photography – Page 154

Travel Theme: Doorways

I have a bit of a ~~thing~~ obsession for doorways and doors so this week’s theme is right up my ~~doorway~~ alley.

In the old town of Geneva you will find this impressive doorway – The 15th century Hotel De Ville (Town Hall) located along Rue de l’Hotel-de-Ville still serves as the seat of government in Geneva and is the site of many political milestones including the first convening of the Geneva Convention in 1864 and the founding of the League of Nations in 1920.

Have a peep through the doorway

Inside you will find an impressive courtyard, with more doorways

The large paved ramp surrounding the building its most unique feature. Built between 1555 and 1578 by Peter Desfosses, the design of the ramp enabled direct access to the upper floors on horseback or on foot.

Bench series #5

For the month of February let’s see your benches processed in Black and White

Tips: Remember that the best Black & White photos are those with a lot of contrast, lots of light and shadow. But conversely the best images to convert into Black and White occur in low contrast situations – so don’t wait for that sunny day to get out there. A dark or low light day could produce your best image. Also shoot in colour first and then convert. And watch the composition. Unlike when you use colour to lead the eye into a shot, you need to look out for shapes, tones, patterns or textures to draw the eye in. Good luck!

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: February
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 WP Reader
Get your post in by the end of the month, as the new bench theme comes out on the first Sunday in March

Last week we were still in the garden:

Gilly joins in again with Daisy in Hartland Abbey Garden
and Daily Musings has a bench with views over the Hudson.
Sue takes us to a sunny bench in Devon where the flowers threaten to subsume you, but Pauline has the most unusual treat for us in Canberra (warning: do not visit when everyone is asleep).
Sherri has a bench for all seasons, in her pretty garden, of course.
One of my favourite gardens in the world from Aletta in Cape Town
And in Scotland we find Debbie has a bench with a view.
Still in N’Orleans Elaine discovers an exhibit in the garden.

in the depth of winter…

depth

/dɛpθ/

noun

1. the extent, measurement, or distance downwards, backwards, or inwards

2. the quality of being deep; deepness

3. intensity or profundity of emotion or feeling

The Auckland Domain Wintergarden

The Wintergarden is found in Auckland, New Zealand and was built in commemoration of the Auckland Industrial Agricultural and Mining Exhibition of 1913-14

It was designed in the early 1900s in the style of the famous English partnership of Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jeckyll – my favourite designers of the English County Garden style.

The building was opened on the 12 October 1921 for the benefit and pleasure of the public.

The two barrel-shaped Victorian glasshouses face out onto an open courtyard with a pond and mosaic fountain. Marble statues were added in the 1920s and 1930s and pergolas around the courtyard are covered in showy climbers.

One glasshouse is full of exotic flowers: gingers, orchids, palms, Heliconia and other rare plants. The other is for temperate climate plants such as the gorgeous blue delphiniums in the photos.

As usual my attention was drawn not only to the flora, but also the architecture of these buildings and in particular, the windows. Although the glasshouses need a little attention (well so would you after 100 years) the curved ends and decorative leaded windows are still beautiful.

The complex is completed by New Zealand ferns growing in a sunken scoria quarry to the rear.

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.

Once upon a time…

there was a secret garden for fairies in the forest along the road to Potato Point. I kid you not…

(Potato Point is a village in the Eurobodalla Shire lying on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. The Yuin are considered to be the traditional owners of the region.)

An enchanting gum tree decorated with toadstools, butterflies, dragonflies and flowers amongst the discarded eucalyptus leaves.

and a little doorway for small people to enter.

have you ever seen anything like this before?

This post is dedicated to two intelligent, hard-working, inspirational and beautiful Bookfayries, Siri and Selma, who spend their time flitting between Norway, Germany and magical Cley-next-the -Sea. Time to pack those cases and head for Australia girls?