Roofline - # 49/2011

I am greatly attracted to rooflines in towns. Living high up in an attic also has a similar attraction.  You can gaze out over the roof tops like a falcon, spotting your prey.  (This photo also treats you to a good view of that "Great British Institution", the Surviellance Camera.  There's an absolute masterpiece of the art on the pole, looking out for it's victim in all directions and angles at one quick glance of its multiple eyes.)

Looking downriver, Richmond - # 88/10

My wife passed away on 23rd October.  Things have been difficult for quite a long time, which accounts, in part for my erratic posting record.  Things have now changed and I will be wondering what to do with all the time that will now be exclusively mine to occupy.

At this point I should thank one or two regular watchers of RuT, who have been aware of the difficulties, for their kindness and concern.

These few recent weeks of Autumn have been outstandingly good.  The colours and the sunlight, excellent.  Shortly before her passing Heather was encouraging me to get out and leave her alone.  She wanted me to take some time for myself.  Actually this was taken 10 days after her departure.  I'll be presenting the other choice views over the coming days.

This is a classic Richmond shot.  I took it because I wanted to capture the attraction of the roofline and of course the effect of the Autumn colours and the sunlight.  It all looks too good to be true, doesn't it.

Richmond roofline 10 - # 09/150

Richmond roofline 17 - # 09/107

Campanile...........no, we are not in Florentine Italy (although right now I could do with some genuine Tuscan weather: or even some genuine English summer weather would be nice. We've got heavy cloud, rain, hot sun, more cloud, wind, more rain, more sun and high "un-English" temperatures - all within a two hour cycle. All very weird and infuriating).

Last night I went for a little walk and caught this at sundown looking towards Richmond from the river bank along Cholmondeley Walk.

Richmond roofline 15 - # 09/105

Chinese Puzzle.

"What on earth is he doing now, with this monstrosity of a photo?" (Just tweaking the sliders idly because the weather is bad and I'm short of photos).

It is actually meant to commemorate the tragedy of the "Loss of the Richmond Ice Rink". Some years ago Richmond lost its excellent and much loved ice rink where once champions were trained. An estate of luxury (very much luxury indeed) flats were built on the ice rink site and because of a fiasco in the negotiations (how can such a thing happen?) Richmond lost its ice rink forever, instead of having a new replacement built on a convenient site. Shame!!!

Richmond roofline 13 - # 09/101

"Healthy working environment"..............just imagine these, all belching coal smoke on a winter's day. Today, the chimney stacks on these 19th century cottages on the edge of Richmond add interest and colour to the urban roofscape.

Richmond roofline 12 - # 09/100

..........just another light-hearted look at the vistas and shapes that present themselves as we look across the Richmond Roofscape. This can be seen from Cholmondley Walk as we pass the old Richmond Palace site.

Richmond roofline 11 - # 09/99

A pleasant curve, with an outlook direct onto the river. Always pleasant to the eye.

Richmond roofline 7 (nicely proportioned lines) - # 09/87

Now, if only I could have a word with whoever fitted the little white communications cable.

Richmond roofline 4 (Urban idyl) - # 09/84

Cows in the meadow by the river, two live theatres, several cinema screens, and a fast train to London every few minutes. What more could you want?

Richmond roofline 3- # 09/83

Enormous quantities of rain are coming into Britain from America and from France. Globe Trotter of Portugal and Peter of Paris seem to be using this as an opportunity to tweak my nose about B&W images and clouds. Hey, Chaps! It's You and the Others; not Me!

Anyway. This picture was done in colour, but looked as if it was natural B&W - not a "hue" to be seen - so I tweaked it a bit with some yellow and orange tonal adjustments in the "greyscale". I suppose that now Jilly in Menton and Richard in Zurich will grumble about some aesthetic and technical points, and say they don't like it: and Nathalie in Avignon will just smile.

But you must agree: the bricklayers did a fine job.

Richmond Roofline 1 - # 09/79

Looking up and taking time to slow down and look all around is always rewarding in Richmond upon Thames. I like the hint of "roof-top apartment" just entering the picture on the left. Why is it that most of us seem to find this an attractive idea: living high up, looking out across the town, in a cosy little place? The grouping of several styles and shapes begged to be photographed.