours were very variable through the Lake District. Found this lovely stream near Glen Ridding where the leaves were still on the trees

Lake District Sheep

Some inquisitive sheep taken on 'the' sunny morning on a recent trip to the Lakes

Laccaria amethystea

Two views of Amethyst deceiver taken at Brandon

Toadstool from Outing to Brandon

This is one of my favourite shots from today's wander in the beechwoods at Brandon.

I think it is Coprinus lagopus but would like confirmation.

Weekend for Autumn Colours

The autumn colours seem to be at their best in Cambridgeshire at the moment. As high winds are reported to be on their way, now is the time to record this year's yellows and golds.

Images for Recipe Book

I am in the process of producing some illustrations for a recipe book to be sold to help fund a toilet for our Parish Church in Toft.

These need to be in monochrome suitable for printing on text pages.

Liverpool 20 years on

I knew I had a photograph from the late 1980s of Mersey from behind the Albert Dock so I attempted to get the same viewpoint. The most interesting difference is the proliferation of safety fences. In the older photo on the right ther were no barriers other than the chain fence. Now there is a solid railing fence and in places extra barricades - a sign of our mitigation-mad culture? The three dockyard cranes at the Cammell Laird Shipyard at Birkenhead were blown up in November 2003 when the dockyard closed.

Visit to Liverpool

Visited the Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool on a very bright sunny day last week and was amazed by the colours coming through the stained glass ceiling windows. The staff were very friendly and encouraged us to take photographs with no restriction on tripods - just a request to publicize the beauty of the building - not a problem.

Trinity gates

Autumn colours on the Backs in Cambridge

Rainy Wales

Bridge at Connays Quay on a very wet morning in Wales - also have some dawn shots that may be more pleasing though the sombre sky does seem to go with the structure

Using Shift and Tilt Lens

Tried out my Canon Tilt and Shift lens on the beach huts at Wells.


On the left, the beach huts when taken without any shift appear to lean backwards as they are taken from below

With the lens shifted, the verticals are corrected and the beach huts are now upright and photo appears to be taken from a ladder at the height of the decking.

Two More Cafes

Two cafes taken on a rainy visit to Hunstanton - neither was doing much business.

Shifting Sands

The first evening of our recent camera club weekend in Wells was very windy but clear after a very wet day. The shifting sands made wonderful patterns

Silly Flamingos

Pensthorpe has a flock of Flamingos in their Conservation area. They periodically got very agitated and all rushed forward onto the water and were photographed in some very amusing poses.

More Spiders from Wicken

Three more spiders from Wicken


Pisaura mirabilis (right)

Meta segmentata (below)

Araneus diadematus (below right)

Two Images from Wet Sunday

Two images from the wet Sunday of

our camera club weekend in Wells-next-the-Sea.

Any ideas why Hunstanton has these perfectly rounded boulders all covered in green seaweed? Not enough light to make a good image but still took my eye.

This image says it all about Hunstanton on a wet day

Taken at Sheringham station

In the Cafe Number 2

Tea for Two

One of a series on traditional cafes

Two spiders from Wicken Fen

Araneus marmoreus and Araneus

quadratus

Red Kite in Chilterns

We did a detour en route to Bath to photograph the red kites around the Stokenchurch area. Amazing birds - sometimes a dozen in the sky at once - well worth a visit.

This is from one of the small jpeg file so will post the best of the conversions later.

Hard winter to come?

If the old adage is true, with the hedgerows full of berries this autumn, we are in for a harsh winter.

Good news for those like me that like winter frosts and snows, but not so good for the wildlife.

Iceberg beach Jokusarlon

Started looking back on the many photos I took in Iceland in February and have never processed or printed.

I remember being so overawed by this beach that found it very difficult to settle and compose pictures.

Puffin on the Farne Islands

Everyone else's puffins seem to be able to get their sand eels in a tidy row while mine had them all in a mess - some heads towards me and some tails but I did like the bit of movement on the wings and the glancing light.

Pink and purple staircase

Even brighter staircase from Lowry Centre at Salford.

Blue staircase

I have quite a collection of coloured staircases. This one was taken recently in Edinburgh at their discovery centre near the Scottish Parliament.

Pumpkin time coming

With all this year's rain, should be some giant pumpkin's around for Halloween.

Rufous-tailed hummungbird

Last one from Ecuador - the complete catalogue of birds is now accessible from my website but this is my favourite - mainly because I have knipofias growing outside my study window in Cambridge but the most exotic species I have seen on them here are goldfinches

Green Thorntail

Spider from Ecuador

Can anyone identify this orb-spinning spider seen in Ecuador - in open land west of Quito.

Cloud Rain Forest

It was the wet season on the east of Quito and we certainly saw a lot of clouds and rain.