Saturday 30 June 2012

182. Nuisances


These poppies are beautiful and delicate and I absolutely love seeing them in swathes of red across the fields right now. However, they are seeding all over my allotment, which is becoming something of a nuisance! I don't want to have to pull them up!

Friday 29 June 2012

181. The Weekend...


...begins like this. Friday night curry and wine, with Harry Potter. 

Thursday 28 June 2012

180. Humour


Okay, so I actually took this photograph over a week ago, but I hadn't yet got round to opening it and posting it. My friend's daughter is happy to have her photo taken, but she's got a real sense of humour about it!

Wednesday 27 June 2012

179. People


The crowds of people standing in the rain, to see the Olympic Torch relay - so lovely to see. 

Tuesday 26 June 2012

178. Burn


The Olympic Torch came through Stockport on Sunday - we were lucky enough to be standing right in front  of where the exchange of the flame happened. 

Sunday 24 June 2012

176. Symbols


While we were in Chester we visited an 'Alice in Wonderland' themed tea-shop - it was full of little symbols relating to the novel, including these playing card themed menus. So pretty. 

Saturday 23 June 2012

175. Costume


More fantastic costumes and masks at the Chester Midsummer Watch Parade. 

174. Evil


Today we visited Chester - I hadn't been for years but I quickly remembered how much I like it there, with its black-and-white Tudor buildings and Roman ruins. We were also treated to a carnivalesque parade for the Chester Midsummer Watch, which was absolutely brilliant. The colours, costumes and drums created a really dramatic atmosphere. This guy looked particularly 'evil' dressed as a red devil. 

Thursday 21 June 2012

173. Zoo


At Bristol Zoo on Sunday, we watched the seals darting around in the water. This one came up to the surface to give his face a bit of a scrub! 

Wednesday 20 June 2012

172. Characters


Dory and Marlin, from 'Finding Nemo' - apparently they retired to Bristol Zoo!

Tuesday 19 June 2012

171. Immature


While we were at Bristol Zoo on Sunday, we saw this very little youngster having a walk around via his mum's arms. He or she was clearly immature, in very literal terms, compared to the older gorillas there.

Monday 18 June 2012

Scavenger Hunt Sunday...

...slightly delayed this week!
Things have been pretty busy around here but I've still been snapping away. Here are this week's Scavenger Hunt Sunday interpretations - do please head over to Ashley Sisk's Ramblings and Photos to see the other wonderful entries.
Here goes...

1. Meet me on the corner  platform



Last weekend B was driving a diesel engine down the West Somerset Heritage Railway. I spent the day driving up and down the railway route, stopping to meet him at different stations and snapping pictures of his experience. It was a gloriously sunny day and so much fun.

2. Mother Nature meets technology



Yesterday we visited Bristol Zoo and I spent quite a while in the butterfly house, utterly captivated by the beautiful exotic butterflies. These 'pads' had been set up with brightly coloured circles and - I assume - spots of nectar, to attract the butterflies. 

3. One step at a time


While we were at the zoo, our friends' daughter very bravely walked the 'sky walk' - here she is near the beginning taking it one step at a time. 

4. What's wrong with this picture?


Perhaps 'wrong' is the wrong word - 'What is out of place in this picture?' would be a better question. Can you spot the light fixture 'in' the table - clearly an impossible placement. The photo was taken reflected in a piece of artwork which was made up of variously angled mirrored tiles - the effect was quite surreal, almost like a double-exposure. 

5. Standing tall


This is the lighthouse at Watchet Harbour, along the West Somerset Railway route. B and I have spent several days here now and have some really happy memories of this place. I love how proud and clear the lighthouse stands on the end of the pier. 

Thanks for stopping by!

170. Stand-out


How could you fail to be captivated by such a beautiful sight? The stand-out image of a day at Bristol Zoo for me. 

Sunday 17 June 2012

169. Crowded


I absolutely loved watching the birds crowd around these feeders, where we were staying in Pembrokeshire. There were so many different breeds coming to feed, some of which I had never really seen in a garden before. Now I'm really keen to set up some feeders in our allotment to try and attract the birds. 

Saturday 16 June 2012

168. Luggage


Vintage luggage at Watchet station on the West Somerset Heritage Railway. I really want some!

Friday 15 June 2012

167. Port


Along the West Somerset Railway, there is the small port town of Watchet, which has a little harbour and marina. It's a charming little place and I really love it's stunning red lighthouse. 

