Ironbridge

We visited Ironbridge Blists Hill on our way back from north Wales. As I had been fairly recently (August 27th blog), decided to concentrate on one area. The Ironworks is an 1815 cast-iron framed smithy building from the Woolwich dockyard (my homeland), whilst the machinery and furnaces housed are from Walmsley’s Atlas works in Bolton. I am still working through the images but here are five to show the colours and the shapes that occupied me for my time there.

Saturday at New Brighton

We were so chuffed with our 4th place at the PAGB Interclub print finals on Saturday that we found the energy to spend the twilight hour at New Brighton, photographing the lighthouse. These show the change in the colour as it went to full night conditions. The final shot was lit by car headlight, hence the white light.

Friday at West Kirby

I had no internet access at weekend so a bit of a backlog. Here a few dramatic skyscapes from Friday when we broke our journey to Connah's Quay at West Kirby on the Wirral for an hour or so at dusk. I was amused to meet Dennis Healey - or anyway his eyebrows - on the walkway.

Autumn mists

Back in Cambridge and enjoying the autumn sunrises and misty cobwebs.

Aberdare

Went for a walk around the Dare Valley Park, Aberdare, previously the site of several coal mines including Bwllfa Colliery. The river has been diverted to form a large lake and the various coal tips landscaped. I enjoyed the trees, water and ferns.

Newport Wetlands Centre

Visited Newport Wetlands Centre, which is run by the RSPB, in the company of Steph who I reckon I haven't seen for about 20 years but didn't look any different. It is a very large area of reed beds under the shadow of the Severn Power Station. There were several Cetti's Warblers singing but not a lot of birds to see as the tide was low. Still many butterflies on the wing in the warm sunshine. We also disturbed a grass snake - as I didn't have a suitable macro lens, tried the fush eye and quite pleased to have captured snake, Steph and her delightful dog.

Modern Liverpool

I am in Bath at the RPS and haven't had a chance to take camera out of the bag so decided to do a new web gallery on my main website of monochrome Liverpool images. Here are a couple of the 20 images that I particularly like.

Infrared Cambridge

A few images taken in Cambridge with the IR camera on Wednesday . The first two in Kings College showing the delicate tones that are possible. I liked the reflection of the organist in the mirror in Clare College Chapel - thanks Peter for the idea. The last two show the two extremes of tones - St John's gates where the background foliage has been rendered very pale with the wrought iron standing out well (a bit of mirror imaging here to give a simpler composition). The spiral stairase in St Johns has been rendered with very rich tones in infrared.

Farewell to Guernsey

Just a few final pictures from Guernsey as I said goodbye yesterday. Many thanks to Jan and David for making me so welcome in their lovely home and looking after me so well. The first image shows the view that greeted me each morning
from the main room on the left where we breakfasted etc.



We had a quick trip to Jerbourg Point and photographed a lot of water with beautiful turquoise hue, a few yachts and views of Herm.
The flight back with final view of Fort Grey, Rocquaine Bay and Lihou Island, familiar from our daily trip along the coast to St Peter Port.

Thanks again to Jan and all the Spectrum and Prism Photographic Club members (and others) that made me so welcome.

Also a very big thank you to David for sharing his home with me.

Pastel Sunset

I spent an hour or so enjoying a perfectly calm clear evening at Portelet. The colours produced as the light faded were all subtle pastel shades until the final glow lit the sands with a fiery red.

Saturday in Guernsey

A free day with just a lecture in the evening so time for a walk along the coast from Portelet. Spent a bit of time photographing the sea. Though it was very calm using the 8 neutral density filter allowed a slow enough shutterspeed to give a bit of movement to the water. Then had a go at the myriad of bees on the ivy and, later in the day, a great green bush cricket (thanks Godfray for the correct identification) on a knipofia.