Elderflower Buds

My husband obviously found the early budding elderflowers as interesting as I did!

Young Photographer

This photo of my youngest, taken at Broadsands beach, Paignton, shows that he certainly takes after his mum and dad in his liking for photography!

Hawthorn

I took this photo of a solitary hawthorn tree near to Broardsands, Paignton.

Old Boat

I took this photo of an interesting looking old boat at Galmpton Creek. The bird wading through the water in the middle right of the picture is a white heron.

Tree in Flower

This is another photo of the magnolia tree (see 6th of March and 4th of April), taken at Dartington.

Dartington Sculpture

This spherical swirly sculpture is in Dartington Hall gardens.

Castle Shadows

This is the inside of Lydford castle (visited on 12th of March). I think the contrast that the shadows create is interesting. The doorway is the one I stood in to take 'Shadow Self' (13th of March).

Swansea 3

Another picture of the beach at Swansea, The sky was particularly interesting on this day.

Peacock Butterfly

I captured this shot of a peacock butterfly at Stover lake, it was basking in the sun long enough for me to take this photo (which made a change as butterflies usually fly off just as I take the photo!).

Pine in the Sky

Same woods as yesterdays photo, this time looking up into the canopy of the pine trees.

Pines

This photo was taken in the woods next to Stover lake. I like the way the sun is filtering through the pine trees.

Reflective Trees

Reflections of trees at Stover lake.

Great Crested Grebe

This isn't a particularly good or clear photo of this male great crested grebe, but they are really hard to photograph, and I have tried for ages to get a half decent photo of one! He is one half of a few breeding pairs at Stover lake. Not only are they fairly shy (they tend to stay in the middle of the lake, rarely venturing towards the shores), but every time I lined my camera up up for a photo, they dived down under the water coming up in another place several minutes later! I can't wait to see them in a month or so with their young, which they carry on their backs!

Open Magnolia

This is a fully open magnolia flower taken in Dartington Hall gardens. I like the almost velvety softness of the flower that comes across in this photo.

The Dart at Totnes

This is another photo of the river Dart, but this time a few miles further up (than at Dartmouth), taken looking down the river at Totnes.

Swansea 2

Another photo taken on the 20th of March on the beach at Swansea, Wales, looking over towards The Mumbles (I think!). I can't wait to return to Wales, which we should be doing more of as my daughter got into university there (Yay! - Well done!! over 300 applicants for 20 places!!) and will be moving up there in September.

B&W Lake

This photo was taken at Stover lake and I thought it looked better in black and white.

Ropes and Links - B&W

A black and white version of yesterdays ropes and chains photo.

Ropes and Links

These ropes and chains were part of a long row of chandlery hanging in a boat yard at Kingswear. I loved the colour of the rust on the old chain.

Calm River

This is another photo taken at Kingswear from the other evening, this time looking up the river. I thought the calmness of the evening really came across in this photo.

Bare Tree

Even though the warmer weather gradually creeping in, and the spring flowers are in full bloom, it is noticeable that most trees are yet to burst their buds. I'm sure it won't be long now though.

Dusk at Dartmouth

Looking across the river Dart to Dartmouth, from the Kingswear side on a clear spring evening.

Cockington Church

Went to Cockington today and towards the end of our walk the sun came out. This photo is of the tiny church next to Cockington Court.

Forgotten Window

I noticed this tiny abandoned window in Cockington Court. It is still has a few panes of leaded glass left in it but it is boarded up behind so it no longer serves any purpose.

The Dart At Totnes

Today was another warm, clear day and we went for a walk by the river Dart at Totnes. This photo is taken looking up the river towards the boatyards.

Spring Flowers

This is another photo taken at Cockington. It is of a trough planted with spring bulbs and plants.

Steps

These ancient steps are in the grounds of Cockington Court. It looks a bit like they lead into a magical wood (or I am very tired and I really need to go to bed!!).

Horse Chestnut Bud

This is a Horse Chestnut tree leaf bud, bursting into life. Spring is definitely here at last and it is so nice to see evidence of it all around.

Swansea

My mum and I took my eldest daughter to Swansea in Wales today because she had an interview at Swansea university. It was the first time I had been to Swansea and I was impressed, it is a beautiful place. This photo is the beach that is just across the road from the university.

