Day One

Weekly Photo Challenge; Angular

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Barbara

Once again I feel like the daily Post has been following me around as I take photos! I took these yesterday!! Continue reading →

Posted in London, Photography | Tagged Angular, Architecture, Lime Street, Lloyds Building, Weekly Photo Challenge | 18 Comments

Under a Blood Red Sky……

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Barbara

The lines of a U2 song are ringing in my head after last night’s sunset!

It was stunning!

Posted in Autumn, Photography, Sunset, Sunsets, Water, Weybridge | Tagged Blood red sky, new years day, Red river, River Thames, U2 | 3 Comments

Wilson looking for a stick

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Barbara

I put this video on You Tube because it was so funny watching Wilson jumping in the ferns trying to find his stick…

BUT then we put on subtitles! They are hilarious!!

Posted in Photography | 4 Comments

Another Blue Monday: A Blue Chicken

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Barbara

“Big blue cock erected on fourth plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square”

Here is another of my collection of blue photos for Sally’s Blue Monday challenge

This one I found on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, originally intended for a statue of William the 4th on a horse, but remained bare for 150 years due to lack of funds. In 1999 a sequence of three contemporary artworks were displayed, and the display was so successful that now the Plinth is to be used for the temporary display of artworks. Currently a giant Blue Cockerel!

The statue received great reviews in the UK press with punning headlines such as “Big blue cock erected on fourth plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square”, “Boris Johnson in Trafalgar Square with a Massive Blue Cock And Disgruntled Woman” and “Boris Johnson unveils giant cock in Trafalgar Square”

Posted in Art, Birds, London, Photography | Tagged Big blue cock, Blue, Blue Monday, Boris Johnson, Cock, Fourth Plinth, Hahn, Katharina Fritsch, Trafalgar Square | 9 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge; Achievement

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Barbara

Producing my ‘selfie‘ a few weeks back for my photography class was a major achievement. I was very proud of myself… but it is only when you look at the photos that ‘didn’t make the cut’ can you see how difficult I actually am to photograph!

Here are a few of them to cheer up a rainy Sunday Evening 🙂

: a bit more right

: up right…

: a bit more left

: up a bit

: this way

: back a bit…

: which way up?

: over here….

Finally I found one I was happy with!! Continue reading →

Posted in Photography | Tagged Achievement, Photo Challenge, photography class, Selfie, spinning, The Daily Post, twirling, Weekly Photo Challenge | 5 Comments

Monochrome Madness, Week 38

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Barbara

This week I’ve been exploring with spirals for my Black & White Photography… which one should I send to Leanne for her Monochrome Madness challenge? I can never pick 😦 Continue reading →

Posted in Photography | Tagged Black & White, Black and White, Leanne Cole, Monochrome Madness, Photography Challenge, spiral, staircases | 4 Comments

Shawl Seller’s at Sunset

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Barbara

When I posted a photo of Samia’s Daughter for the Blue Monday challenge last week I thought I had posted this photo of her mother & other shawl sellers before, but I haven’t been able to find it, so I probably didn’t.

I took this photo on one of our trips to Goa in India a few years ago now. Goa, being on the West Coast always has the most amazing sunsets over the sea… a great reason to live on the west coast of any country! The sun sets quite early there too, regardless of the time of year because it is quite near the equator, though we were there in the middle of winter so the sun set just after dinner. It always feels so strange to be so warm at sunset!

Posted in India, Sunsets, Water | Tagged Beach Sellers, Goa, Hawkers, Shawl, Silk | 4 Comments

Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Barbara

Marking 100 years since the first day of Britain’s involvement in the First World War, the major art installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red ‘ is at the Tower of London. Created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, with setting by stage designer Tom Piper, 888,246 ceramic poppies will progressively fill the Tower’s famous moat over the summer. Each poppy represents a British military fatality during the war.

The poppies will encircle the iconic landmark, creating not only a spectacular display visible from all around the Tower but also a location for personal reflection. The scale of the installation intends to reflect the magnitude of such an important centenary creating a powerful visual commemoration.

The Tower are hoping to sell all of the poppies that make up the installation and, in doing so, raise millions of pounds which will be shared equally amongst six service charities.

Posted in London, Peace, Photography | Tagged Armistice Day, Centenary, Moat, Paul Cummins, Poppies, Tower of London, World War 1, WW1 | 4 Comments

Blue Monday: A Blue Dress

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Barbara

Blue Dress

Blue is my favourite colour, and I’m always collecting photos of blue colours, so when i found Sally’s Blue Monday challenge I had to join in.

I took this photo in India, about 8 years ago. We were staying near the beach in Goa, and everyday shawl sellers would come along and try to sell us some shawls. One of the girls, Samia, got talking to us and eventually persuaded us to come and visit her ‘shop’.

We said we would come on the last day of our holiday, so on the last day Samia sent her daughter to ‘look after us’ so that we didn’t escape without visiting her mum’s shop. She sat with us all day, so we let her share our food & drinks. I don’t think she minded her job too much, I don’t think refugee children get to drink coca-cola often.

Posted in Children, India, Photography | Tagged Beach Sellers, Blue, Blue Dress, Blue Monday, Goa, Silk Shawls | 8 Comments

Travel Theme: Autumn

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Barbara

Autumn has been very late this year, on Halloween, the temperature was a record high of 23.6 C (74.3F) ! Warmer than many of our summer days in years gone by! As a result strawberries are still ripening, crocuses are flowering and the leaves are staying uncharacteristically green for this time of year! Nevertheless I was able to capture the autumnal feel for Ailsa’s Travel Theme on our walk around Box Hill last weekend

Early Sunset from Box Hill

The low light and earlier sunsets bring out the golden colours just beginning to appear in the leaves. My header picture was also taken later on the same walk.