Weekly photo -at last ....

.... the internet isn't letting me access my blog -  hence the absent.  Funny how technology weedles it's way into our life and becomes such a major part of our daily routines, then we are lost without it when it doesn't function properly. Anyway, nearly a week late here is my hi key image.

Like Louise I opted for outdoors as well.

Happy Easter

Yvonne took me to St Clether Holy Well on Tuesday, such a beautiful spot in the middle of no where and so peaceful. This bench was outside the Chapel and I just loved the engraving.

Riding take two

Last week when Amanda was riding I took the wrong lens with me !!!! So this week I went armed with the correct one,  thankfully it was another lovely day and they were outside and I was able to get some more shots which I was much happier with,  though it would of been nice not to have the shadow across Amanda's face.

That time of the week again....

.... Sunday and time to upload the weekly photo challenge.  This week our theme was landscapes. I did think of using my monthly image for it but then thought that would be cheating.  So on Monday a friend and I headed over to St Just in Roseland church, as she had a new camera and wanted some help with getting to grips with it.  It turned out to be a glorious day weather wise and the company was great and lunch at the Rising Sun in St Mawes was just delicious.  A perfect first day of the easter holidays, thanks Yvonne.   So here are a few I liked.

Yvonne agreed to join Louise and I in the photo a week challenge as well - here are her images.  Louise will post her's tomorrow.

Riding

At long last the weather was good enough this week for Amanda's riding lesson to be held outside, I'm sure the horses enjoy it just as much as the girls.  Hoping next week will be nice again and I shall remember to pack a different lens and hopefully get more of a close up.

Monthly view

Well here we are half way through another month and this is what my 'back yard' looks like today.  Starting to green up nicely and the blackthorn is blossoming down the bottom of the field on the left as well.  Though very heavy clouds today.

Where did they go !!

Oh dear, whilst playing around with my blog I seem to have lost my 'followers' - any ideas anyone??

Arum Lily

I seem to have spent a lot of time at the Eden Project lately, taking the children on a trip there, a training day, a personal visit and then last night with the camera club, showing the 'Friends of Eden' group what we get up to and how we photograph the sights of Eden.  This image I took in the med biome on one of my trips. 

Signs of Spring

I think we can definitely say spring is here now.  Having spent most of the day out walking coastal paths I have been amazed at all the new growth that has suddenly erupted all over the place.  The blackthorn trees are looking stunning at the moment, they are like a white blanket across the cliffs as well as violets creating a carpet of colour. 

Buds galore,

Back in the garden another of the many tulip bulbs I planted has decided to open up ..... I love it, this really has to be my favourite one so far, hopefully get some more photos of them tomorrow.

Weekly photo - textures.

This week Louise and I were photographing 'textures', she has produced some lovely images here funny how we seem to have had the same ideas when choosing our subjects.  Here are mine

 Tree bark, converting to b&w.

 a stone wall,

and a  leave, which I believe is a sycamore - a baby one at that.

All taken this morning on one of two walks we did today, these were on the coastal path between Portholland and Caerhays. It has been yet another stunning day here and it was lovely to see holidaymakers actually being able to sit on the beach in the sun and going for a swim in the sea.  Though much to cold at the moment for the likes of me!!

This coming week we are going for landscapes - now if I can't manage that with being on holiday and living here then there is something seriously wrong with me lol.  Anyone is welcome to join us.

More Tregothan

This will probably be the last post of Tregothan for this week ...phew I hear some sigh!!  My excuse for that is I'm out tomorrow night and then Friday off to London for a do with old friends :) will be great to catch up with them all.
So tonight I have put a collage together of some of the views of the gardens, one of the things I loved about the grounds was the pink and yellow primroses growing in the grass - the photo doesn't really show it that well. The bottom right image all the greenery on the right is rhododendrons in bud, some already coming out as in the red - bet it is stunning when it is all out in full bloom.

