Columns and Rows - Thematic Photography

I was surprised by just how many of my photos could be interpreted as meeting the 'Columns and Rows' theme Carmi has set us this week.

For quiet contemplation where better to start than in the ruins of an abbey.

Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire - 2008

"Eureka! I've got it."

Archimedes Screws on the Tees Barrage - 2012

The four screws lift columns of water up the white water rafting course adjacent to the River Tees at Stockton.

There are other ways to get a lift.

"Up, Up and Away in my Beautiful Balloon" - Michigan 2012

In Cornwall's city it's peaceful to admire the- 

High Altar and Reredos, in Truro Cathedral -2011

Where you sit in rows and contemplate the columns of - 

The Nave, Truro Cathedral - 2011

If I have recycled some pictures from recent years this week a calendar for the future arrived.

Recycling Calendar

A magnet holds it to the side of the filing cabinet in my office.

Behind me a bookcase is made up of rows of books, the columns are the books themselves.

"Your face, my thane, is a book where men may read strange matters."  - Macbeth

For more strange matters link up with Carmi and others at Thematic-Photographic-318.

The Doors - Sepia Saturday

This week's prompt shows an old lady in a doorway and a window full of blinds. 

I may not be able to match that with old photos but the doors I am going to show date back hundreds of years.

Fountains Abbey

Fountains Abbey was the second Cistercian outpost founded in the North of England. From rather difficult beginnings it became the largest and richest Cistercian abbey in the country.

The foundation of Fountains was not planned. It was the consequence of an unforeseen chain of events in the early 1130s that forced a group of reform-minded monks of the Benedictine abbey of St Mary’s, York, to flee their house in search of a purer form of monastic life.

Doors among the ruins

Today Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England. It is located approximately three miles south-west of Ripon in North Yorkshire. 

Tucked away among the grounds there are doors of a different sort, you find them in many places.

Earlier this week we spent a day in York where I took this shot of York Minster.

York Minster

What you can't see is that notice in front of the door - it says, "Exit only."

Walking round the city I was studying doorways closely when I came across one just right for this week as you can see from what is standing next to it.

Stonegate's Original Teddy Bear Shop

Finally in my archives a photo I showed you almost three years ago.

Doris in front of John Walker's shop door at Preston Park Museum

It's not polite for me to reveal how old Doris is but she matches the theme.

I thought about ending with a piece of music and had a choice to make - church music or the Teddy Bears' Picnic? But neither could quite match 

To knock on other doors and be invited in, cross over to Sepia-Saturday-203.

Grey - Thematic Photography

When the skies are grey and full of snow again, it was a delight to see Carmi's prompt - somehow I don't think I will match that.

This fellow has the wrong background if he wants to be inconspicuous.

Magpie in the open

Ships at war needed camouflage so why did they pick this colour.

Battleship Grey (1940s)

You may find different shades of grey (not fifty) in all sorts of places.

Cornish Rocks

Water seems to attract boys even if they have a heart of stone,

On the rocks

Finally an ancient place to meditate on a grey winter's day; I refuse to say it is spring.

Fountains Abbey

Now I suggest that you visit Carmi to stroke his dog and see some other shades of grey at Thematic-photographic-237.

Shadows - Thematic Photography

The theme of 'Shadows' is one of those that you can meet by accident or design. Many of my previous posts would be fine here also, but I try not to repeat photos I have shown before.

Boat waiting for transport

In this shot it would have been impossible to shoot the boat without incorporating its shadow. However other shadows have been included as well.

When shooting dogs (not literally) you sometimes do not have time to think about shadowy effects.

Gem on her way to the house

The shadow in the next shot enhances a view on a Michigan golf course.

Oxford Hills Golf Course - looking back from 10th tee

 

You may be able to make out the shadow of a golf cart too.

Then there are times when the shot has been taken deliberately to catch the subject in shade.

Blind Sam smells his way home

In the next shot I was more concerned about framing the road with the trees; the shadows turned out to be a bonus.

Oakwood Road, MI

When it comes to old ruins, no not me, shadows can add a dramatic effect.

Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire

But enough of my shadowy past, it's time for you to check out other shades at Carmi's Thematic-photographic-225

From Behind - Thematic Photography

Carmi wants us to try something a little different with this week's theme: from behind. We've been conditioned to take pictures from the front - think about it, when we pose, we stare straight at the camera - that we've virtually forgotten what goes on on the other side. For the coming week, he hopes we'll walk around to the back and see what we can find.