Ivy Berries

Today was another beautiful, clear spring day. This photo, taken at Hollocombe headland, Paignton, is of the fruit of an ivy plant (I think!). In the background is Torquay.

Herring Gull

This fine chap (or chapess) is a herring gull, they are the most common gull in these parts. Many people hate them because they think they are a nuisance, they do tend to get into rubbish bags and make a mess, but that is only because we humans leave that rubbish lying around. But I think they are beautiful, cheeky and graceful and am glad to have them around.

Daffodil

Just one this time. This is another daffodil photo taken the other day in the grounds of Dartington hall. I think it really portrays the warm, spring atmosphere that is filling the air at the moment.

Clear Waters

Today was a beautifully clear, warm day. This was reflected by the clear, blue sea. It was so clear that one could clearly see the rocks (and rubbish!) at the bottom of the sea near to the shore! This picture was taken at Preston beach, Torquay and Thatchers rock can be seen in the background.

Skylight

Well not really an intentional skylight, just the lack of a roof in Lydford Castle. I like the contrast of sunlight and shadow in this picture.

Castle Path

Yet another shot of Lydford Castle. This one is of the path leading up to the castle. I love visiting castles, I love the history behind them and the atmosphere they create. There was no-one else visiting this castle when we were there which gave us a chance really feel the atmosphere and enjoy being there without feeling rushed. I would like to visit more castles!

Shadow Self

This is a photo of myself taking the photo (well, the shadow of me taking the photo!). It is taken round the back of Lydford Castle in the entrance way.

Lydford Castle

We stumbled upon this castle whilst driving through the village of Lydford in Devon. I thought it looked interesting and decided to investigate. It was built in 1195 as a prison. This photo reminds me of the castles I used to draw as a child, square ones on a rounded hill.

Another Fritillary

Another photo of a fritillary taken at Dartington Hall. I'm not sure what type of fritillary this white one is though.

Dartington Hall

Another black and white photo taken at Dartington Hall, this one is looking over the gardens between two ancient trees.

Henry Moore Figure

This statue of a reclining figure is a Henry Moore sculpture in the grounds of Dartington Hall. The hall can be seen in the background. I thought the sculpture was an important feature of the photo so I felt that it was appropriate to keep its colour whilst the rest of the picture is black and white. 'The sculpture is a memorial to friends who loved the quiet mellowness of the Devonshire landscape'. Apparently.

Snake's Head Fritillary

I photographed this Snake's Head Fritillary in the grounds of Dartington Hall. It was amongst other spring flowers in a wild flower meadow. It appears to be flowering quite early this year as we have had a very mild winter.

Daffodils

This photo is taken in Dartington gardens. I think these daffodils look like they are sunbathing! Spring is definitely here now and I think this photo really brings that feeling across.

Magnolia

This photo is of a magnolia tree in flower. I think the photo almost has an oriental feel to it, there is also a 'soft feel' to the picture, I think it's because the colours are mainly soft pastel colours.

Trees

I love the contrasts and shades in this black and white photo. There are so many shades that I think that it almost looks like the photo is coloured.

Preston Downs

It poured down with rain all day today so I didn't get a chance to go out and take a photo, so here is another photo taken the other day at Preston Downs, looking over at Paignton, showing Paignton Pier and Roundham Head. I particularly like the mid-ground focus that this picture has.

Eclipse

Tonight there was a total eclipse of the moon. There are much better pictures around of it, but this is my humble effort, taken whilst balancing my camera on a wall and wobbling in the wind! I think I would have done much better if I had had a tripod with me!

Bubbles

This photo is taken at Preston Downs, which I can see from the back of my house, there are fantastic views form there and it is a popular place for walking dogs and a good place for watching fireworks from. This is my youngest son blowing bubbles, in the background is Paignton, Tor Bay and Brixham in the far distance.

Cormorants

After taking this picture of cormorants at Stover lake, I changed it to black and white. I think it works well with this picture.

Fairytale Woods

This photo is of a carved wooden mushroom in Stover woods. I did some editing in Paint Shop Pro using the Gaussian blur effect and some other effects which I thought it gave it a kind of magical fairytale look.

Lighthouse

We walked along Brixham breakwater today. Yet another place that I have never been to before (the breakwater, not Brixham). It was very windy but luckily the rain held off while we walked to the end of the breakwater and back (a mile in all). This photo is of the small lighthouse on the end of the breakwater.