Black Sands Iceland

On our journey back to Reykjavik, we stopped a couple of times on the volcanic plains to photograph the grasses and other vegetation that cling to life there. Quick edits but gives an idea of the scenes - the weather was sombre, grey and rainy, to go with the surroundings

Stokesay and Powis Castles and Signs of Spring

Saturday started cold and foggy for a visit to Stokesay Castle, which was constructed at the end of the 13th century by Laurence of Ludlow, who at the time was one of the richest men in England. It is one of the finest and best-preserved fortified medieval manor house in England with the Great Hall, unchanged for over 700 years and the yellow 17th-century gatehouse - with no uprights vertical!!.

By the afternoon spent at Powis Castle, it was sunny and truly spring-like with bees and flies visiting the spring flowers (first Eristalis pertinax hoverfly of the year). The gardens are the finest example of a terraced Baroque design with lead statues and orangery. The Castle was originally built around 1200 but has been embellished over 400 years and now also houses a Museum of Clive of India artifacts.

 

Venus Pool, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

We are staying with Peter and Jane in Shropshire (thanks for great hospitality as always) and last night spoke at Wrekin Arts. Yesterday after a pleasant walk on the Long Mind in indifferent light, we  visited Venus Pool where the sun came out and there were lots of birds.   This reserve is south-east of Shrewsbury, and covers almost 27 ha (66 acres). In addition to the pool itself, with its islands and areas of open shoreline, other habitats include stands of willow scrub, extensive marginal vegetation, flower-rich grassland, hedgerows and woodland. An arable field to the south of the pool is planted with bird-friendly crops. I was pleased to get good views of Snipe and also Bramblings. Only had 140mm lens so not the best bird images but a record of the habitat etc.

Jokulsarlon Moonset and Sunrise

Final images from the Glacier lagoon and beach. Beautiful lighting to finish our stay in the area - just the journey back and Reykjavik day to follow!!

Sunset on Jokulsarlon Beach

Apologies for a superfluity of iceberg images (only a dawn session to go!). Also a monochrome image has crept in where adjusting the colour image proved very difficult. With the long exposures, the movement of the ice lumps in the surf added another element as they spun around.

 

Jokulsarlon Beach - My Iceberg

After photographing the dawn light over the lagoon, we went down onto the beach where all the icebergs are washed back to land after travelling from the lagoon to the sea. I walked along the top of the beach looking for a tall iceberg to shield the sun and get some backlighting. This was ' my iceberg' with wonderful colours and shape. I revisited him throughout the day until towards sunset it was washed out to sea again by the high tide. Different shutterspeeds and viewing from different angles to keep the sun behind the berg as long as possible. I am afraid there are more images from this beach to follow but it was our longest visited location.