God rays!

Technically crepuscular rays, but photographers know them as God rays, where shafts of light radiate from the sun through clouds and can be seen against darker clouds in the background – and this is a nice example taken near the Mithraeum Temple ruins and Milecastle 31 on a recent (short) visit to Hadrian’s Wall on…

Hadrian’s Wall

This is a very small part of Hadrian’s Wall – taken above Peel Crags from south of the wall, looking east – The water of Crag Lough is just visible in the middle distance. The wall was 73 miles long, stretching from Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend on the River Tyne – There were milecastles (not exactly…

Umbrella Street

These are shadows cast by umbrellas suspended above the High Street in Durham – the sign said ‘to brighten up our cloudy days’, though it was decidedly sunny last Saturday when we visited the city for the University Open Day. While I did take pictures of the brightly coloured umbrellas, I rather liked this different…

Another postcard from Newcastle…

This sensational glass building is The Sage, Gateshead – situated on the south side of the River Tyne in Gateshead, it is a concert hall and exhibition centre.  I love the way the light is reflected from all the glass panels that make up the roof! #2019 #UK #NewcastleUponTyne #RiverType #SageGateshead #Skyline #Sunset Technical details:…

A Postcard from Newcastle

Couldn’t go to Newcastle and not take a picture of the Tyne Bridge!  So here it is…with the Millennium bridge in the background along with the Sage Gateshead – a concert hall and exhibition centre. Taken from the Swing Bridge, on the evening before the University Open Day, after the long drive up from Oxfordshire. …

The Angel of the North

On a trip to Newcastle-upon-Tyne for the University Open Day last Saturday, I had to stop off here to view this 20m sculpture – The Angel of the North. Designed by Anthony Gormley and finished in 1997, the Angel is 20m tall and has a wingspan of some 54m – and she is a truly…

The Flying Scotsman 60103

At long last, we get to see her running on the North Cotswold line!  The last time she was due to pass through, she had a problem and was substituted at the last minute for The Royal Scot, but here she is, in all her glory! On return leg (we normally see these services on…

Royal Albert Bridge, Saltash

Here is a view of the Royal Albert Bridge spanning the Tamar River between Saltash in Cornwall and Plymouth in Devon – designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, work was started in 1854 and opened by Prince Albert in 1859 – Brunel died later that year and his name was then placed above the portals at either…

Summer evening walk

Here are two photographs that were taken recently on a summer evening walk with Sparky going up to the top of Shipton Down near Shipton-under-Wychwood – both are of Cow Parsley that has gone to seed with the setting sun beyond – glorious evenings indeed! The second photograph was taken with a much smaller aperture to…

Sunset

A picture at sunset from a couple of weeks ago – beautiful sky and a spurious oat stem (I think!) making a nice silhouette – and this is in a field of Soybean – this has now been harvested, so the combine harvester cut everything in the field – it is quite barren and stubbly now…