Hidden delights - # 09/146

...another heavilly magnified crop, but worth displaying.

The green parrots enjoy eating Ham House for breakfast, and swarm about, early in the morning, attaching themselves to the brickwork.  We guess they have found something in the 17th century lime mortar that appeals to their taste, or perhaps they like to extract the grittiness to help diges the seeds they have eaten.

The parrot's lovely underside colouring is generally hidden from view until we photograph it in flight.  Likewise, visitors to Ham House probably fail to look up and notice the rich detail in the soffit of the roof.  This detail was of course included to show off the wealth of the owner when the house was extended in 1672.

Leather!- # 09/145

Those of you who like the arty Ham House shots might like to see this simple snap I did for a feature in the local newspapers promoting the display of a luxurious leather wall hanging that has been hidden away in store and in separate exhibition rooms.  It has been rehung on display so that more visitors can admire it in its proper context.

You will recognise the floor (see earlier "Servant Girl").  The wall covering is entirely of leather, and of course the pretty hanging above the table is the wall hanging just brought out for general display.  All the leather is the original 1672/3 "re-decoration" of the house.

Enlarge the photo and admire it.  Better still, go and see it before the house closes for the winter. (That's the time when I become most busy helping with all the winter maintenance.)

Colourful migrant - # 09/144

London has long been the home for spectacular Green Parrots who stem from an escaped pair and have now extended themselves across London so much that recently they were declared a "Pest" and you can get a licence to cull them if need be.

This snap has been extremely magnified from a 400mm telephoto shot and the bird was also flying at speed, but you can see the amazing colour scheme that nature has given to this parrot.  (I also forgot to switch on the image stabilizer which did not help the definition, either).

It's a Green Parrot, but the fanned tail and the underside of the wings displays beautiful colours that we down below rarely see, except when the high speed camera catches them.

Tell Cook we've got guests tonight - # 09/143

Big 17th Century kitchen!

Let in the light - # 09/142

I'll bet they enjoyed all this just as much in the 17th Century as I do now.  Curves, angles, straight lines, sudden unexpected vistas, floods of light, deep shadows that form shapes, the incentive to just stop and look at how it's all arranged around you, everything pleasing the eye.

Open door with open book - # 09/141

I just love catching glimpses through open doors and trying to capture the atmosphere or the feeling of surprise.  The glimpse in the mirror of a 17th Century tapestry is intriguing.  The angle of the table, the carpet, the open book seemed to have certain harmony in them.  How the mind likes to play games with us!

Servant girl - # 09/140

Another playful mock 17th Century bit of fun. I decided to show this because the "antique greyscale" treatment, in combination with the natural light, makes the most of the magnificent marquetry floor. This floor is very precious, and I'm only allowed to walk on it if I put on special slippers. The Olympus C7070 compact camera has done a good job capturing the details of the furnishings and the shiny tones created by the natural sunlight coming through the special double-layered anti-UV blinds that protect the treasures of Ham House.

I like this simple picture. It really pleases me: but without the servant girl it would be severely depleted. Now there's a thought.