Theme 87 - Precious

Peacock Butterfly

We were commenting on how few butterflies there have been this year - that is why this one, which landed on a towel, is very precious.

Theme 241 - Lost

Where am I?

I went into the wash room to do another load of washing, to be greeted by this little fellow. Not sure how he got in there, can only assume he somehow attached himself to hubby's gardening jeans. Think he was definitely a bit lost.

Theme 112 - Ancient

2nd century Roman Bath House

We visited here at the beginning of August. The one outstanding memory is the great time the dogs had - we had the place to ourselves and they tore around playing chase in and out of the "doorways". We are so lucky to be able to have such ancient history and not be in a "look but don't touch" situation.

Theme 263 - Silk

Beautiful silk cutains - which I have not done justice to.

Theme 18 - Pastel

Theme 99 - Climbing

The only element in this photo that is in focus, is the pink climbing hat (surprise!) - which was not what I was trying to do (honest). The light was poor, the ISO high and I had to do a fair amount of explaining in the climbing shop as to why I was taking this photo - so it's got to be posted now.

Theme 103 - Vintage

This is the museum's van - used the preset "Old Timee" which seemed appropriate and really added to the whole "vintage" feel.

Theme 242 - Museum

Theme 324 - Joke

This is a joke, take a look at the whole picture below - does this look like anyone needs cooling down?  This board has been up for weeks, as have the grey rainy skies. At least it is not cold - 18 C today

Theme 166 - Balance

New Balance is a sport shoe manufacturer and the novel thing about New Balance shoes is that they are actually made in Cumbria, not abroad. They are really good, not only well made, but they are available in different width sizes.
They also make bags, which is fortunate, as it enabled me to get this shot with the emphasis on "balance"!

Theme 277 - Holographic

My Mastercard - Well, what do you know - it's pink (and well used).

Theme 221 - North

Antique Nautical Compass

Theme 6 - Buttons

I used to do a lot of dressmaking many years ago, partly out of pleasure and a lot to do with finances. I loved detail, especially buttons and have kept all of the leftover ones.

I do not recall the item I used these for, but I suspect it was not as pretty as the buttons.

Used a white vignette for a change as I thought it added to the overall delicate effect.

Theme 360 - Zips

Still keeping the pink theme going it seems.

Zippy Doo

Whilst in Edinburgh, there was this stall in St James Shopping Centre - they were selling bags that were made with just one zip. What an opportunity, so asked the guy if I could take pictures, he was more than a bit bemused as to why I would want to - and even more so when I took a picture of him. It made him chuckle anyway :-)

There was a video running as well, so took this shot to show the action.

Theme 33 - Stripey

My Left Foot

Yes, it's the return of the left foot, this time a little prettier.

These are my favourite socks, they are so bright and fun. I only wear them under jeans and wearing boots - not quite that extrovert to do otherwise :-)

Not quite in focus, but I was taking other photos when I noticed I was wearing these, so it is a bit of a snap really - well totally actually.

Theme 342 - Summer

Was not sure which scene could instantly say "Summer". Yesterday we went for a lovely walk to look at the waterfalls at the end of Newlands Valley. I only took my P&S (why?) so will be going back to get some waterfall shots. However, I did take this one which to me illustrates an English summer - minus the rain! The purple in the background on the hills is heather, everywhere is so lush and the dinosaur droppings in the foreground - our name for the big plastic bundles of grass cut by the farmers ready for winter - all combine to make this "Summer" setting.

Theme 90 - Juice

I enjoyed watching & listening to these guys during the Festival.

Looking through the few photos I have from my trip to Edinburgh, I saw this one and wished I hadn't already done the feather theme, when I noticed the sign in the background, which amused me (in conjunction with the picture) - then realised I had the "Juice" theme to do - et voila!

Much more interesting than the one I planned to do i.e. a glass of fresh green juice.

Theme 59 - Candlelight

Theme 82 - Politics

At the Book Festival.

