Blog 190

A selection of images taken at Cragside on 14th October 2011, the revolutionary home of Lord Armstrong, Victorian inventor and landscape genius, was a wonder of its age. Built on a rocky crag high above the Debdon Burn, Cragside is crammed with ingenious gadgets and was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity.
Surrounding the house on all sides is one of the largest rock gardens in Europe. Across the iron bridge, in the formal garden, is the Orchard House, which still produces fresh fruit. The lakeside walks, adventure play area and labyrinth are all good reasons for children to visit Cragside again and again. Website here

Blog 189

Fireworks at the Sandiacre Scouts' bonfire party, Saturday 5th November 2011.

Blog 188

Photographs taken on the Worldwide Photowalk that I led around Derby on 1st October 2011. Eighteen participants took part in the walk. Some of the walker's photographs here.

Blog 187

Garden predator a Sparrow-hawk, probably with collar dove prey. Photographs taken 1st October 2011 in my garden. Using 55-300 Nikkor lens.

Shaking its head to dislodge feathers

Removing feathers

The prey started to fall off the fence so they both ended on the lawn, the Sparrowhawk eventually flew into a nearby tree to finish the meal.

Blog 184

Photographs from a studio session with the gorgeous Emma, taken on Monday 22nd August. She seemed extremely pleased with the results of the shoot.

The wrist tattoo says: "What goes around comes around"

The status eventually returns to its original value after completing some sort of cycle.

"What Goes Around.../...Comes Around" is also a song by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake. Here