K for Kafka

frizztext hosts a weekly A – Z Challenge

A_Z logo Event Type: General Blogging

Start Date: Tuesdays, recurring weekly

Description: Every Tuesday I offer the “A to Z challenge”, walking step by step through the alphabet.

If you would like to join in then please click here.

This exhibition on the life and work of Prague’s most famous literary son, entitled ‘City of K’, is the third in a series of exhibitions about world writers and their cities.  It explores the intimate relationship between the writer and the city that shaped him through the media of documents, photography and video.

Read more: Lonely Planet

K - Franz-Kafka

 The fountain in the courtyard of the Franz Kafka Museum  in the Lesser Quarter, is created by artist David Černý.  Two urinating men stand opposite one another above a lake in the shape of the Czech Republic. An electronic device turns their hips and raises their penises in a way that the flow of water traces the letters of several quotes on the water’s surface. But since Kafka wrote in German I’m afraid that aspect of the fountain passed me by.

I find it very amusing, but I’m sure some people are extremely shocked when they suddenly find themselves face to face with this – what do you think?

When the world was Brown

Ed is a truck driving photographer from Tennessee who hosts a photography challenge blog called Sunday Stills here on WordPress.

This week Ed would like to see something BROWN.

Ed wants us to think outside the box – now that comes easy to me as I am always thinking of unusual ways to interpret a challenge. So perversely my entry this week is quite safe – images of the North Norfolk coast in last year’s winter snow when everything was bleached of any colour with the exception of a natural brown palette.

(click on an image to enlarge)

Cley Windmill
Cley Windmill
Blakeney Marshes
Blakeney Marshes
Blakeney Quay
Blakeney Quay

I admit to using a sepia effect on the header photo, but the rest of the images are as seen, with some slight processing of saturation and levels.

Unusual Things You Find Inside a Garden

Ailsa of “Where’s My Backpack?” has been pondering her visits to gardens around the world this week. If you would like to join in with her challenge then please do. Everyone is welcome.

And I am combining this with the Weekly Photo Challenge from WordPress: Inside.

As some of you will know I do have another blog which is specifically for flowers – Earth Laughs in Flowers – and if you click this link you will be able to read about some of the gardens I have been enchanted by and see some lovely flowers and plants.

But for this challenge I am going to show you some of the odd sculptures and statues that have caught my eye whilst wandering inside the gardens, beginning with the infamous Eden Project in Cornwall.

(click on an image to enlarge)

The Bee
The Bee
The Rites of Dionysus by Tim Shaw
The Rites of Dionysus by Tim Shaw
WEEE Man, Outdoor Biome
WEEE Man, Outdoor Biome
spider
Incy Wincy spider…or is it a crab?

Next is a visit to the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

Welsh Black by Sally Matthews
‘Tawr’ A Welsh Black by Sally Matthews
'Pi' by Rawleigh Clay
‘Pi’ by Rawleigh Clay
Circle of Decision
Circle of Decision

And finally a few sculptures that have appeared in my favourite garden, RHS Wisley in Surrey.

Doves
Doves
Henry Moore's Arch
Henry Moore’s Arch
Wicker 'Pear'
Wicker ‘Pear’
Wicker Sculptures
Wicker Sculptures

What unusual things have you found in a garden?

A Lingering Look at The Round Market

This weekly 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.

When visiting Tenbury (Wells) we grabbed a Tenbury Heritage Trail map from the tourist office and set off to admire the buildings from Tenbury’s past.  After looking around the Pump Rooms (last week’s post) we carried on into Market Street, which leads into Market Square and where we discovered another unusual building that was also built by James Cranston.

The Round Market

The Round Market (which is actually oval) was built to enable the farmers’ wives to sell their butter and poultry inside, with walls to keep out the wind and rain. Market Days are still held on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

But as usual I was drawn to the wonderful windows – just look at the shapes above the gateway! And the trefoils and quatrefoils at the top of each window (click image to enlarge). Divine.

(source of information from Tenbury Tourist Information Centre )

Nature in Black and White

Cee’s Black & White Challenge: This black and white challenge is topic related and this week the theme is Found in Nature.

One of the most amazing places that I have been to is Yosemite Valley. The incomparable scenery, soaring cliffs, spectacular views and cascading waterfalls moved me so much that I wrote this piece about my feelings.

(click any image to enlarge and see the details)

2. valley-view
Valley View. 

Here are a few photos from that natural wonder. I hope they make as much an impression on you as they did on me.

awiyah-point
awiyah-point
River Merced in the Snow
River Merced in the Snow
Mount Watkins Reflection at Mirror Lake
Mount Watkins Reflection at Mirror Lake
The Swinging Bridge in Snow
The Swinging Bridge in Snow