Clear signs of Spring 5 - # 09/48

"Follow the light". The Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park is gradually re-awakening. The Magnolias have flowered; we now wait for the Azaleas. The tiny streams are flowing freely with fresh water draining from the natural springs in the Park.

I confess to de-saturating the greens and yellows and increasing visibility of the natural reflection of the sky in the stream. (Perhaps I should have left the green and yellow tones as they were. I was most interested in the effect of the stream and the path of light when I took the photo). When playing about I was surprised to see the effects achieved just by a very tiny alteration in the White Balance.

Camera: Olympus E3. Lens: Olympus 9 - 18mm set at 9mm and locked at f6.3

Clear signs of Spring 4b - # 09/47

A big change of mood, but only tiny changes in time. This image was taken a few moments before yesterday's. In that time the rapidly moving grey clouds (building up on the right) swept across and inspired me to convert the second image into the dramatic B&W event you saw yesterday in # 09/46. I could not have achieved the same effect using this sparkling record of a delightful Spring day.

Clear signs of Spring 4a - # 09/46

The rising angle of the sun begins to bless the northern hemisphere after a rather grim winter. The very clear light and the changing season bring dramatic skies and cloud effects that delight the eye. The large trees are still bare skeletons, the shrubs are greening up.

This is a long winded way of saying: "Bet you didn't expect this for a Spring shot!" The lighting effect was briefly quite dramatic and then passed on, carried away by a brisk breeze. I couldn't resist it. This is my vision of that moment.

Clear signs of Spring 3 - # 09/45

We walk in woods where the big trees are still bare skeletons, but here and there we are startled by a sudden outbreak of riotous blossom on a tree that will feed the birds with wild berries.

Clear signs of Spring 2 - # 09/44

A boy duck closely following a girl duck is a clear sign of Spring.

Clear signs of Spring - # 09/43

...........just as the title says. The pond at Ham Common.

Ham House Stables - # 09/42

Just for a while we'll move back to the original roots of Richmond upon Thames DP with some traditional, uncomplicated, simple, standard "touristical" photos.

Recently we have had some quite dramatic lighting effects as the fresh and very clear Spring sunshine competes with the grey clouds.

Here is a view across the old kitchen gardens of the 17th Century mansion, Ham House, towards the old stable block. The old gardens were cleverly constructed so that the walls created a micro-climate that trapped the warmth of the sun and excluded the wind. Fruit trees populate the warm walls and vegetables flourish in the central plots of earth. The garden now serves the kitchens in the cafe, providing fresh vegetables for the menu.

I immediately appreciated the grouping of the old roof lines and the shapes of the trees. On the right is the 19th Century Florentine style chimney that served the (then very modern!) heating systems.