Open to the Unexpected

I have just bought the book ‘Adventures in Seeing’ by one of my favourite photography tutors Kim Manley Ort. I have taken several of her e-courses and found them inspirational. The book suggests a series of challenges or ‘Calls to Adventure’ which can be shared through social media (there is a private Facebook group) or one’s blog. This challenge, which is adventure number three seems to call for a blog post. the challenge was to notice what surprises you and let the photographs come to you (of course there is a lot more about this in the book but for the purposes of this blog this captures the essence of it)

The photographs below were taken during the course of a weekend on the Isle of Wight, following paths I had followed many times before but with what you might call enhanced noticing.

The two images above are of water seen through holes in the wooden floor of a bird watchers hide on the Newtown River (we didn't see much in the way of interesting birds!). To me they look rather like planets.

the magpie and periwinkle I came upon the following day while walking on Headon Warren

These final two are from an evening stroll along the beach. A boat trailer half buried in the sand beginning to rust and early evening colours on sand still wet from the receding tide.

Wishing you all a week of 'enhanced noticing'!

Come walk with me to Shalfleet Quay

Sorry couldn't resist a bit of of rhyme! We were back on the Isle of Wight last weekend for the bank holiday and I have to say the weather wasn't great. On Sunday there was a sea mist which lingered all day but produced a beautiful soft light that complemented the emerging greens along the river

If I'm really honest though, I have to say I would have preferred blue skies and sunshine - still as the saying goes 'every cloud has a silver lining" and here you could also 'ride a white swan'

Further on there were hundreds of dandelion heads which when you look closely at them are amazing works of art whether viewed in colour

or black and white

As we neared the quay there was the odd splash of colour - a bright boat hull

and some coloured mooring floats reflected in the water

Then there is the little garden, virtually unchanged from when I was a child with a dilapidated shed

and some old caravans, which despite their unpromising exteriors are definitely in use in the summer

On the way back more colour was provided by this bright yellow litchen

and additional interest by a number of oyster catchers at the waters edge

“Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems”

— Rainer Maria Rilke

Meeting an old friend for the First Time!

On Friday I had a day out in Bristol which, although it is not that far from where I live, is not somewhere I have visited very often and I certainly can't claim to know it.

It was therefore with some excitement that I set out, as not only was I going to explore a new city , but I was going to do it the company of an old friend I was meeting for the first time!

I arrived a bit early so was able to have a quick wander round before the meet up. I was very taken with this statue of John Cabot who set off from Bristol in 15th century to find America.

There was also a working replica of his ship the Philiip

Then it was time to meet up with Viv my on-line friend of over a year. We met though one of Kim Klassen's courses and membership of the Facebook group that was subsequently formed. It was, as I had hoped, a meeting of old friends not new ones and I immediately felt comfortable and relaxed in our conversation. Viv knows Bristol well and led me on a fascinating photo walk. One that is probably too long for a single post! But I'll get started!

We headed off towards the M Shed where we planned to have lunch

I loved this tiny cafe situated on a narrow bridge and was delighted to meet another old friend the Balmoral who often visits the Isle of Wight in the summer.

Outside the M Shed were some old goods carriages and lots of lovely grunge!

Time for lunch - I loved the decor inside the M Shed

In an open area of the shed a man was modelling a dinosaur

And the inside of the museum boasted a flight of balloons

I think that's probably enough for now - very picture heavy this week - so I'll leave you with this photo of me and Viv in the M Shed window and see you next time x