Shooting strangers from afar - Thematic Photography

If you live in a village as small as mine it's often difficult to find a stranger at all. However just when I was about to give up I came across an ideal opportunity.

A stranger getting directions from a stranger

I thought it rather odd to see a car in this country lane that leads to nowhere but some farms. When I checked the car's registration I found that it had originated over 250 miles away, in Chelmsford, Essex.

I guess the stranger just wandered into my next shot of a fire practice on the River Tees.

Fire practice near the Infinity Bridge, Stockton-on-Tees

We went to watch our grandson in a surfing contest at Saltburn last October. There were strangers by the score - 

On the pier

and - 

On the beach

Even two of the surfers were strangers to me.

Shame the surf was so poor.

For more strangers unaware they are in the camera's eye head over to Carmi's Thematic-Photographic-306.

2012 Favourites - Thematic Photography

I've taken Carmi's tip to show two or three or ten of my favourite photos of 2012. You will have seen some of these before.

March was the driest month of the year, just right for walks on a North Yorkshire beach.

Huntcliff, Saltburn beach - March 2012

 

Horses. dogs and people use the beach.

Sunday morning ride - Saltburn

Flower of the month in July was this;

Lily

Butterflies were in short supply during the very wet summer but we did attract one or two.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies on Buddleia flower

 

Meanwhile one of my grandsons had a successful surfing year.

Angus in action

In October there was this rather splendid fungus on a dead ash tree that I walk by several times a week.

Fungus on dead ash

No year would be complete without some photos of my daughter's dogs. Photographing black dogs is often a difficult task but here is one of the best.

Gem

She was part of this group on the same day in November.

Scout, Cody and Gem

As usual Scout has two balls in his mouth, one probably belongs to Gem. At 15, Cody is resting  with his ball within reach. They are all looking at what's going on down in the lake where there's -

Lily - searching for her ball.

 

That's my ten favourites for the year.

Happy New Year to all in 2013.

Don't forget to check out other people's favourites at Thematic-photographic-faves-of-year

Ball Games - Sepia Saturday

I knew what I was going to post as soon as I saw this week's prompt:

I played cricket for many years but I've only watched one game of baseball.

Baseball - Dearborn, Michigan 2006

Earlier that summer we visited England's north-east coast and came across a cricket match in progress in the shadow of Bamburgh Castle.

Cricket at Bamburgh Castle 2006

 I've also played a lot of tennis but was never good enough to beat my daughter even when I was fit.

Beaten again - Sveti Stefan

Playing tennis indoors on hard courts didn't help my knees so I turned to golf at the late age of 50. As an active hockey and cricket player I had always told my golfing friends that any b....! fool can hit a ball that stays still.

Billingham Golf Club - 17th green

 I was recovering from minor surgery at the time that I took that shot of two of my golfing partners.

Billingham - 11th fairway

 I also have to admit that my daughter also beats me at golf although she only plays a few times a year.

The Homestead - Michigan's fresh water resort

Here she's posing with a golfing statue at Michigan's Homestead resort.

Finally here's the family's current sporting star.

Surfing champion

For more fun and games I suggest that you take a look at what's happening on Sepia-saturday-136

Movement - Thematic Photography

You may take shots that that show motion as a blur, but my selection for Carmi's theme of  'Movement' has frozen the action at the time. Motion on land, water and in the air has been caught in these photos taken in the USA and the UK.

Turkey Vulture in Michighan

The turkey vulture (or turkey buzzard) is an ugly looking bird in close-up but elegant when it glides around looking for a carcase to eat,

I'm not sure what this is, just let's say I wouldn't want to swim to close to it.

Flat body, big mouth, aquatic - I'm off!

This may have been larger but at least it's (h)armless I'm told.

Northern Watersnake in Michigan lake

I feel much safer with this fellow caught in mid-stride.

'Harry', the Blue Heron

I wonder whether he tackles that snake and the thing I don't like.

Here's something ideal for a hot day.

Fountain

Closer to home water is still the theme. A competitor practising his paddling skills.

Tees Barrage International White Water Rafting Centre

This facility has just been upgraded and is to be used as a practice centre for London 2012 Olympic Games.

My next shot shows my grandson in surfing action.

Riding the waves

Finally an all time favourite shot of a granddog.

Blind Sam in mid-pounce

Now I guess, it's time for you to go and study more movement at Written Inc's thematic photographic 180