Month: July 2020

  • The Stone Lion

    The Stone Lion

    Why do so many houses have this type of lion statue somewhere in their grounds? Often marking an entrance? What did this image teach me? In Vietnam a lion statue is said to protect people in the home, in China they are seen as guardians. In Buddhist culture they are said to bring peace. Italians…

  • Coleton Fishacre

    Coleton Fishacre

    And here, after mentioning it for the last few days, is Coleton Fishacre itself. A beautiful property with a stunning garden, and a fantastic 1920’s Art Deco style. What did this image teach me? Even in dark and gloomy conditions, this place is impressive.

  • The Stone Mushroom

    The Stone Mushroom

    Keeping with the same theme / location as yesterday – this is another stone object that you can find at Coleton Fishacre, though this time instead of a sphere it’s a mushroom. There are Seders of them scattered around near the house. What did this image teach me? The word mushroom may have formed from…

  • The Stone Spheres

    The Stone Spheres

    I found these large, impressive stone spheres flanking the entrance to Coleton Fishacre, one of my favourite National Trust properties (though sadly the house is closed during this Covid-19 era). What did these images teach me? There is an ancient, extinct civilisation that used to live in Costa Rica, known as the Diquis People. They…

  • The Old Mine

    The Old Mine

    These old Cornish mines are scattered over the countryside, and even now centuries after their heyday they are impressive structures. What did this image teach me? The Cornish word for tin is “sten”, from the Latin “stannum”.

  • The Grey Poppy

    The Grey Poppy

    I found this poppy growing in the grounds of Saltram, a National Trust property near Plymouth. What did this image teach me? That poppies are said to represent sleep, peace, and even death (eternal sleep).

  • The Blind Statue

    The Blind Statue

    This is a shot from the archives, of a statue I found near Westminster, London. I believe she represents either faith or justice. What did this image teach me? Well, I don’t know if I’ve really learned this lesson yet – but I’ve been researching statues and their meanings (a fascinating subject!) and I think…

  • The Cave Door

    The Cave Door

    There’s a whole underground world of caves and corridors beneath the earth in Reims, France. In this world, you will find things like this cave door, and millions upon millions of bottles of champagne. What did this image teach me? That shooting in very low light conditions requires a steady hand, and preferably something to…

  • EPAL

    EPAL

    This tower stands within the grounds of the East Pool Mine museum in Cornwall. The museum is run by the National Trust. What did this image teach me? That EPAL stands for: East Pool and Agar Ltd