Thirteenth century capital, Much Marcle

The decorative top of a column is known as the "capital". Down the ages people used different designs so consistently that the period in which they were carved can be determined by the style. The capital shown above is in the style known as "stiff leaf", a decorative form favoured in Britain in the thirteenth century. Further stylistic and written evidence enable the capitals to be dated more specifically to c.1230-1240. This example is one of a number of capitals of this period that can be seen in the church of St Bartholomew at Much Marcle, Herefordshire.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Coffee shop water

My preference, when looking for somewhere to sit in a coffee shop, is a seat by a window. That way I can watch the world go by. But, now that the festive season is upon us that rule does not apply. Why? Because the windows have become sites for Christmas advertising - loaded drinks and calorie-packed pastries are urged upon us and the outside world becomes somewhere only glimpsed beyond the notices. The bottles and glasses were by a small window sill where the adverts wouldn't fit and offered a modest still life.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: iPhone

An approachable drake goosander

I recently posted a piece about how female goosanders are overcoming their reticence and are swimming nearer to people, joining the mallards being fed by people on the River Wye in Ross. A few days ago I noticed that a solitary male goosander was also overcoming its caution and doing the same. It's interesting to speculate on why a predominantly fish-eating bird should eat seeds and bread, and overcome its natural reserve and spend time much closer to people.

 I've usually found it difficult to get a photograph of a male goosander  - the best I'd done thus far was this example. The newly obliging drake enabled a couple of much better images.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Nativity

The nativity seen above can be found in the church of St Wulfram, Grantham, Lincolnshire. It is by the stained glass artist, Leonard Evetts (1909-1997). He was a prolific designer and his very attractive style - a mixture of tradition and modernity - is relatively easy to pick out among C20 artists. This is a detail of a larger work of 1969 called the Porter Window that commemorates a member of a shoe-making family.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Chocolate snowmen

During my lifetime, and in the places I have lived, snow has made only an occasional appearance at Christmas. When I was young that was a source of disappointment: these days I'm rather glad. That's not to say I dislike snow entirely. It suits me fine to have a few days of snow that doesn't hang about too long. Or to live near mountains where I can see and visit the snow when it suits me. You'd think the reality of the relative absence of snow in England would be reflected in popular culture, but no, the Victorian imagery of a white winter continues, even if its only in the wrappers of chocolate snowmen.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Christmas tree decorations

Each time I see a Christmas tree that is "tastefully" decorated I cringe. By tastefully decorated I mean a tree that has multiple examples of the same cololoured baubles. I've seen lots this year - one with only the same silver and blue baubles, one with only the same matt red and glossy red baubles, one with only gold baubles and silver masks - I could go on. I abhor such minimalist "tasteful" (!) tree decoration. I much prefer trees with a wide range of baubles and other hangings that have grown up over the years, and including child-made decorations dating from years past. That being the case it will come as no surprise that our tree exhibits the latter kind of decoration, as shown in the photograph.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: iPhone

Sunset and mist by the River Wye

At first glance, this photograph of the sun going down behind the River Wye at Ross on Wye looks like an entirely natural scene comprising the sun, sky, mist, water, a tree and bushes. But, look closely and you'll see a boulder that is part of the bank reinforcement round an outfall. You'll also notice that the tree is pollarded to keep it anchored to the bank where it can help prevent the river channel from widening. That too is the purpose of the willows along the river banks - they are regularly cut to keep a full root system and branches to slow the flow. Then there is the vapour trail, like a knife slash in a canvas, aiding the composition but adding, remorselessly to climate change.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: iPhone

Foggy December graveyard

click photo to enlarge
There are few places that so readily evoke a sense of mystery, whatever the weather, than a graveyard. If you add to the tombs some trees, mist, frost and a late afternoon watery sun trying, and failing, to penetrate the gloom, then the scene can quite easily convert into a characterful photograph. This image shows part of the Victorian extension to the churchyard that surrounds St Mary, the parish church of Ross on Wye in Herefordshire.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

The Prospect south gateway, Ross on Wye

The south gateway is the smaller of the two remaining gateways that date from the creation of The Prospect, a public park and viewpoint in Ross on Wye. It links the area with the extended churchyard of the parish church of St Mary. The year, 1700, is prominently placed between the capitals of the Corinthian pilasters. In the pediment is the coat of arms of the donor of The Prospect, John Kyrle. My photograph was taken as the sun was going down towards the end of a cold and frosty December day.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: iPhone

WW1 soldier's memorial

Most churches have memorials to members of the armed forces who died in WW1. Sometimes it is a list of all those in the parish who were killed. Then there are the stained glass windows commemorating an individual. But, by far the most numerous style of memorial are those in the form of a wall plaque in stone, brass or, sometimes, mosaic. The example above is a brass on marble memorial. What caught my eye here was the composition including the Lee Enfield rifles propped against the cross - something I've not seen before. It can be viewed at All Saints church at Hollybush, Worcestershire.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Font, Hereford Cathedral

Fonts are frequently the oldest feature in a church, often surviving refurbishments and rebuilds. Congregations and clergy seem to value the continuity that the font brings to the building. Hereford Cathedral's stone font dates from the Norman period (C12), as does much of the building itself. It is circular with twelve figures (the Apostles) under arches that rest on spiral carved columns. Above is a key pattern. The base is simpler, made of different stone and features four carvings of lions. The coloured mosaic looks to be nineteenth century.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Mossy forest floor

The Forest of Dean is a mixture of ancient forest and small plantations. The latter are mainly coniferous, and often so densely planted that the forest floor is little more than an accumulation of pine needles in which little grows. But, in a few places the light is able to illuminate the ground and that, combined with moisture leads to an attractive forest floor of moss, as in the photograph above.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: iPhone

Mallards

Most of the domestic ducks that are farmed today are descended from the wild mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Presumably the mallard was chosen for domestication because many of the wild population tolerate the close proximity of humans, unlike other ducks. Being of the same species enables domestic ducks and mallards to interbreed and produce progeny of varying colours. This pair exhibit the colours of wild mallard but permitted a quite close approach.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

Raindrops on purple sage

I've featured purple sage on the blog before. Unsurprisingly it's a plant I like a lot. But I have to say that I like it best in summer when it is flourishing and showing off its subtle colours and bushy growth to best effect. The photograph above shows one of our plants after drizzle of the sort that usually keeps me indoors. As I drew the car out of the garage I noticed the effects of the droplets on the leaves and I took this photograph.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Ledbury lights

I've always thought that Christmas celebrations should not begin until the month begins with "D". This year they were in full swing well before Halloween and Bonfire Night. Herefordshire's towns have got in on the acttoo. This year Ross on Wye and Ledbury (to name those I know), were singing Christmas carols and turning on the Christmas lights on 26th November!

photo © T. Boughen