I have photographed this tree at the Giant’s Ring Belfast a number of times, of course at different times of year and in differing lights, however, I have always turned it into varying B&W effects. Perhaps my first attempt was “the original and best” but I am posting a selection of them as it seems to me that this tree naturally tells me that it needs to be in B&W to do it justice and create the atmosphere. For that reason it seems to me to be the obvious choice for Cee’s B&W Challenge Open Topic this week.
needless to say the little boy and his pup make the photo for mesame tree, different angledon’t know just decided to take this with the tree and the stones as background rather – was enjoying the meadow that they have allowed to grow up in recent yearsthe originala different day, different light, like the sky
The first is “Rhianna’s Tree”… This tree (now sadly deceased) made the headlines here in Northern Ireland when the farmer, having previously rented his field to Rhianna for her to film her latest music video, discovered that she was ” was in more of a state of undress than a bikini top” in his field. When she appeared to be topless (she may indeed have just been wearing a bikini top unlike any one he had ever witnessed) he drew a close to proceedings and sent them packing, after telling Rhianna that she and her film crew should become acquainted with God. The filming later appeared in Rihanna’a We Found Love video which went on to win the best video of the year award at the MTV VMAs.
Rihanna’s tree: This tree makes for a peaceful scene itself, however, when I stopped by the roadside to photograph it one day (with a long lens at it is quite some distance from the road) I was delighted to be able to pick up the little old tractor sneaking up into view, for me making the picture and wondering if it was “the farmer” who didn’t quite realise that his actions were about to give him his 15 minutes of fame. I love the simplicity of this photograph, there is no foreground distraction, nothing in the sky, just three simple attractions.
The second is a view of downtown Calgary, Alberta Canada taken from the Olympic Park Calgary, a distance of approx 15km.
Even though, like the photo of Rhianna’s tree, there is no distraction in the foreground, the greenery somehow does create that sense of perspective. Yes you would never guess that the City Centre is 15km away but it is.
Huge, I hope you like my first venture into your world of blogging. I’m just in the early stages of blogging and trying to learn and build.
The word ‘single’ in this challenge has helped me to focus, I have chosen single flowers but also varieties of a single type of flower – the Poppy. Being a less wordy blog, I have simply put a caption with each image.
(Photos copyright of Jenniferwillisphotography)
The ‘original’ red poppy growing wild in a Flanders’ Field. Photographed in the evening sunlight hence it is closing up for the nightTrue blue flowers are rare in the natural world, but the Himalayan Blue Poppy is an exception. Precise growing conditions must be present to produce the blue color of the Himalayan blue poppy. Obviously the gardeners at Mount Stewart Co. Down have achieved those conditions as the Blue Poppies are delicate, beautiful and very blue!Orange Poppy. Growing wild Andalusia, Spain Incredibly delicate Purple Poppy – or is it Pink? Growing wild, Andalusia, SpainMorning dew drop on a White Poppy. Growing wild, Andalusia, Spain
So, this is my first adventure into Lori’s weekly letter challenge and I see that I am joining rather late – perhaps I can fill in the letter ‘a’ to ‘g’ in due course, although with the letter ‘d for dog’ I just might get stuck in there for a while 😉 Nevertheless here I am. As usual I have difficulty focusing on and staying completely on one track on my blog and I, therefore, tend to diversify but I do offer variety I HOPE some decent photos for everyone to enjoy. I am consistent, however, in that I usually include something of my home land, Northern Ireland, trying to show it off in it’s better light, and also my love of animals, in particular dogs. I’m a keen photographer with a huge archive of photos and I admit to enjoying having the opportunity to share a few of them in these challenges.
OK so, the letter H… I came across a photo that inspired me to choose a few others on the same theme – Hanging!
Yes, it’s a Hangman’s noose! Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast. The Crumlin Road Gaol dates back to 1845 and closed it’s doors as a working prison in 1996. It is now a very popular tourist attraction and believe it or not well worth a visit. The Gaol played a significant part in the recent history of Northern Ireland. The last Hanging at the Gaol took place on 20th December 1961.
Having at last found a use for this photo I then found a few others along the same theme albeit much more fun than this kind of Hanging 😉
The first was taken through the railings of a skate park in New York, this little lad pictured Hanging from the the edge of the bowl, maybe 5 or 6 years old was there with his dad. Clearly neither of them had any sense of fear. The second is one of my boys at this point Hanging during pull ups whilst training at the gym.
Below, just some scarfs and safety gear hanging…
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And back to promoting ‘our wee country’… the beautiful Headlands on the North Antrim Coast – photographed from the west and then the east
Headland from the west looking over Benbane Head, Dunluce Castle, Runkerry Point and Giant’s Causeway Headland beyond.View from the east of Whitepark Bay, Portbradden and the reverse side of the Giant’s Causeway Headland beyond
So now some animate ‘H’s from home and beyond…
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Some of the connections to ‘H’ are obvious but for the sake of indulging my fastidious nature let me say in the above collection I have a pet Hamster I photographed many moons ago, a rider on Horseback, Banff Canada, a Hare, Calgary Alberta, swans in Hillsborough Lake Co. Down NI, Heron Strangford Lough Co Down NI, a Hairy chimp, a very Happy wren on my Hedge at my House, a Hawaiian Goose a lady Hunting in a bin for food Calgary Alberta and two beautiful Horses San Roque, Spain. Fairly random selection.
So now a few inanimate ‘H’s…
The cranes you could not miss if you ever visited Belfast. They are Harland and Wolf gantry cranes, previously used in shipbuilding, now more for heavy lifting during the building of of wind turbines and refurbishment of oil rigs. Then there is a very sad Headstone for a baby, St Andrew’s Scotland, a collection of cowboy Hats on sale Downtown Calgary a Hand-knitted Hat on a Head in St George’s market, Belfast – (another place worth visiting) and finally Stormont Building known colloquially as “The House on the Hill” (where all our politicians work). I have blogged previously about Stormont if you would like to read more. Again, worth visiting.
And finally for my indulgence, no selection of ‘H’ photos would be complete without a of one of my boys playing Hockey, in this case for a team called Harlequins!
I hope you have enjoyed my first entry into Lori’s Letter Challenge. I would love to receive feedback,
fotojen10 