Tuscany

We have recently returned from a 10 day workshop in Val d'Orcia, Tuscany. Could have done with better light and as a result not a lot of images to process.

Courtyard, Luciagno d'Asso

Trees made famous by Charlie Waite

Chapel near Lucignano d'Asso

Found still life in Montisi

Montalcino in the rain

Mrs Scotti of Rocca

Field patterns

Early morning landscape

St Antimo Abbey

Typical that we should get the best light on our last morning. Taken at 5.45 am just as we were about to board the bus to take us to the airport

February Flowers

At the beginning of this year I decided to record what was new in the garden on or around the 1st of each month.

There were just a few new flowers at the beginning of February: several hellebores, one or two crocus, just one narcissus flowering. In greater profusion were snowdrops and winter aconites.

The violas, primroses, euphorbia are still flowering and there are still berries on the holly and Christmas box.

Picture of the Day

I'm not planning to post every one of my 'Picture a Day' project on the Blog. If you interested in following you can take a look here.

But I do think I should record the new small shops which are being built near us. The last time I took a photograph of them was back in October when the walls were just beginning to go up.

Now the buildings are much near completion. We don't know yet what businesses will rent the shops but I do hope it won't be yet another hairdresser or charity shop. A health food shop or a deli would be good. Even better would be one of each.

First picture of the day for 2016

I have decided that on or about the 1st of the month I will document what is interesting in the garden. My image of the day is posted on a website called BlipFoto.

BlipFoto is in danger of closing down and we are trying to keep it running with crowd funding. £180,000 needs to be raised by the end of February. The reason for the word blip being in the centre of this collage is that there is a challenge for every blipper (as people who post on the BlipFoto website are known) to include the word Blip in their image today and to do as much as possible to draw people's attention to the plight of BlipFoto.

Flower Friday is one of the challenges on BlipFoto which is why my post is flower themed today. I could actually document the flowers in my garden on the 1st Friday of every month.

A New Book

I think it is time I paid some attention to my Blog. Either that or close it down completely.

So what has kept me away from posting anything in the past year? We have had a couple more trips away from home than normal including going to Paris to celebrate Guy's 80th birthday. I have also been continuing with the 'picture a day' project on Blipfoto and on December 14th 2015 actually completed 365 consecutive images. This morning I have just completed the book I have made of all the daily photos since June 2014. It took its time to upload but it is now on the Blurb site and I have ordered it.

 
 
   

      My Life in Pictures by Paula Davies FRPS
      |
      Make Your Own Book
   

 

A Visit to Eastern Germany

In June this year we visited Eastern Germany with our U3A travel group. Places visited were Dresden, Meissen, Colditz and Berlin. I have been busy over the last week or so making a blurb book.

 
 
   

      A Visit to Eastern Germany by Paula Davies
      |
      Make Your Own Book
   

 

A Visit to Venice - Day Two

Our first morning in Venice so it was obligatory to get up really early and go out before breakfast to photograph the people in their costumes. The light was not anything to get excited about but we managed a few photos.

  

After breakfast there was the more touristy things to do. Plenty of people enjoying gondola rides. 

and the fish looked good in the Rialto Market.

 Too early for lunch under the Rialto Bridge but it was in a nice sunny spot.

A Visit to Venice - Day One

We decided to visit Venice again this year at carnival time.  It's a cold time of year to visit and it can be wet but if the sun shines it's usually warm enough to sit outside and enjoy a leisurely lunch.

We arrived mid-afternoon and after getting the boat to our hotel it was time for dinner. Afterwards we decided to do a little night photography.

Swansea International Salon

I have only entered 3 international exhibitions this year. My results in one of them were all unaccepted but I did manage to get three new images into Swansea.

Dying Gracefully

Tate Staircase

A Great Day Out

Solway Salon

After an almost year long break from entering international exhibitions I decided to enter the Solway Salon for small prints this year.  I was really surprised with the results having 17 acceptances from 24 prints entered.  I even managed to get 4 acceptances in the creative section despite none of them being 'surreal'.  Unfortunately none of them gained any awards but several of the entries were first timers.

Absorbed and Steampunk Memories were both first time entries accepted in the Colour Open section.

 The Plotters and Venetian Fantasy are old favourites, Tuscan Trees Impression and Venetian Dreaming were new images and these were all accepted in the Creative Section.

 Abandoned Propeller, Aim for the Enemy Son, Curious and Langdale Tree were accepted in the Mono Open Section with Aim for the Enemy Son and Curious being new images.

In the Mono Landscape section RX435 and Steetley Pier were accepted both being new images.

Jamaa El Fna Marrakech and Palouse Spring were accepted in the Travel Open section with Palouse Spring being a new acceptance.

And finally in the Travel People section Morroccan Stool Seller, a new image, and Venetian Lady were accepted.