Thursday 14 June 2012

166. Rails


Last weekend we spent the day on the beautiful West Somerset Railway. This heritage railway is still serviced by vintage diesel and steam trains and is so photogenic, with its retro signage, picket fences and pretty flower beds. 

Wednesday 13 June 2012

165. Agriculture


Dotted around the Pembrokeshire countryside are remnants of agricultural past - these rusted skeletons of old farm equipment, sitting amongst wild flowers along the coastal walks, made for some interesting photographs. 

Tuesday 12 June 2012

164. Furry


This is Dexter - the very excitable Spaniel puppy who lived where we were staying in Pembrokeshire. He spent a lot of time sitting by our doorstep, waiting for someone to come out and play!

Monday 11 June 2012

163. Weathered


While we were in Pembrokeshire, we had one day where the weather held - it didn't rain and the sun even came out. We took the opportunity to do walk one of the breathtaking coastal paths and this was the point we stopped at. This sea arch, created over time as the elements have weathered the rock, was situated not far from Abercastle harbour on the walk from Porthgain - so beautiful. 

Sunday 10 June 2012

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

It's been a few weeks since I've been able to do one of these, with work being a bit hectic towards the end of term. However, I have just had a week's holiday so my camera has been working overtime!
Here goes...

1. Travel


One of the places I travelled to this week was Barcelona. I absolutely loved Antoni Gaudi's amazing architecture. This is his Parc Guell. 

2. Silly


Another shot taken while we were in Barcelona - this is my partner Ben making silly jokes with his colleagues and friends. 

3. Black and White


This little pup - Dexter - lived where we stayed this week in Pembrokeshire. A gorgeous black and white springer spaniel. 

4. Spots


In case this shot needs explanation, I interpreted the 'spots' as spotlights. I liked how the different coloured lights created an interesting background to the drummer here. 

5. Paper


Mmm, camembert baked in paper...I so want to eat this again. 

So there you have it - another Scavenger Hunt Sunday! Do hop on over to see some of the other entries at Ashley Sisk's Ramblings and Photos.

162. Landmark


This is Pentre Ifan, in Pembrokeshire. It is a Neolithic burial chamber - the largest in Wales. I was totally struck by its majesty on the landscape. Phenomenally it has remained standing for around 5000 years. Although the weather was pretty grey and rainy for some of our holiday in west Wales, I think in this case, I was very glad of the dramatic grey sky. I think it lends a real sense of magic to the shot. 

Saturday 9 June 2012

161. Foreign


I am always struck by how different other European cities are to those in the UK - the colours and the light are often much brighter, particularly in Mediterranean countries. The look of Barcelona was distinctly foreign, when compared the city photography I have done at home. Beautifully different.  

Friday 8 June 2012

160. Disguise


This woman, in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, had painted her face and clothes so they appeared to blend into the stonework of the walls. Whether this was making some sort of socio-political statement, or whether it she was a street-artist, I'm unsure, but it struck me as an interesting photo. 

Thursday 7 June 2012

159. Umbrellas


Five minutes before Yann Tiersen was about to take the stage at Primavera Sound in Barcelona, the heavens opened and thousands of umbrellas appeared before us!

Wednesday 6 June 2012

158. Smoke


Another of Neil Turpin, Yann Tiersen's drummer at Primavera Sound in Barcelona. I love the way the lights and smoke are creating a back-lit effect here - it creates a real sense of atmosphere. 

Tuesday 5 June 2012

157. Loud


This is Yann Tiersen's drummer Neil Turpin, on stage at the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona. The show was awesome, although watching from the side of the stage was really rather loud!

Monday 4 June 2012

156. Surreal


Another from Antoni Gaudi's Parc Guell in Barcelona. Gaudi is often referred to as a surrealist architect - but his style is so unique I do not think it can be defined or classified by a movement. Unless perhaps you call it 'Gaudi-ism'. 

155. Design


I've just spent the weekend in Barcelona. Although it was a quick visit, I made sure I saw some of Antoni Gaudi's amazing architecture. His designs were playful and touching on fantastical, using beautiful curves and colourful mosaic. This is one of the stunning buildings at the Parc Guell. 

Saturday 2 June 2012

154. Conspicuous


I'm a keen gardener and I have no idea what this plant is. Its currently blooming in the gardens at Lacock Abbey and is absolutely enormous - at least 6 feet tall! With its bright colour and unusual flower heads, it looks very conspicuous. 

Friday 1 June 2012

153. Youth


This is the son of another of my school friends - what a youthful face!