Sunday Stamps _ British Trees

 "Under a spreading ..

Great Britain - 27 February 1974

.. chestnut tree,

The village smithy stands" (Longfellow)

The horse chestnut trees I pass six days every week stand inside a wood alongside some mighty oaks.

Great Britain - 28 February 1973

This mighty oak also appears on trees posted at Trees, Tall and Wide on Sunday Stamps this week.

Staring at trees

Carmi Levy recently posted ' Staring at Trees' - here.

Oscar has a fetish to do the same ... 

ever since once catching a squirrel.

However Gaby is too slow to ever help him out.

Kirklevington Scarecrows - 4

Each year there are a number of scarecrows set out in front of the village hall during the annual Kirkfest.

With Mary Poppins in charge

Others had links to different trees found in the village; I hope I can remember what they were.

The Queen - Chestnut

Paddington Bear

? - Birch

Acorn with his bucket and spade

Postman Pat - Willow

One more post to come later in the week to complete my scarecrow shots.

Green - Sunday Stamps II

I could not resist posting the green trees that appeared on the postcard Maria sent to me.

Singapore - 26 May 2010

Adenanthera pavonia ( Red-bead tree) on the left;  Pterocarpus indicus, the national tree of the Philippines, (also known as Amboyna Wood, Burmese Rosewood and Red Sandal Wood) on the right,

For other green stamps check out the links at Sunday-Stamps-II 121

Autumn -Thematic Photography

Carmi sets us an autumn theme each year and I can never attempt to match the colour of the trees in a North American fall.

The next day the leaves have gone but elsewhere there is fun a guy can have.

Fungi - not ice cream

A day later,  colours are obscured and sheep appear like ghosts out of the fog.

Although this is a post to link to Thematic-photographic-386-autumn later this week it will also link to Good-fences-136.

Autumn - Thematic Photography

When Carmi sets us 'autumn' as a theme, the trees here in the North of England haven't all changed colour. My tree shot is from 2012.

Avenue of trees - Judges, Kirklevington

In October our annual reminder of autumn is provided by scenes like these.

Sign on a wagon carrying a Crooked Cottage for Yarm Fair.

The annual fair is being held this week in the High Street.

Autumn is a time for berries, so here's a recognition test - especially for my daughter. Feel free to tell me/her what they are.

Red berries (to the right of our apple tree)

Orange berries on the hedge (on the left of our drive)

At this time of year, now that the harvest has been gathered in, the farmers are particularly busy.

Autumn ploughing

They provide some interesting views.

Autumn colours

My previous post 'October Garden' ( http://bit.ly/1NBDY1n ) might also be said to be an autumn post. You will find others by following the links at Carmi's Thematic-Photographic-352.

Reflective - Thematic Photography

Glass, metal and water give unexpected opportunities for 'reflective' shots.

I had to crop out the vehicle's number plate in the first shot at the driver's request. He thought it rather strange that all I was interested in was the reflection in his windscreen - he thought I was an undercover cop!

Reflective glass

The Mini in my next shot has featured in the earlier 'logo' theme.

Metallic trees

Before anyone comments, my next shot is not upside down.

Water soaking up the trees

The ground was too soft on the other side of the puddle for me to stand there.

Today I'm trying to catch some reflections in the rainwater streaming down the outside of my office window - I wonder whether a video will work.

For reflective pictures check out the links at Carmi's Thematic-photographic-292.

That Golden Glow - Thematic Photography

I'll start this week's golden glow theme with an interesting ball.

I didn't like the look of those spikes even when it uncurled.

Caterpillar

I'm not allowed to say how many years ago the next shot was taken. It fits the theme but didn't come out how I wanted at the time.

A Bathing Belle

The nearest I could get to a golden glow from autumn colours was this shot from last year.

A Golden Avenue

Finally there's a golden boy, although Americans would call him yellow.

Sam, a mellow yellow Labrador

To catch  the rest of that golden glow cross over to Carmi's Thematic-photographic-267.

Trees - Sunday Stamps

The theme this week proved more difficult than I thought. Perhaps I couldn't see the wood for the trees.

However I am reasonably sure what this is.

Bangladesh - Palm Tree

Still in the southern hemisphere I came across a log, even if I don't know what tree it came from.

New Zealand

In colder northern climes a make believe tree.

Iceland - Europa CEPT

Perhaps this one is easier to identify.

Iceland - Spruce?

My final tree is one produced by a Norwegian romantic painter.

Norway - Slindebirken by Thomas Fearnley (1802-1842)

I believe this is a birch of some sort.

I'm hoping someone will be able to show some trees from Britain. I know of at least two that have appeared - the horse chestnut and the oak.

To see other varieties please cross over to Sunday-stamps-131.

Softness _ Thematic Photography

As we have had snow for over a week snow seemed to me to be the obvious thing to show. I have to admit that my shot is from two years ago but the view from our front door is much the same today.

Snowy Garden

At this time of year when there are no leaves on the trees the branches look anything but soft. Two weeks ago a frosty morning made them look almost fluffy.

Frost Covering

It always surprises me what you can see from your own front door as these 'softened' trees are behind the house on the opposite side of our lane.

Softness always reminds me of when a TV show The Generation Game was all the rage. Contestants were asked to memorise objects passing before them on a conveyor belt.

Cuddly Toys

Which reminds me that macho dogs can be cuddly sometimes.

Duncan and Cameron at ease

But others always get in on the act.

Duncan (or Cameron) and the Cat

However my favourite shot of all is one sent to us by a delegate from Greenland who attended a training course I led in Denmark some years ago.

Softness personified.

For other soft touches I suggest you float over to Carmi at Thematic-photographic-231.

Looking Up - Thematic Photography

I often think that we do not look up enough. As soon I saw this looking up theme I remembered two photos I had taken where I had deliberately shot what was over my head.

Brunel's SS Great Britain towers above in its Bristol dry dock.

SS Great Britain

However there was another shot where I lay down on my back much to the amusement of other people.

SS Great Britain - masts and rigging

Last week when the theme was trees I thought about using this shot, taken looking up.

Sycamore branches overhead

 

Sometimes though it's not necessary to point your camera straight up as you can get a power shot without doing that. (I just wish we could get some weather like this now!)

Power lines

If you want more things to look up to I suggest that you visit Carmi's thematic photographic 196

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