Fused art glass

This small example of fused art glass is a piece that took our fancy when we saw it on display in a gallery. It is designed to be displayed against a window so that its colours glow in the daylight. Here I used a light box to illuminate it for a photograph.

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

Wet, wet, wet

A review by the Meteorological Office of September's weather notes that, "England, and more specifically southern England, has been particularly wet compared to average. Ten English counties experienced their wettest September on record and for Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire, September 2024 was the wettest calendar month the counties have experienced, in a series dating back to 1836." Moreover, Northern parts of Britain and are noteworthy for having less rain than is usual for September. Anecdotal evidence and daily experience in Herefordshire confirms the wettness of last month. To underline the wetness theme today's macro photograph shows the tip of our conservatory door handle, positively dripping with rain.

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

Wet autumn woodland

We recently had a walk in the Forest of Dean after quite a bit of rain had fallen. The trees had given up more leaves to the deluges but, nonetheless, more remained firmly fixed to branches than is usual for the time of year. It was slippery underfoot and water droplets twinkled in the sunlight that pierced the tree canopy. The dead and dying bracken looked bright orange as we walked towards the sun but the tree ferns remained resolutely green. Our route took us through Nagshead Plantation, an area that includes an RSPB reserve. Everywhere we looked it seemed there was a competition between the oak and the beech for which had the best leaf display. For me the beech was winning.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

A wet street

Bridge Street, Crickhowell is an unexceptional narrow road. It winds down from near the centre of the small town to the longest stone bridge in Wales, a thirteen arched structure that spans the River Usk. As with many such narrow streets a majority of the buildings are colour-washed to reflect light in an attempt to brighten the rooms of the houses. On the day I photographed it a heavy shower had recently abated and the puddles and wet surfaces bounced even more light around, elevating this modest thoroughfare into something of greater visual interest.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Umbrellas

In the minds of those living in Britain, and also in the minds of those from elsewhere, there seems to be an association between umbrellas and our often wet islands. On the day I photographed these umbrellas that brought a splash of colour to a Hereford shopping centre I was carrying a (black) umbrella. Our day rucksack is permanently kitted out with two small, collapsible umbrellas. Rain is not an everyday occurrence in Britain - the dry east receives amounts comparable with much of central and parts of southern Europe. However, it does appear fairly regularly and prudence dictates that if you want to remain dry an umbrella is pretty much a prerequisite for many places and times of year.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100