Stancheon reflection

Walking along Wye Street, past the seventeenth century pub, the "Man of Ross", I noticed our reflections in the steel posts holding up ropes that delimited the area of outdoor seating. So, never liking to miss a good reflection, I took a snap of our reflections. When I came to add it to my collection of photographs I realised I didn't know the name for such a post. Research came up with "stanchion", a word that means any kind of fixed vertical post that holds something up. Perhaps there is a better word, but if there is it has eluded me all these years.

Leaping salmon sculpture

The sculpture shown in the photograph is a depiction of leaping salmon by the artist, Walenty Pytel. It was made in 1997, is constructed of steel with a granite base, and can be seen by the corner of the road next to "The Man of Ross" public house in Ross on Wye. It is one of three public sculptures by the artist in the town: the other two are by the River Wye and depict mallards and mute swans.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Photographing stairs

I've always liked stairs, and like many others, I've always liked photographing stairs. Stairs vary from the utilitarian to the highly decorative, from those designed to impress to those built with the minimum cost and materials that simply aim to get people from one storey to another. Over the centuries architects have come up with ever more inventive designs for stairs and they are a subject I've posted on this blog reasonably regularly. The example above is in the museum and gallery in Cheltenham. I like the materials used and how the stairs' change of direction is handled. I also liked the pair of legs visible at the ground floor level!

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

The Duke of Beaufort bridge

The Duke of Beaufort bridge is a disused railway bridge over the River Wye at Monmouth. It was opened in 1874 as part of the Ross and Monmouth Railway that had begun operating in 1873. The design is three spans of steel lattice girders on pairs of steel tubular piers between stone abutments. Today the bridge is part of a public footpath. It is hoped that bridge can be re-decked to also serve bicycle traffic.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Trees and the city - 1

Walking past 100 Liverpool Street, the multipurpose new edifice near Liverpool Street railway station, London, I looked up and noticed a young tree peeping over the top of the building. I imagine there is a space on the roof open to some of the occupants where people take a break, eat lunch, or have a coffee. The contrast between the natural form of the tree and the man-made form of the building was stark. Perhaps in the fullness of time it, and its companions will take root and soften what is currently an expanse of concrete, glass and steel. As I looked at the tree I couldn't help but compare it with the tree in the next post.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Coal hole covers

In the older streets of Britain's towns and cities you can still find coal hole covers in the pavements next to rows of houses. These comprise a pair of rectangular metal flaps that, when opened, gave access to a coal cellar beneath the adjacent property. Deliveries of coal for fires would be poured through the coal hole and thence into the internal house cellar, when stores needed replenishing. The surface of the coal hole covers, because they formed part of the surface of the pavement, have embossed patterns to offer grip to pedestrians.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Steel swans, Ross on Wye

This pair of steel swans ("Swans in Flight") by the river at Ross on Wye is the work of the Polish-born sculptor, Walenty Pytel. He came to the UK with his family in 1946 when he was five years old, settled here, and attended Hereford College of Arts. In 1965 he turned to metal sculpture and this has been his main focus ever since. Pytel is particularly known for bird sculptures and has executed many public commissions in his adoptive county including, as well as the above, geese and salmon sculptures at Ross on Wye, birds of prey at Great Malvern and swallows at Ledbury. His more widely known works include the Jubilee Fountain, Westminster and four eagles at Benfica's soccer stadium. I took my photograph on a recent foggy morning, and achieved a bit of flare in the bird silhouettes by including the sun in the shot.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2