Theme 98 - Origami

The best chance I have of getting an origami image.

Theme 183 - Uniform

OK, I acknowledge this isn't the most imaginative of shots, but it ticks the box of "uniform".


This is the uniform I was really trying to get, but couldn't get close enough as we were being moved along by the chap above. It was taken on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and there was a huge queue for the Military Tattoo (I know, such an opportunity, but I didn't get it - too much rain) and about a zillion coaches were about to come through (allow for some slight exaggeration there!)

I have no idea what this uniform is, but you've 'gotta' love the hat.

Theme 175 - Crowd

No Cameras Allowed

This was taken inside the Udderbelly to see The Ceasar Twins (see you tube video on this page). It was really quite dark so taken on ISO 1600 f2.8 & 1/25 - so not bad considering. No cameras were allowed during the show, so felt really conspicuous but determined to get the shot - this was taken before the show of course.

Theme 338 - Lamp

Pink Abstract

Continuing with the pink theme. I went to Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Festival is currently on - sadly August weather here in the UK has not been great and it rained most of the time I was there, so not ideal for getting lots of blogshots. However, we did go to see the Ceasar Twins in the "Udderbelly" (isn't that a great word!). These pink globes were the lamps suspended in the tents, and yes, they were this colour. In order to reproduce them here, I did a lot of editing in Lightroom. To obliterate the wires and rails they were hanging on, I reduced the exposure and took vibrance and saturation to its max to bring out the purple light and create this "abstract"

Theme 114 - Love

I love, love, love, love, love this photo.

I took this yesterday. I attended a workshop/seminar at Annabel Williams studio (see website here). The subject was "Making Woman look Fantastic". Had a great day and learnt a lot. This photo is actually straight out of camera apart from a slight crop. Now I could have posted this under the theme "Secret" i.e. as to how I got the pink effect but a. I already have an idea for that theme and b. that would be too mean of me ;-)

The pink effect was just pure chance, I had already focused for this shot and just as I hit the button, a lady in the group wearing a bright red jumper crossed in front of the lens - as my aperture was wide open, the shot resulted in this pink blur and I absolutely adore the effect.

Theme 167 - Model

This is Sian, she was one of our models on the photography workshop yesterday. She was excellent, a lovely girl that worked hard and such a lovely personality.

Theme 206 - Bow

This is Emma, our second model of the photographic day. Not the best shot I took of her by any means, but the best one of the bow on her top :-)

Theme 295 - Pastry

Yummy, yummy, please add to my big fat tummy

The studio laid on a fabulous lunch, everything really fresh and tasty, including these rather excellent pastries. The one in the front middle, a blueberry crumble, is the one I ate - delicious.

Theme 235 - Umbrella

I noticed these umbrellas in the corner at the studio. This shot is definitely not straight out of camera, I utilised just about every gizmo in Lightroom on this shot. I was a dark little corner and I gave about 1 nano second of attention whilst taking the picture (too busy eating lovely lunch). However, I really wanted to post this picture still as I think it is so pretty. The umbrellas are used on photo shoots. The school specialises in "Contemporary Photographic Training" and doesn't use studio lighting at all, using all natural light and it doesn't matter if it is raining - hence the umbrellas. I will almost certainly be attending more workshops, so look forward (I think!) to the experience of outdoor rainy shoots.

Theme 226 - Heat

Snug & Cosy

No, this picture wasn't taken in the middle of winter, I took it tonight - Tuesday August 12!! The weather here in the UK this last week has been miserable and this evening we decided to light the fire. One four legged creature was very happy with that decision.

Also downloaded Lightroom 2, so had a little play: reduced clarity, and used the vignette post cropping, other than that sooc. Some nice features, will be tempted to buy (of course)

Theme 229 - Horseshoe

Whilst staying at the Spa (see earlier posts), hubby had a look through my blog theme list and noticed the horseshoe theme. He said that the best collection of horseshoes in the country (world?) were at Oakham Castle - only 20 miles from where we were staying. Needless to say, we just had to visit and get this blogshot.

