View allAll Photos Tagged APpicoftheweek
I rarely post more than one image from a day's shoot but this experience was so special. At least 8 males basking after heavy showers. Before anyone gets worried that we were too close; the picture was taken with a 500mm lens and then enhanced and cropped in PS. We spotted them and then moved away without disturbance.
Or "Stanford-No-Hope" as some of the locals have it. Which is unfair I think. You really have to go searching around here for an example of "urban grit". Here we are on the footbridge over the railway line behind St. Margaret's Avenue, where local artists express themselves.
Stanford-le-Hope, Essex UK
Part of my 'Duffus Castle through the seasons' project.
The castle is situated on the Laich of Moray, a fertile plain that was once the swampy foreshore of Spynie Loch. This was originally a more defensive position than it appears today, long after the loch was drained.
The motte is a huge man-made mound, with steep sides and a wide ditch separating it from the bailey. The whole site is enclosed by a water-filled ditch, which is more a mark of its boundary than it is a serious defensive measure.
Duffus Castle was built by a Flemish man named Freskin, who came to Scotland in the first half of the 1100s. After an uprising by the ‘men of Moray’ against David I in 1130, the king sent Freskin north as a representative of royal authority.
He was given the estate of Duffus, and here he built an earthwork-and-timber castle. Freskin’s son William adopted the title of ‘de Moravia’ – of Moray. By 1200, the family had become the most influential noble family in northern Scotland, giving rise to the earls of Sutherland and Clan Murray.
In about 1270, the castle passed to Sir Reginald Cheyne the Elder, Lord of Inverugie. He probably built the square stone keep on top of the motte, and the curtain wall encircling the bailey. In 1305, the invading King Edward I of England gave him a grant of 200 oaks from the royal forests of Darnaway and Longmorn, which were probably used for the castle’s floors and roofs.
By 1350, the castle had passed to a younger son of the Earl of Sutherland through marriage. It may have been then that the keep was abandoned, possibly because it was beginning to slip down the mound, and a new residence established at the north of the bailey.
Viscount Dundee, leader of the first Jacobite Rising, dined in the castle as a guest of James, Lord Duffus in 1689, prior to his victory against King William II’s government forces at Killiecrankie. Soon after, Lord Duffus moved to the nearby Duffus House. The castle quickly fell into decay.
Take 2 of my (supposedly) haunted bridge. A different view, just a few steps back and the light was changed instantly. Colour and tone adjustment in Affinity Photo.
Martinhole Wood, Corringham, Essex UK
Take 1 ⬇️
What a difference a day makes; yesterday 22C, today 7C and with a cold north east wind. Good numbers of people out for a walk, all well wrapped up. I don't think we should be too surprised, it is the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
I had a lot of fun playing with these panoramas. There's some distortion (I like the effect) and sometimes the overlapping images don't quite line up. Still, it's amazing what the camera can do in the blink of an eye!
This is an unusual view of Macclesfield Town Hall and St. Mchael's Church.
Have a great Sunday!!!
A beautiful start to the New Year with a rare hoar frost although no light. Taken a few hundred yards from home, it was this twisting oak emerging from the frosted woodland edge that caught my eye. I can't remember such a cold New Year here in the south of England - beautiful conditions & lucky to have this on my doorstep given the conditions. Happy New Year to all.
Part of my 'Duffus Castle through the seasons' project.
The castle is situated on the Laich of Moray, a fertile plain that was once the swampy foreshore of Spynie Loch. This was originally a more defensive position than it appears today, long after the loch was drained.
The motte is a huge man-made mound, with steep sides and a wide ditch separating it from the bailey. The whole site is enclosed by a water-filled ditch, which is more a mark of its boundary than it is a serious defensive measure.
Duffus Castle was built by a Flemish man named Freskin, who came to Scotland in the first half of the 1100s. After an uprising by the ‘men of Moray’ against David I in 1130, the king sent Freskin north as a representative of royal authority.
He was given the estate of Duffus, and here he built an earthwork-and-timber castle. Freskin’s son William adopted the title of ‘de Moravia’ – of Moray. By 1200, the family had become the most influential noble family in northern Scotland, giving rise to the earls of Sutherland and Clan Murray.
In about 1270, the castle passed to Sir Reginald Cheyne the Elder, Lord of Inverugie. He probably built the square stone keep on top of the motte, and the curtain wall encircling the bailey. In 1305, the invading King Edward I of England gave him a grant of 200 oaks from the royal forests of Darnaway and Longmorn, which were probably used for the castle’s floors and roofs.
By 1350, the castle had passed to a younger son of the Earl of Sutherland through marriage. It may have been then that the keep was abandoned, possibly because it was beginning to slip down the mound, and a new residence established at the north of the bailey.
Viscount Dundee, leader of the first Jacobite Rising, dined in the castle as a guest of James, Lord Duffus in 1689, prior to his victory against King William II’s government forces at Killiecrankie. Soon after, Lord Duffus moved to the nearby Duffus House. The castle quickly fell into decay.
I'll meet you at the white post. Or we could just walk together...
Fobbing Marshes, Essex, England
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For the Compositionally Challenged Group Week 21 - Words.
But not everybody is ready to give up just yet. "Low mileage, one careful previous owner". I'm told someone has bought this lady and is going to fix her up.
Everything here is real. It's just a matter of adjusting your perspective.
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Sea Wall
Tilbury Riverside, Essex UK
WPD24Urban
Things definitely running in groups - dragonfly season in full swing and here a very obliging migrant hawker. Aeshna mixta
Moth trap set up in garden almost within Epping Forest UK. Lots of shield bugs, 5 gypsy moths and topped off with this stunning poplar hawkmoth. The books say these are common - well I don't see them very often.
Spent a few Days in Porto, the start of which was pure rain. For the first time I only took Micro 4/3 cameras, which were nice and light and easy to handle.
Was lucky enough to capture this beautiful tree lined road in paisleys gleniffer braes last week, I’ve been hoping to capture this location under these conditions for sometime now, so when I saw the fog I grabbed my camera and caught this just as the sun was lighting up the trees
Who knows what you'll find. Despite being in a busy region of the UK and close to London there's an age to this particular woodland which is palpable, there being no evidence of past human activity. So we can only wonder at the centuries that have passed here, the trees undisturbed whilst we carry on with our busy little lives...
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My second acorn shot of the day, this one deeper in the midst of the trees. Processed to monochrome in Affinity Photo with their funky spotlight lighting effect. I could (and probably should) take a flash next time..
Old Church Hill, Thurrock, Essex UK
High on Life III
I've been attempting to shoot Gus in celebration of his official 2nd birthday. Official? Well, it's an educated guess. He came from rescue, was nervous and faced an uncertain future. Placed in the hands of an experienced carer, with just a little help from my boy he's come along wonderfully. High on Life? You bet !
"Just get them home..."
One of the Dunkirk "Little Ships" ⬇️
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ships_of_Dunkirk
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Old Leigh-on-Sea, Essex UK.
Música (abrir en nueva pestaña) / Music (Open link in new tab):🎵🎶Keane-Get Away From Yourself🎶🎵
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