Month: April 2020
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The Purple Tulip
Tulips have been cultivated for almost 1,000 years (there’s evidence in Istanbul from 1055!), and there are something like 75 different species of this intriguing flower. What did this image teach me? That sometimes the camera to hand is the best one for the job – this shot was taken by thrusting my phone into…
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Gate 43
I’m not sure yet if our scheduled canal trip will actually happen this year, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, but if it does then you can expect more images like this. If it doesn’t, then you can expect more images like this… eventually. What did this image teach me? That I was really looking forward…
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Teasel Bright
The common teasel (or “Dipsacus fullonum” if you prefer) is a herbaceous biennial plant. Oh yes. What that means though (if, like me you’re not really a gardener) is that it generally takes teasel’s two years to complete their life cycle. What did this image teach me? That the spiny bit at the head of…
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Flag
The Union Flag (often called a Union Jack) is, obviously, the national flag of the United Kingdom, but did you know that in China this flag has the nickname “rice-character flag” because it resembles their character for rice (米)…? What did this image teach me? Beyond the Chinese nickname, I also discovered that the flag…
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Blossom Branches
Spring is definitely in the air at the moment. It certainly makes my obligatory 1-hour of outside exercise more interesting, watching nature burst into life whilst walking the dog. What did these images teach me? Nature is beautiful – which I guess I already knew? Ok, perhaps these images instead taught me to seek out…
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The Dalmatian Pelican
These large fresh water birds are the biggest members of the Pelican family, and are believed to be perhaps the biggest of all fresh water birds. I can certainly confirm that they are HUGE when seen up close. What did this image teach me? Sometimes an image works better in black and white than in…
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The Little Brass Horse
I spotted this little chap on the front of a canal barge, near Caen Hill. What did this image teach me? You’ve really got to keep your eyes open (and your camera to hand).
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Cheetah Face
I have posted a few cheetah photos in the last couple of months, but I couldn’t resist adding two more to the mix – these big cats are fascinating creatures. What did these images teach me? Cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) are the only living example of their kind in the acinonyx genus of big cat. All…
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Moon & Clouds
A full moon nestled behind a streak of clouds. What did this image teach me? There’s something enchanting about a full moon, isn’t there?