Capturing September attempt # 21-019- # 08/225

As the quality of light and the angle of the sun change we see new lighting effects under the trees and the sparkle on the water and even the nature of the mud seems to change.

For other pictures of Pen Ponds in Richmond Park see Year 2007 # 4, 7, 339 & 354.

This is a typical example of how the eye handles contrasts in light and shade better than the camera. Fortunately the blue water is not too much over-exposed. Several attempts were necessary. I hope you enjoy the scene as much as I did at the time.

Brentford dreaming - # 08/23

The old and the new. Mudlarks down on the mud, prospecting for gold. Tide out. Funky apartments built on industrial dockland. 1801 - 2008: a long time. A quick snap and then the dream was broken as the two turned away and walked back. No second chance.

Camera: Olympus C7070 WZ at 110mm f5.6 direct into the setting sunlight

Anything down there? - # 08/15

As you can guess, I was focussing on the coot and the mud and the outboard engine.

The coot is having a happy time forageing. I was greatly enjoying the mud and the muddle and the muckiness. This muddle and muck is what makes these places so charming and interesting. (Sorry if you find spelling mistakes. The spell-checker has stopped working and I'm too lazy to get out the OED).

Mud larking- # 283

At the end of October we get the last of the very high, so called "Spring" tides. The next very high Spring tide will come in 6 months' time - in Spring. This October high tide carries boats up to the highest possible resting point, and leaves them on the mud until April when they can be floated off again.

This natural phenomenon allows sailors to maintain their boats high and dry on the mud and then float them back easily when the sailing season comes again.

The river authority can also open the control gates at the time of the very lowest tides and allow the level of the water to sink to the minimum and carry out maintenance to the banks. This is the time when all the old bicycles and super-market shopping trolleys - and the occasional dumped fire arm - appear, and can be collected.

This photo shows the boats moored at Hammerton's Ferry, and attempts (with only limited success) to catch the glamour of the bright October sun shining on the wet mud as the tide goes down.

The substance of all illusions - # 250

(...a bit late today having spent part of my "blog time" mending a bicycle tyre). Thanks to all who commented and helped to develop a nice little discussion yesterday around my "illusions" created with mud, sky, pebbles and water. I had planned to end with this - and you all brought the conversation nicely around to it. This is what they are made of: bits of this and that, and sometimes tatty. But when you pick them up and dream they can be powerful. (I hope that's not trite. I think my old English master might have looked down his nose at me.)

I think I am happier struggling with the camera to make a "photograph", rather than playing at "graphic art". But I have enjoyed the week.......I wish you an (early) Happy Weekend.

Water, mud and pebbles in Richmond Park (tweaked) - # 249

Not everyone will like this, but it I enjoyed playing around with the images. I just tweaked shadows and highlights and found the effect quite pleasing.

Damp air, mud, puddles, dead leaves, reflections and moodiness- # 246

Well, as the old English saying goes: "Mustn't grumble". Or as Shakespeare wrote: "Nothing's so bad as thinking makes it so".

I hope that on the whole I'm going to give some pleasure with my "impressions of Autumn", even if yesterday's "nasty orange beermat" caused some upsets. I was very pleased until you all pointed it out to me. Now I'm all miserable, and left with a sense of failure where achievement once was.

Here is the edge of the "Heron's Pond" shown a couple of days ago. Some of it is reflection, and some is "below the surface".......now get your poetic and interpretive temperaments bent around that!