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.

Rainbow

Well there is one if you look very closely! Another photo taken on Sunday 25th February at Stover Lake. Spent a fair amount of time chasing the great crested grebes to get a photo of them, but they are very camera shy and I didn't get any good shots of them.

Robin

It's not often I take a satisfactory bird photo, though I often try. This photo is no exception, but this little chap let me get really close and posed for several photos for me!

Double Take

Didn't go out today so I am using this photo that was taken on the 20th of February at Stover. I didn't intend this picture to turn out like this, it's an unintentional double exposure (I wouldn't know how to do that even if I wanted to!) There was just one coot on the water when I took the photo, but it looks like there is two! I thought the picture was rather interesting anyway.

Rays

I was really looking forward to spending the day on the moors walking and having a picnic. But the good old British weather let us down again and it rained. We still went to the moors and had a brief walk between showers, and the picnic was eaten in the car. This picture, of probably the only bit of sun we saw, was taken on the way home.

Torre Abbey

This photo is part of the outside of Torre Abbey. There is no access to the inside of the abbey because it is being restored at the moment. It's one of the many places within a few miles of my home that I have never really visited, that I would like to visit (the inside) when I get a chance to.

Lake

Another photo from Stover Lake. This one is taken overlooking the lake at dusk. I do quite like the serenity I feel this picture portrays. Not sure if I should have cropped a bit of sky off it to make it fit the 'rule of thirds' rule?

Catkins

Took advantage of a bit of nice weather and went to Stover Lake for a walk. It was quite late by the time we got there but that made for some interesting light. I could really feel like spring was beginning to creep throught the heaviness of winter. There were a lot of birds too, some that I had never noticed before. I saw Cormorants, a Grey Heron, a pair of Great Crested Grebes, a pair of Mute Swans, Mallards, Coots, Moorhens, Rooks, Tufted Ducks, Gadwalls(?), Canada Geese, Pochards and many others. This photo is of some catkins and their reflection.

More Curly

Another photo of the curly bridge taken yesterday. I turned up the contrast so the white of the bridge stood out more.

Curly Bridge

Went for a walk in Torquay today. The place we originally wanted to visit, Torre Abbey, was closed until next year for refurbishment. So (having paid £2 to park!) we went for a walk along the sea front and along the harbour wall. I have lived in this area all my life (mostly) and I have never been along Torquay harbour wall before. This taking a picture a day thing is getting us to places we wouldn't normally go, which is great! However, as it was quite dull today, the longer exposures I was having to take contributed towards some pretty blurry photos, so I took this chance to try out some post processing effects. I must credit much of the processing to James, as I got frustrated trying to get it right myself. I couldn't decide which photo to post so I posted them both! These photos are taken on the 'curly bridge' on Torquay seafront.

Wave

This is one of the more successful shots I took the other day (Feb 15th). In the background is Paignton pier and Roundham Head. The row of trees behind the block of flats on the headland behind the pier, are the ones featured in February 12th's post that is called 'Roundham Head'

Salad Hand

Strange subject matter - it is one of my salad hands (no, not a strange medical affliction, they are wooden 'hands' used for serving salad, just in case you were wondering!). I posted it partly to remind myself that I would like to eat more salads!

Preston

Today was one of those wonderful windy, sunny days. I felt energised after going for a walk along Preston seafront. The sea was really choppy and it was quite a feat getting a picture of one (I seemed to press the shutter just as each wave subsided thus missing the really spectacular shots!). I also spent half the time avoiding getting wet as the waves were crashing over the wall in places!

Two Hearts

Today is February 14th, Valentines day, and I got two cards!! Ok, one of them was from my 6 year old son! The other one being from my husband of course! The heart on the right of this picture is a detail from the card from my husband, and the one on the left is a detail from the card that I made for him. We had a really nice meal in the evening (an impromptu fondue no less!!). Oh and today is our dogs birthdays (Happy Birthday Poppy and Bess!!), they are nine years old!

Dried Flowers

A vase of dried flowers, not a lot more I can say about them really! Well apart from the fact that my flower arranging skills need (a lot of) practice. Oh and that is my favourite vase!

Roundham Head

More silhouettes of trees, these ones are at Roundham Head, Paignton. In the background is Tor Bay and Torquay. When I took this photo the sky looked quite dull and flat, and it gave an uninspiring light to everything, however, despite this I think this picture turned out quite well.

Pier

The tide was unusually low again today and I took this photo on Paignton beach with the aim to capture a bit of reflection. The two chaps are my husband and youngest son strolling across the beach. The pier itself is a bit overexposed, which is a shame, and the horizon line could be a bit straighter!

Postbridge 2

Another photo of Postbridge on Datmoor. This one is of the more 'modern' bridge which is next to the claper bridge depicted on the 6th of February.

Goodrington

I had to drag myself out today to take a photo because i was really tired and feeling lazy. Went for a walk around Roundham Gardens, Paignton, and I'm glad because I felt a lot better afterwards for a bit of fresh air and exercise. However, it was cold and the light was uninspiring, but I got quite a few good photos. This is a close up of some gorse flowers (isn't it a bit early for gorse flowers?) with Goodrington Beach in the background.

Sky

This photo is taken on Dartmoor on a hill near Princetown. It was taken late in the afternoon on a fresh, crisp, clear day and I think this photo captures this to a certain extent.

Dartmoor Pony

A picture a wild Dartmoor Pony, taken at Coombestone Tor. I removed some prickly gorse foliage from her mane and as a way of saying thank you, she posed for some photos!

Postbridge

This is an ancient clapper bridge at Postbridge on Dartmoor. Did a tour of various places on the moors to take photos as it was such a nice day. I miss the moors if I don't go there regularly, it is relaxing and somehow comforting to go up on the moors.

Book

Polish Cookery to be precise. I took my exam for my counselling course today, went ok I hope. I just need to finish writing up my journal and that's courses finished until September.

Oystercatchers

Today was another nice pre-spring day. Went to beach (best time of year for beach) but many of my photos today looked a bit washed out and not as vibrant as yesterdays pics. Not sure if it was because I turned the ISO up to 800(?). Must read the manual! This is a pair of oystercatchers flying across Paignton Beach.

Tree

Another tree silhouette. This one is taken on Dartmoor at Combestone Tor.

Dartmouth

This photo is taken from Kingswear looking across the River Dart to Dartmouth. I really like this time of day for taking photo's, the light and colours are so interesting, and I love the stark contrasts you get.

Clennon Valley

Today was a really grey, dismal day. All my photos looked 'flat' and lifeless. However, I did take a few shots as I walked through Clennon Valley, just clicking as I swung my arm. It was a sort of experiment that I thought would produce a load of rubbish, but I got a few interesting shots, this being one of them.