Celtic Knotwork

This lovely example of celtic knotwork is on a gravestone in an old graveyard within the Glentanar estate. There are some beautiful walks around there, and it is also where I shot the 'not bee'. I have other shots from there that I may publish later, although the herons still elude me.

The graveyard is set around an old, old church, and the dappled effect of the light through the trees on the stones enhanced the ancient appearance. This stone was more in the full shade of the church. You can wander around the woods and feel like modern life is so far away - sometimes it is a pull to go back to it.

Not a bee

Despite how it looks, and also how it was flying when I saw it, this is not a bee.

It's a hoverfly, and I was drawn to it by how unusual I thought it looked. I had never seen one before, and I thought it was a bee, but the eyes weren't quite right.

I posted it on a forum and should thank my pals from the JREF forum for helping me to identify it.

It is standing on something I actually see quite a lot - good scottish thistle.

Puffin around

I saw this little guy at the end of a long summer day of taking photos, and the light was getting really poor.
He was positioned right in the deepest of the shadows created by the cliffs, and trying to get pictures was actually getting quite dangerous. I assume he's a guy - you really need to see a pair together to know them apart as the female is a little bit smaller. You can see it was the height of summer because of the glorious colour of the beak - they pale and go grey by winter. Apparently they shed part of the beak, and I meant to go back to see if I could find a piece, but we have had unusually windy weather since then, making it unwise to wander round those particular clifftops.


I was overjoyed to see him. I think he's the first live puffin I have ever seen, and the colours are incredible. It almost seems that they have to be in make-up for the markings to be so perfect. The rest of the sightings that day had been seals, gulls, cormorants and razorbills, so the splash of colour was a welcome sight.

Please - use your brains!

I was going to post a photograph today, but got distracted by this story, which I just had to share:

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051009/NEWS01/510090392

1 - Know your rights. No-one has the authority to strip search you in the back of your place of employment, commit lewd acts on you, or invite others to do so. Don't let anyone try.

2 - Know your mind. No matter if it is a person in a position of authority who asks you to do something, take a second to think about it. If it isn't right, DON'T DO IT. It's really quite simple.

3 - Own your actions. If you are dumb enough to get taken in by a hoaxer who persuades you to do all manner of disgraceful things, take responsibility for your actions. It is not the responsibility of your employers to tell you in advance not to be such an asshole.

Stop Sylvia Browne

No photo today, as I don't have one prepared following a hectic weekend with visiting family.

However, I wanted to post to bring attention to the following site:

I fully support Mr Lancaster in his endeavours with this site, and would invite you all to read it whether you object to people claiming to be psychics, or you support and believe people who claim to be psychics. It provides good information, and poses questions you may wish to have Sylvia Browne address (or any other psychics you may know). Certainly, when I watched her years ago and believed what she said, I still wondered why she refused to tackle certain issues that would surely prove to the world how valid and important her powers are, if she speaks the truth.

I would also like to use this opportunity to remind you of the other site I support as best I can. It is run by Kelly Jolkowski, whose son has been missing for years and is the reason her site exists:

http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

Kelly appeared on the Montel Williams show in her plight to find her son, or at least get some publicity out there about his case. She did not encounter Sylvia Browne in her slot, but she has information from others who did.

http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_voice4themissing_archive.html

Sylvia has regular appearances on the Montel Show, and this for me was something that intially added a lot of validity to her claims, through my respect for Montel's open and straight style of journalism. His support for Sylvia Browne stands in a remarkable contrast for all the other amazing pieces of work he has done to uncover frauds, educate people about scams, and highlight issues concerning the emotionally vulnerable.

I can only assume that his support is somehow related to Sylvia's claim that a cure for multiple sclerosis is imminent: something he suffers from and would obviously hang to any hope of a cure.
http://www.montelms.org/

Sylvia is also much discussed at one of my other favourite sites - the James Randi Educational Foundation. In fact, Mr Randi issued a challenge to Sylvia Browne which she accepted, but has so far ducked out of following through:
http://www.randi.org/

http://www.randi.org/sylvia/index.html

The Window Cat

Now that the colder weather is setting in, I thought I'd dig out this photograph that just epitomizes summer for me.

