Saturday 25 December 2010

Blog 100

Saturday 25th December 2010, the table is set for seven today. The red wine is warming on the radiator, the white and rosé wines are cooling in the refrigerator. The turkey and potatoes are roasting and the christmas pudding is gently steaming on the cooker. The greens are prepared and ready to be cooked. The guests will hopefully arrive at 13:00 hours.

Blog 99

My granddaughter A, built these snowmen when she was here on Thursday 23rd December 2010, the photograph was taken this morning 25th December 2010 the warm looking snowmen in the photograph is due to the reflection of sunlight which is bouncing off the house wall behind me.

Blog 98

This is my take on the Lunar eclipse that took place in the early part of the winter solstice - Tuesday 21st December 2010.

The first image is time stamped 06:30:26 through to the last at 07:28:34 when the moon was getting very low in the north east.

Monday 20 December 2010

Blog 97

I saw this amazing sight this morning, a rabbit set off across the field. It was being chased by something, the speed of the action was incredible. At first I though the rabbit was being pursued by a bird of prey, so fluid was the movement of the pursuer. After taking a couple of photographs I am quite sure that the animal giving chase was a weasel. Much larger than a stoat.

As I got nearer to the two animals, the weasel ran off at great speed. The Rabbit was down and was still breathing and its eyes were slowly opening and closing. I picked it up and carried it to the edge of the field where I know rabbit burrows to be. I wonder if it survived. I'll look tomorrow.

The only damage to the rabbit was the removal of some fur above it's right eye. However the shock of the chase and capture make not bode too well for it.

Weasel over the rabbit, taken at great distance.



Blog 96

Some more icy photographs from my walk in the local country side this morning, 20th December 2010 at dawn.

Vapour from Ratcliffe on Soar power station

Sun rising behind wood.



Mole Hills

Friday 10 December 2010

Blog 95

These photographs were taken at the Westonbirt, National Arboretum in Gloucestershire on Thursday 9th December 2010




The event is 'Capturing the Light' one of two specialist photography events being held during this year’s Enchanted Christmas. The ‘Capturing the Light’ evenings are organised in partnership with photography magazines PhotoPlus and Digital Camera and photography website PhotoRadar. Thursday 9 December and Thursday 16 December, 4.30 - 9pm. Find out more details, prices and how to book here.

Westonbirt's Enchanted Christmas event is magical. You can take a walk along the famous illuminated trail and see the National Arboretum lit up at night every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 26 Nov - 19 Dec. Meet Father Christmas and our stilt walkers as you listen to the carols from local choirs and bands. Enjoy the roast chestnuts and mulled wine and visit the Christmas Market and Forest shop for your Christmas gifts.

Tuesday 7 December 2010

Blog 94

A selection of photographs of trees clad in hoar frost. Taken during the morning of Tuesday 7th December 2010 in Derby Road, Aston on Trent.





Blog 93

A selection of photographs of trees clad in hoar frost. Taken during the morning of Tuesday 7th December 2010 in West Park, Long Eaton.








Blog 92

Photographs taken in Calke Park, Derbyshire on Sunday 5th December 2010.

Fallow deer feeding in copse

Love the swirling patterns in the water and the reflected and distorted tree branches

Can you hear the whoosh of the water as it goes over the weir?

Reflected fence posts in the crystal clear and very cold water.

I wonder what the vehicle looks like after demolishing this wall and control box.

Friday 3 December 2010

Blog 91

Photographs taken in and around Allestree park on 2nd December 2010.

A four shot horizontal panorama

Unusual Sledge



Snow Shapes

Blog 90

A series of photographs taken on my morning walk around Weston on Trent and Aston on Trent on the morning of 27th November 2010.



Fox footprints

Rabbit footprints

Blog 89

Radcliffe on Soar Power station 7:27am on the morning of 24th November 2010, taken from the road leading to Trent Lock, Long Eaton.