photography – Page 136

Painted Ladies of San Francisco

The “Painted Ladies” of San Francisco sounds quite scandalous, but is actually a nickname for the city’s Victorian and Edwardian mansions with their genteel pastel hues and feminine façades, lacy wooden mantles and perfectly pitched roofs.

One of the most photographed vistas is from Alamo Square on the corner of Hays and Steiner where you get a background of the modern city that contrasts with these lovely ladies. It is sometimes known as “Postcard Row.” The houses were built between 1892 and 1896 by developer Matthew Kavanaugh, who lived next door in the 1892 mansion at 722 Steiner Street. The definition of a painted lady is a Victorian with three or more paint colours. So, even though the seven on Steiner Street are the most famous — there are several other painted ladies in the neighbourhood to enjoy.

Explore the streets, parks and vistas around Scott Street, McAllister, Haight Street, Steiner and Pierce that tell the story of a Victorian era and discover more beautiful mansions, but be warned, it is very hilly around here so it can be quite a strenuous walk. Alamo square is a great place to sit and rest and admire the view after your walk around the neighbourhood.

I walked about 10 blocks from the Misión San Francisco de Asís on 16th Street which is some distance away, through Duboce Park. You can of course take public transport to Alamo Square, but then you’d miss an awful lot of this wonderful architecture. And don’t forget to look up!

This monthly challenge is hosted by Dawn from ‘The Day After’ who invites participants to post pictures of any windows that they find curious, inviting, photogenic, or in some way tell a story. Visit her blog to see more windows and/or to join in with the challenge .

On the Edge

Cape Cornwall is the only Cape in England and is so-called because until the 19th century it was thought to overlook the meeting of the English Channel and St George’s Channel (they actually meet at Gwennap Head, near Land’s End). A climb up the Cape headland to the stack offers panoramic views of Lands End, Sennen Cove, the Brisons rocks, the Isles of Scilly and the Wolf Rock lighthouse. You can either walk here from St Just or via the south-coastal path, or drive down to the National Trust car park, from where you can walk down to the former Count House and holiday cottage Brisons Vean (the dark facing house with the two round windows) and around to the lookout, or take one of the routes behind the house up to the summit.

Continue reading On the Edge

Bench series #29

For the month of July I’m looking for a bench with ‘Unusual Details’

(This month I want to see photos of a bench which is different to the norm. It may be the shape, style, length, height, colour, material or even location that attracts your attention)

canterbury serpent — Serpent Bench in the city of Canterbury, Kent by the city walls.

If you would like to join in with the Bench photo challenge then please take a look at my Bench Series page. No complicated rules, just a bench and a camera required 🙂

Create your own post and title it Bench Series: July
Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
Add the tag ‘bench series’ so everyone can find the benches easily in the WP Reader
Get your post in by the end of the month, as the new bench theme comes out on the first Sunday in August.

My Picks of the Week:

Some natural offerings this week from Aletta and Elaine and Sylvia
Debbie has found a ‘flower pot’ and both Tgeriatrix and Restlessjo have discovered benches covered in tiles, but for an elegant bench then take a look at Violetsky’s and a most intriguing one from Isobel

So many unusual benches! I thank you all 🙂

Monthly Photo Challenge: The Changing Seasons #7

Summertime,
An’ the livin’ is easy

More than half way through the year now and for us in the northern hemisphere the days are starting to get shorter. Which is why I have always wondered who decided that school holidays have to be in August? I know that from an historical aspect it was so that the kids could help with the harvests, but those days are long gone so surely it is time to change the term dates? How nice it would be for school children to have the long summer days of June and July off and to sit their exams in April before the hay-fever season starts. Anyway for all you teaching staff out there, happy holidays, I know you deserve each and every day of them!

I thought I’d have a different wander around the town this month and see what Ludlow in Bloom has to offer and to show you more of the beautiful historic buildings in this town. We’ll start in the street where I usually finish the stroll.

Ludford bridge towards town (Lower Broad Street)

Date: July 10 2015
Weather: sunshine
Temperature: Warm (20°C)
Time: 17:00 – 18:30 PM

Roses and honeysuckle

Summer flowers

I thought I’d show you part of Ludford as there are a few interesting buildings here. And from the terrace of the Charlton Arms you get good views along the Teme. The warmer weather makes these terraces a great spot for a G&T. Continue reading Monthly Photo Challenge: The Changing Seasons #7

Down the Cot Valley

Another drive (or walk if you are so inclined) from St Just is down the Cot Valley following the Cot stream to the shore at Porth Nanven. Once this area was crowded with tin-dressing floors, stamps, settling tanks, reservoirs and wheel-pits. Now long abandoned and overgrown, it can make walking off track somewhat dangerous. The road is very narrow so take it slowly and there is a small car-park at the end.

Porth Nanven is unusual in that the cliffs are formed from rounded boulders of an ancient raised beach, formed in the last ice-age. It is illegal to remove any stone from this location, though many might crave a few for their rockery. Continue reading Down the Cot Valley