Guernsey - Castle Cornet

On Thursday afternoon, we had a very interesting tour from Steve around Castle Cornet, which has a 800-year history, culminating in the building of a Cold War retreat in the centre of the Citadel.  We also spent a bit of time on the beach under the causeway and I was delighted to find Anemonia viridis, Snakelocks Anemone, with their fluorescent green tentacles tipped with purple sting cells. All but first two taken with the Sony rx100 IR camera either converted to b/w or left with in colour.

 

Guernsey - Le Gouffre and Jerbourg Point

On Thursday, we was spent a lovely time with Jan and David drinking coffee, walking along the cliff path at Le Gouffre and admiring the views and an obliging Kestrel at Jerbourg Point. It was our first sunny day so I put my new polariser to work on the first view.

Guernsey - Portait Evening

Guernsey Spectrum Photographic Club did us proud in arranging five models to recreate the 1940s around the photogenic streets of St Peter Port. Unfortunately heavy rain curtailed our activities but I still managed to get some what I feel are evocative shots. I worked mainly with Dave Hyatt. (More to follow )

Guernsey - Underground Hospital

Photos taken in the tunnels of the German underground Hospital - more or less from the camera to show the extraordinary range of colours. (Last one for Matt and Ellie.)

Between the years of 1940 and 1945 hundreds of slave laborers working under the direction of German occupying forces dug 7,000 square meters in underground tunnels. 
The  men and women of numerous nationalities, many of whom died in the tunnels’ construction, used explosives, drills, hand tools, and their bare hands to carve these tunnels from solid rock. The subterranean complex was intended for use as a German military hospital and ammunitions storehouse. 
By the time construction ceased at the onset of the D-Day invasion the hospital complex was large enough to house 500 patients. In addition to the three main entrances, the ventilation shafts were equipped with stairs and ladders so they could double as emergency exits.

For all its planning, after three years of construction the hospital was only in use for around three months during the summer of 1944 when German casualties of the D-Day invasion filled all available wards. Hospital operations were eventually moved above ground when it became clear that the tunnels’ damp, dark atmosphere was not conducive to recovery. The ammunitions storage facilities were used for around nine months.

Guernsey- Les Vardes quarry

Great walk round the rim of the quarry and excellent time to practise panoramas. Lucky with the light when we arrived baclighting the smoke and dust. Even saw a peregrine.