Thursday 31 January 2013

Glittering Brine


This simple image shows the English Channel, or La Manche in French, on a foggy afternoon. Salt water is reputed to have all kinds of healing properties - sterilising wounds, improving the skin, relaxing the muscles, so it is beneficial to swim in the sea or ocean. In addition, homemade brine (tap water mixed with cooking salt) is very good for marinating chicken. 

Rose of Fire


This mottled bud will grow into a beautiful fire rose, known for its vivid colors and large petals. Traditionally red-yellow roses were given to a person to let them know that you're happy that they're happy, rather than for any romantic attachment, according to the 'Flower Code', which originated in Persia in the 15th Century.

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Window into Heaven


This scene struck me as I walked below with my family on a walk. The white square in the clouds is not  fake or a doctored image, but an actual phenomenon in the British countryside. From the ground directly below the square, light shone through, and it appeared as if it were a window straight into heaven. 

Fading Peril


The dangerous precipice pictured here is caused by erosion from the sea below. The cliffs here, at Slapton, Devon, England, once had homes built on them which eventually crumbled into the water, most famously in 1917 when an entire fishing village slipped into the sea. Erosion continues to cause problems around Start Point.

Tuesday 29 January 2013

Vividly Wilting


The roses here are of a very small variety, most likely Aletha June Roses or Baby Betsy McCall Roses. Some believe that these roses can help develop a foundation of security, convey a sense of trust, and even heal the wounded child within. However they do not last long, blooming for a short while before beginning to wilt.

Blue Bowl


This stunning image was taken on Whistler Mountain, BC Canada in March 2012. In early morning, when the sun is rising on the other side of the mountain, the snow on the surrounding mountains reflect the light onto the face of the hill in the picture. This effect is most vivid on the bowl at the summit after a night of continuous snow.

Monday 28 January 2013

Sinister Tree

This image was taken in Devon, England, in 2010. It depicts a murder of crows roosting in late fall, because in a large group they are better protected against predators such as the owl. Crows only roost in large numbers in fall and winter before dispersing during the breeding season.

Lily Pad Battle


This picturesque image was taken on the battle ground of the Battle of Hastings, 1066, straight out of English history, in East Sussex, England. The field in which the iconic battle took place is directly behind the pond, and now lays as a tourist attraction with the remains of Battle Abbey.

Sunday 27 January 2013

Prince of Mist


This image was taken off the southern coast of England, across the water from the Isle of White. Sea mist occurs when cold air hits a warmer temperature in the sea, and can cause mystical scenes like this one. 

Cascading Serenity

The ethereal waterfall  pictured here is Shannon Falls, BC Canada. Dropping from 1,105 ft, above the river, Shannon Falls is an impressive sight. When this image was taken in April 2012, the high levels of rain and melt-water from the mountains made for a thunderous fall, while the permanent mist hung beautifully in the air.

Saturday 26 January 2013

Pastel Pastures


This image was taken on a misty morning from a speeding train looking over at the Southern coast of Devon, England. This area has an interesting geographical point, Slapton Sands, a bar created by longshore drift over many years, and not all too common in English waters. 

Under the Rainbow


This artistic image was taken on the River Thames, between London and Oxford, in England. The river is sourced much further north, at Thames Head, where a stone was laid to mark the source. The journey down that part of the Thames is beautiful, filled with amazing wildlife and riverside cottages. 

Sun's Sky

This photograph was taken in Whistler, BC Canada of the setting sun. This particular image shows the area's common Douglas Fir Trees, as well as a spectacular view of Franz's Run, a route down to the village of Creekside. When Whistler Mountain opened in 1966, Wilhelmsen Franz was a major contribution to the success of the resort, and has several runs and a chair lift named after him. 

Friday 25 January 2013

Indigo Twilight

This picture was taken in East Sussex, England in late fall. Purple storms sometimes signify heavy storms the next day, or a specific reflection in the electromagnetic spectrum. East Sussex is part of the historic county of Sussex, famous for the Cinq Ports, the Battle of 1066, and the Kingdom of the South Saxons.

Côte d'Azur Palms


This vivid image was taken in Cannes, Southern France in the summer of 2011. The coastline in that part of France is named the Côte d'Azur for its incredible sapphire blue waters, found everywhere in the french Rivera. The island pictured across the water is the ile Sainte Marguerite.

Garden Palace


This breathtaking picture was taken at The Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London. The white greenhouse in the distance is Temperate House, Kew's largest greenhouse, which was designed by  Richard Burton and opened in 1899. This picture was taken from the Xstrata Treetop Walkway, which rises 59ft from the ground, in the spring of 2012. 

Sparkling Meanders


This scenic image was taken near Bodiam Castle in South East England in the summer of 2012. This small tributary runs into the River Rother, which had sustained the castle since its foundations were laid down in 1385. The castle still stands today as a tourist attraction and is surrounded by a medieval moat and ancient farmland.