Tregothan part 2



Following on from yesterday's photo this is the inside of the magnolia flower.

Thought I would google Magnolia and this is what I found.

Magnolia × soulangeana (saucer magnolia) is a hybrid plant in the Magnolia genus and family, Magnoliaceae. It is a deciduous tree with blooms of various shades of white, pink and purple. It is the most commonly used magnolia in horticulture: in the British Isles, especially in the south of England; and in the United States, especially the east and west coasts.

Magnolia is an ancient genus. Having evolved before bees appeared, the flowers developed to encourage pollination by beetles. As a result, the carpels of Magnolia flowers are tough, to avoid damage by eating and crawling beetles. Fossilised specimens of M. acuminata have been found dating to 20 million years ago, and of plants identifiably belonging to the Magnoliaceae dating to 95 million years ago[citation needed]. Another primitive aspect of Magnolias is their lack of distinct sepals or petals.

I thought the bit about the bees and the beetles was interesting.  Here is abit about Tregothan as well

The Tregothnan Estate is located beside the village of St Michael Penkivel 3 miles (4.8 km) south-east of Truro in Cornwall, United Kingdom.
The house and estate is the traditional home of the Boscawen family, and the seat of Lord Falmouth. The original house was built in Plantagenet times and sacked in the English Civil War. The new house has the date 1652 carved in stone above the side gate. It was enlarged in the early 19th century to designs by William Wilkins, the architect of the National Gallery in London.


Tregothnan is famous for its large private botanical garden and arboretum. Tregothnan is not open to the public, but guided visits to the garden may be arranged.


A tea plantation has recently been started on the grounds.Tregothnan is home to the first outdoor Camellias in the UK, around 1800. The first commercial tea was developed from Camellia sinensis in 2001. The first 'English tea' was then sold in November 2005 to Fortnum and Mason of Piccadilly.[1] Also a quantity of custom-made bee hives are situated in amongst Leptospermum "Manuka Bushes" producing Manuka honey with measurable methylglyoxal content.[2] In 1872 the land holdings of Viscount Falmouth, of Mereworth Castle, Maidstone, Kent, were listed in the top ten land holdings in Cornwall, with an estate of 25,910 acres (10,490 ha), 3.41% of the total area of Cornwall.[3]

Hope you found it interesting.  More tomorrow.

Tregothan

Last Sunday Tregothan Estate opened it's doors to the public for it's annual charity weekend.  I spent a lovely morning wandering around admiring the flowers and grounds, an amazing place just such a shame it is only open once a year.  Throughout the week I aim to show you some of the images I took, here is the first of many magnolia's you will see, I just love them, such an elegant flower.

Portraits ....

.. was this week's challenge.  Not something I get to do very often and I did think I was going to fail again and have to use one previously taken .... but I'm delighted to say I have some new one's to show :)  It happened to be a practical night at camera club this week and one of the members brought in his studio lights and another member brought in some models, in the form of her daughter and two friends, all three are extremely photogenic and very good sports. So here are my offerings for this week.  Here are Louise's handsome clan.

 First up is Jack

followed by Beccy.  These were taken using two studio lights and a black back drop.

This one is an older one, it was taken during Feb half term.  One of my mum's at work was happy for me to take some photos of her new son, who is just so adorable, this is one of my favourite.

I had a big debate with a chap at cc re portrait images.  He says that a good portrait has to have the eyes of the model wide open and they are not to be smiling.  I can't bring myself to fully agree with that, I like to see a model smiling I feel it shows some of their personality and gives something to the photo, yes admittedly the eyes close up somewhat when laughing or smiling (mine nearly disappear altogether - not photogenic!) but it gives life to the image.  Though having said all that it does depend what you are trying to convey in your image as well.  Having seen Louise's images the first two make me wonder what they are thinking, while the others make me smile so much especially the pout!!  Love to know what everyone else looks for in a portrait.