There are 240 horseshoes hanging on the walls of the Great Hall. These represent the unique custom that every peer of the realm must give a horseshoe to the lord of the manor on their first visit to Oakham. The custom has been followed for at least 500 years and probably dates back to the 12th century. The oldest surviving horseshoe is said to have been given by Edward IV in about 1470. The most recent were given by HRH The Princess Royal in 1999, HRH The Prince of Wales in 2003 and HRH Princess Alexandra 2005.

Theme 168 - Archway

Archway to Oakham Castle

Theme 73 - History

After getting my "Horseshoe" and "Archway" theme, we walked around the town of Oakham, which was rich in history, both national and personal to my hubby as this is where he attended school. We walked around the town, perused the shops and had some great coffee. We were about to head back to the car when I said we should look at the castle whilst we were there; hubby stated we had already been there!!!!?? Well no wonder I didn't realise, the place where the horseshoes are hung is in fact the castle - and this is it! Well it doesn't look like a castle to me - where are the turrets and moat?

Here is the history - The Great Hall was built by Walkelin de Ferrers, a Norman baron, in about 1180-90. The remains of other parts of this fortified manor house lie beneath the grass of the inner bailey. It was surrounded by earthen banks and stone walls which had at least two towers. To the north were gardens and fishponds. The castle was the residence of the lord of the manor of Oakham. Sometimes the king held the manor himself and visited the castle.

I had to abandon hubby to run back and get this shot, didn't really have time to wait for the other visitors to leave - so very average shot (wasn't going to return without it though).

Theme 351 - Cross

All Saints Church - Hoby, Leicestershire

Yes, this is a cross, or at least it was when the church was built. Apparently, this little church was built in the troubled years that followed the death of King John in 1216. The bases of the piers in the nave suggest that it was built on the site of an older church. The nave is original and the clerestory was added in the 14th century.

Theme 284 - Glass

Theme 100 - Carved

Stone carving on church doorway

Theme 107 - Donate

Theme 361 - Bell

We had a couple of days at Ragdale Hall, a spa in Leicestershire. It used to be a "Health Farm" but is now all about pampering and complete relaxation. We have been there a few times over the past 12 years and it never disappoints. The original building was built in the 1800's. Since 1998, the current owners have extended it significantly, adding more bedrooms and "treatment" rooms (for massage and holistic therapies) and a wonderful pool - the original pool now used for exercise classes.  This year they have added a Thermal Spa. During 2002, this bell was removed and is now a garden ornament.

Edit: I have changed the photo since posting - I didn't noticed the rain spots until it was up on the blog - Same bell of course.

Theme 124 - Bed

Day Bed...ZZZzzzzzzzzz

This was in "The Retreat" at the Spa, it was a room full of comfy chairs, over-sized bean bags and day beds, very warm and absolutely no talking or any other noise allowed.  I crept in here the day we arrived, had a little lie down.........and snoozed.

Theme 24 - Make-Up

Dior Glamour

Not a good photo by any means, but I felt unbelievably self-conscious taking this. It was very quiet in the shop, but not quiet enough - there were 2 people, trying to ignore the strange lady taking photos of the make-up display - but both failing miserably.

Theme 180 - Forbidden

Smoking Oasis

As smoking is now forbidden in public places in the UK, the Spa set up this little gazebo for smokers. The shot I would like to have taken would have been the smokers trotting in and out of this place. As I wanted to take this at night for the light effect, I used a tripod and a 30 second exposure - most residents spent there time in the big fluffy dressing gowns provided by the spa (day and night) - so people would have appeared as ghosts. Thought that would have been a little intrusive. The other shot I didn't have the cheek to take was when it rained, again a constant flow of people to and fro, again in their white gowns but with umbrellas (what a great umbrella shot!).

Really disappointed with this, it is very blurry. Not sure why, as I said, it was on a tripod. I can understand the leaves being a little blurred, but the chairs weren't moving around much!