Tag Archives: photography

Jun 15 2017

Weekly Photo Challenge: Focus…

I love photographing through the water. The refraction of the light combined with the movement of water gives an other-worldly feel and it’s even better when you find something special in the water.

Jellyfish, swimming through the water are not easy to catch in focus.

Neither are starfish under water.

And here’s the location, in focus. Beautiful Honda Bay, Palawan, The Philippines.

 

Focus

Jun 15 2017

Thursday Doors, 15/6/16, Tomar, Portugal….

My visit to Portugal in April 2017 encompassed some time in Central Portugal and a few days in Lisbon. My dear friends, who live in the center of this beautiful country took me to visit some of the most wonderful places in this region of Portugal, one of which was the town of Tomar in the district of Santarem.

The doors of Tomar town, of which there are many worthy of inclusion in a door post, were a delight to find as we walked through the narrow, Calcada or mosaic, paved streets, traditional all over Portugal. Tomar was established in the 12th century within the walls of the Castle and Convent of Christ, which sits high above the town. The centre of town is the Praça da República (Republic Square) and Paços do Concelho (17th century Town Hall). Continue reading →

Jun 12 2017

Monday Window, stained glass at Bristol Cathedral, 12/6/17…

I’ve always been quite partial to stained glass. I’m in awe of the work required to create windows in stained glass and where better to see stained glass but in the United Kingdom’s churches and cathedrals. Continue reading →

Jun 5 2017

Weekly photo challenge: Friend…

This is Squint, my evil and (slightly adorable) feline occupant in my home, who decided to adopt my house as her luxury 5* place to be spoilt… We all jump to Squint’s squeals when she feels neglected, it’s easier to pander to Squint really…the yowls when you neglect her are just awful….suspect Squint is angling for a place in my will, she does do a wonderful foot-rub and I seem to have to won over on the pain of the nip/bite of my toes if I don’t place the toes just so… Such an angsty feline, but if she didn’t trot out of her waiting place when I park my car, I would be a tad worried….Bless her nasty little claws, I do love her to bits and, actually, I do worry if she doesn’t come home on time to give me miaow grief…

Friend

Jun 1 2017

Thursday Doors, 1/6/17, door paintings…

At the moment, I’m back in Cyprus, with the intention of clearing “stuff” from my house.

You know, that stuff that accumulates through your life, sentimental, inherited, from hobbies and just, well, stuff.

I decided to tackle my art folder. Art has followed me around all my life. Somewhere in Uk, there is even my Art college work, but that’s in my sister’s loft, so can wait, it’s not in Cyprus, so it isn’t current stuff.

Whilst trawling through old art pads I came across these door paintings I did in 1997 and 1998, 3 doors from Malta and one from Nicosia. I’ll save the Cretan door poster I bought in 1982 ( honestly) for another week!

Even then, all those years ago I was a door girl 🙂  Continue reading →

May 29 2017

Weekly Photo challenge : Evanescent…

This week, WordPress weekly photo challenge asks us to show us a moment in time that holds meaning for you.

My photo was taken under the bridge that connects the mainland of Oman to Shannah port for the ferry to the island of Masirah.

I was using my new camera, a Fujifilm X-T20 and I had little idea of the settings when I took this, having been taught manual photography in the Nikon world. Each time you move, you have to understand the product-speak to relate to what you know..

( I am impatient, black mark) but a lesson to self, this is a camera that needs to be loved and cared for, the results are incredible

My past is in art and I see this shot in this way, even though the exposure is all wrong, the colours are intensified, it just gives a clue to what you can do to play with a picture…This shot is my played out and edited result…

 

Under the long Shannah bridge….

Evanescent

 

May 29 2017

Monday Window: Amsterdam windows (2), 29/5/17

Well now, there are so many windows in Amsterdam worthy of posting it was hard to know which to choose.

So I decided to start at the beginning instead of randomly choosing.

The first day I took a canal trip to relax, get my bearings and enjoy puttering around the central canals, building and people watching. Come and join me to crane upwards to admire the architecture and of course, the windows… Continue reading →

May 26 2017

Skywatch Friday: 26/5/17…

Sunset through the wires. Glorious colour in this sunset, but just catching a peek of it from my garden. The wires are in the wrong place for sunset photos!

Linking with Skywatch Friday…

May 25 2017

Thursday doors, Pombal, Portugal, 25/5/17…

Whilst I was on my travels in Europe in April, I also headed off to Portugal to connect with some dear friends from the Middle East who have chosen to settle in Central Portugal. (Cue to use a poppy photo from Central Portugal as my featured image, trying to sneak them in!) Continue reading →

May 22 2017

Weekly Photo Challenge: Heritage (1) …

Cyprus Heritage.

Woman with child, circa, 2000-1800 BC, terracotta.
I photographed this figurine in the wonderful British Museum, London on my visit in 2016.

The flattened form of these distinctive terracotta sculptures has led to the term “plank figurines”. They have been found in both graves and settlements, but their function is uncertain. They are usually interpreted as either a mother goddess or a woman with a child. Not all examples hold children however, and the sex of others is unclear. Nonetheless they are probably connected with fertility, childbirth and sexuality.

Isn’t this a beautiful heritage example from ancient times in Cyprus?

Heritage

May 22 2017

Monday Window: 22/5/17, Tomar Manueline window…

During my recent travels, I visited the Convent of Christ at Tomar in Central Portugal.

Known by art historians as being of the Manueline style, the windows are the most fanciful I have ever been lucky enough to see.

More on the beautiful town of Tomar and its castle and convent at a later date.

For today, just a little tempter…. Continue reading →

May 21 2017

Weekly Photo Challenge: Heritage…

Camel racing is part of the heritage of the Middle East.

Taken at the Al Marmoum camel racetrack, Dubai.

 

Heritage

May 19 2017

Skywatch Friday: 18/5/17…

It’s not a painting, it’s just a photo of the sunset painting the sky.

Another magical May sunset in Paphos, Cyprus.

Linking with Skywatch Friday…

May 17 2017

Thursday Doors, Amsterdam, Part 1, 18/5/17…

When you read “Part 1”, you just kind of know it’s going to portend multiple posts. Yes, frankly, it will. Amsterdam is just utter door heaven.

Instead of substance ecstasy, I was maybe unique in having door ecstasy during my weekend in town.  Continue reading →

May 15 2017

Monday Window 15/5/17: Glastonbury Magik….

Easter is now usually spent with darling girl in Bristol, UK. Each time I visit, a car is hired and off we go exploring the neighboring countryside on my travels with my daughter.

This time Glastonbury was on the to-visit list. In looking for a succinct precis for a bit of historical padding for those who haven’t had the pleasure of Glastonbury, I came across “A History of Glastonbury“: by Tim Lambert. ( Well worth a full read if you are interested) Continue reading →

May 11 2017

Thursday Doors, Streetside in Hue, Vietnam, 11/5/17.

It’s been a while since I’ve put words into WordPress. Travel and a tragedy removed my focus from the weekly challenges and my fingers haven’t felt like hitting the keyboard.

But it’s time to get back into the swing of things and whilst trying to be more organised with my photo library, I have unearthed some more doors from my trip to Hue in Vietnam last November. Continue reading →