Category Archives: Themed photos

Portals and Passageways

I’ve seen some great doors this year, so thought it was about time for another post.  Here’s a selection of the best from my 2013 collection

IMG_06382Basel, Switzerland

IMG_45731Lisbon, Portugal

IMG_43951Lake Maggiore, Italy

IMG_45961Belém, Portugal

IMG_0979Kent, England

IMG_35101Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

greenwichGreenwich, England

jen ny doorNew York, USA (Credit: Jennifer Robson)

IMG_31131Rhodes, Greece

NYC Streets

It would be a travesty to fail to post some of my pictures of Street Art in New York. Sorry to those who continue to think this is just obnoxious graffiti. You’re wrong.  But sorry anyway.

So, here are some snaps taken mainly around Williamsburg, the Lower East Side and Meatpacking District:

IMG_3263Yes, I Do

IMG_4873Family Portrait

IMG_4729See no, hear no, speak no

IMG_4725Brooklyn, Baby!

IMG_4716Here’s Looking At You

IMG_3241Jim-Jiminy

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At Least I Know I’m Free

IMG_4897Taking the High Line

IMG_3254Tenement Roots

IMG_4734Sacred Warrior

IMG_4720To Flea or Not to Flea

IMG_4735What’s Up Pussy Cat?

IMG_4708Sci-fi Stylee

The Wonderful World of Sculpture

I’ve concentrated a lot on nature and the physical world in my themed photo entries – be it flora, fauna, landscape – so I thought I’d branch out this time into the art world…specifically my favourite art-form: sculpture. I’m lucky to have family in Yorkshire and so have been to some amazing exhibitions at the YSP, and I’d recommend travelling to the Peak District in nearby Derbyshire for the annual ‘Beyond Limits’ exhibition at Chatsworth House. Make a weekend of it! There are also photos here from shows at Pashley Manor in Kent; from The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA; and from the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. Enjoy!

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil (Jaume Plensa)

IMG_40231Cubo I (Arnaldo Pomodoro)

IMG_4036The Engine of Evolution (Marc Quinn)

IMG_4075Contemporary Terracotta Warriors (Yue Minjun)

IMG_4062Swimming (Ju Ming)

blue dogWe Stand Together, Blue Dog (George Rodrigue)

IMG_08871Karma: A Tower of Blinded Men Rising into the Sky (Do Ho Suh)

IMG_40201Butterflies (Manolo Valdes)

IMG_0452House of Knowledge (Jaume Plensa)

IMG_6783Exterior of Figueres Theatre-Museum (Salvador Dalí)

‘Cocks & ‘Hens

Peacocks are probably my third favourite bird, after penguins and flamingos.  WaitI forgot owlsand toucanshmm, maybe peacocks are my fifth favourite bird.  Anyway, I’m getting side-tracked.  They are very pretty in any case.  I’ve yet to capture a male displaying his train of feathers – surely the holy grail of peacock shots – but here is a collection of my favourite photos to date.

IMG_07871Beak-to-Beak (Palazzo Borromeo, Isola Bella) (Credit: Paul Adnitt)

IMG_45191True blue (Castle of São Jorge, Lisbon)

Others21Bum shot (Leeds Castle, Kent)

IMG_45121Not So Drab (Lisbon, Portugal)

IMG_4491Tentative Chicks (Lisbon)

IMG_42301Snow White (Isola Bella, Italy)

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The Train (Holland Park, London)

IMG_4551Elegant Snooze (Castle of São Jorge, Lisbon)

IMG_07921Strut (Isola Bella, Italy) (Credit: Paul Adnitt)

Fauna (Part 2)

I told you that Part 1 could only mean one thing. Feels slightly cheating, though, given I did a series of ZSL posts in between. But you can never have enough animal shots, that’s what I say

Squirrel 1

Startled Tree-Dweller (Greenwich Park: 2013)

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Nosy Youth (Temple Newsam: 2012)

IMG_2135Graceful Departure (Lindisfarne: 2009)

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Portrait Shot (London Zoo: 2013)

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Dragon Bug (London Wetland Centre: 2009)

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Always Alert (London Zoo: 2013)

fox cub

Cub Waiting (Kent: 2012)

kookoburraLaugh, Kookaburra, Laugh (Melbourne: 2011)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWeb of Intrigue (Phuket, Thailand: 2008)

Strangers and Friends

Some more pictures on the theme of people.  This time some folks you may recognise amongst the complete strangers

TensionTension (Millennium Bridge: 2010)

Vix002BFF (Forest Hill: 2011)

IMG_9344Making a Splash (Budapest: 2012)

IMG_4789Lone Wolf (Glasgow: 2012)

Mind010Last Orders (Southbank: 2011)

Vix Sepia

Me, Myself and I (St James’ Park: 2011) (Credit: Kareena Uttamchandani)

swimmersFlippin’ Out (Bondi Beach: 2011)

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Misty Eyed (Camber Sands: 2013)

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Horse and Carriage (Luton: 2012)

IMG_2998Selfie (Hastings: 2013)

Botany 2.0

I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And ’tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:—
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature’s holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?

– William Wordsworth

Macro3

Pollen Call (Ilkley: 2008)

red leaves

Against the Blue (Chatsworth: 2012)

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On the Topic of Green (Kew Gardens: 2013)

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Painting with Orchids (Kew: 2013)

pink and purple

Royal Blooms (St James’ Park: 2013)

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Dreaming (Canterbury: 2010)

yellow flowers

Sunrise (Dulwich: 2013)

Coachhouse004

Clinging On (Forest Hill: 2009)

Doorways of the World

People who know me well, know that I love a good door. Big, small, flat, knobbly, wood, metal, brightly coloured, old and peeling, leading to interesting places or leading nowhere at allI love them all! It’s a bit weird, to be honest. But I’m going to bore you with some of my favourites of recent years anyway

dublin door 2Dublin: 2012

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Otford, Kent: 2013

IMG_0860New Orleans: 2012

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOia, Santorini: 2008

IMG_1803Oxford: 2011

IMG_2363Wapping: 2013

14 - Door knockerDurham: 2003

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASeville: 2006

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Nuremberg c.1400, V&A: 2013

Havava (300)Havana: 2009

green doorGhent: 2013 (Credit: Alison Groombridge)