Interestingly my first picture is from behind some ropes at a dog show in Gloucestershire in 2001.

Puppy Class 2001

The girl with her back to the camera with the dog is my granddaughter. The boy just happened to be watching what was going on. The dog is an Irish Water Spaniel, 6 months old at the time.

Next it's a holiday shot from Grand Canaria of an unknown man.

Rear of the Year 2006

Some shots however have to be taken from behind because of the location.

Boat Race - Yarm Gala 2009

The shot had to be taken from Yarm Bridge over the River Tees.

Similarly the only way I could get these ducklings was from behind - mother duck was shepherding them to safety,

Ducklings on the River Tees - 2009

And this is Sam, checking out who is calling him.

Sam

 

Sam was my daughter's Golden Labrador who was blind for the last two years of his life.

Should you go to Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire you too can have a chance to capture this:

The Behind of Any Year

For other behind the scene shots you need to check out the links on Carmi's blog at Thematic-photographic-209

 

Bushes and Trees - Thematic Photography

I've a lot to choose from for this week's theme of bushes and trees. As this fellow is singing his heart out in my garden I thought he deserved pride of place - the tree is just the stage for him.

Song Thrush

Image how old this beech tree must have been before it lost it's top. What's the message it is passing on?

Beech Tree in Preston Park (Eaglescliffe)

How many points would you give out of 10 for this week of art?

The Tree with no name (Artist - Anon)

For some a tree is an essential part of life.

Wait your turn (Photographer - Anon)

You've seen Fountains Abbey on my blog before - it fits a tree theme too.

Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire

Coming closer to home, this is the St Mary Magdalene Church at Yarm.

St Mary Magdalene from the River Tees

Finally we are back to my garden for trees and bushes photographed in April 2004.

Garden View

View from another angle

Some bushes are full of thorns and their appearance may be deceptive like this on my garden wall - the bush is next door.

Pyracantha (1 inch thorns)

For more trees and shrubs please check out others at Carmi's thematic photographic 195

Strong Lines - Thematic Photography

One of the things I like about thematic photography is the different ways in which you can interpret a photo - after you have taken it. Most of Carmi's themes have forced me to do this and this week is no exception; strong lines couldn't have been in my mind at all when I took these.

All I wanted here was to capture the flower.

Clematis

But is it the strong lines or the obelisk that is the star? And what about those between the boards of the fence.

You may have to work a bit harder to see the lines on the next shot of follow my leader.

Geese on the River Tees at Yarm

The original idea on the next shot was to photograph the gull.

Bedruthan Steps Hotel, Cornwall

Window frame, railings and line of surf on Mawgan Porth beach all make different types of line.

In Mallorca it was the jacuzzi I meant to snap.

Jacuzzi room - Mallorca hotel

But if you strain your eyes you can see a line of yachts on the horizon.

Back in Cornwall the lines make up a geometric shape.

Eden Project

The only shot where I can say that it was the upright columns were the intended lines is this from Fountains Abbey.

'Temple' in grounds of Fountain's Abbey

For the life of me I cannot remember the correct name for this.

If my lines are not strong enough for you and even if they are you should make a beeline for more at Carmi's thematic photographic 194

Faith - Thematic Photography

Faith as a topic takes me on a tour of some famous buildings.

Truro Cathedral

In front of this great window is a magnificent view of the altar.

Truro Cathedral altar 

We have just commemorated the hundredth anniversary of the loss of the Titanic, but in three years time it will be 100 years since the sinking of the Lusitania. When I wrote about the lost of the Andorra Star, another ship torpedoed, in WWII a friend sent me these photos of a memorial.

Memorial in Tealby

But when you see the detail you find that it includes a victim from the Lusitania.

Lost on the Lusitania

Closer to home my local church includes this small stain glass window which shows the church itself.

Kirklevington Church window

Regular participants will know that I worked in Norway for a while. While on my travels I came across this church.

Norwegian country church

I started in Cornwall at Truro but I finish with two English gems

Ruins of Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, North Yorkshire

York Minster

For other faith full views you need to visit Carmi's TP 193