I wake in the morning, feeling the warmth and hearing the birdsong of a new summer day. As I lie in bed my cat finds the prime spot for sunshine, and the strength of the light heightens the definition of his shadow. He sits there, soaking up the heat, and I lie there watching his shadow. His ears flick when he spots a bird, and once in a while he'll lick his paws, but other than that we are a decadently lazy pair.

Skaterboy

I love this photograph.

I love the way the sun lies across the arms and legs, and I really like the definition of the muscles in the skater's arms and back.

I was delighted to find a skateboarding competition at one of our local parks this summer. I would relish the opportunity of taking more photographs of several of the guys who took part as the standard was quite high, and the tricks were regular and stunning. The participants were all very friendly, and clearly enjoyed the event as much as I did, although obviously they put a lot more energy into it than I did!

[If you are in this picture or know this skater please feel free to contact me to at least get prints from that day, or let me know about other events.]

Sometimes, nature is just as dramatic as fireworks

These fantastic sunbursts over the ocean in the mornings, and over the mountains in the evenings are a regular sight where I live, and yet they still never cease to amaze me. The drama of the weather is a beautiful and yet often terrifying thing. The beauty of a seascape like this is regularly a disguised warning of storms to come.

"The Sun now rose upon the right :
Out of the sea came he,
Still hid in mist, and on the left
Went down into the sea.

And the good south wind still blew behind,
But no sweet bird did follow,
Nor any day for food or play
Came to the mariners' hollo !"

"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Guy Fawke's Night

These pictures are from last year's 5th November celebrations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes

Remember, remember, the 5th of November

The Gunpowder Treason and plot;

I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Owl Butterfly

This beauty is called "Caligo memnon memnon", or the Owl Butterfly. I am sure you can see where it gets its name.

Although they are native to tropical rainforests, like Costa Rica, I was lucky to see this one in Scotland at a great little butterfly farm in Edinburgh.

Because they are native to tropical rainforests, like Costa Rica, I was lucky to get this photograph at all, as it was one of the few to survive the constant fogging up of my poor camera!

Love is like a butterfly

As soft and gentle as a sigh;

The muli-colored moods of love

Are like its satin wings.

Love makes your heart feel strange inside

It flutters like soft wings in flight.

Love is like a butterfly

A rare and gentle thing.

Dolly Parton

"Love is like a Butterfly"

Moonlit Beach

Another moody shot, but then - it is Hallowe'en!

This is a scene that just took my breath away on my journey home one evening. I could not let myself drive home without stopping to capture it.

The moon was full and high, and glistened off the wet beach without lighting up anything more than a reflective slice of the ocean over a single rolling wave. I found myself with a perfect angle to catch the wet sand's interesting pattern leading to the lifebelt post sillhouetted over the moonlit water. A single cloud was the last element required, and I snapped a few shots while waiting for this interesting formation.

'Tis moonlight, summer moonlight,

All soft and still and fair;

The solemn hour of midnight

Breathes sweet thoughts everywhere

Emily Jane Bronte

" 'Tis moonlight, summer moonlight"

Misty Mountains

This is the view from a break spot in Glentanar Estate in Scotland. It was a beautiful sunny day at first, but a bit of a drizzle came out of nowhere as we walked. Looking across the mountains all we could see was thick mist enveloping the other peaks. It was difficult to capture, but I think the more distant mountains look suitably mysterious.

Just imagine how wonderful it was a few moments later when the drizzle stopped, and the sun came back with force. I sat on a bench listening to the river which I could only just make out where it sparkled so beautifully between the tree branches, like a road made from diamonds.

Welcome to my Blog

This photo is one of the first I shot when I joined the digital revolution.

I love it.
Most people react to it, but many aren't sure how they feel about it! There are a few people who say it makes them uncomfortable.

How can you not love a sweet little kitty pic?