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

View in the side mirror

As my son drove us round the M25 I noticed, in the mirror closest to me, the sun tinged clouds of the setting sun. I took several photographs of what I saw, many of which were blurred due to vibrations, and a few that captured the evening scene. This is the best of the bunch. When I came to caption the photograph it occurred to me that we don't seem to have settled on a name for the mirror by the passnger side door. It's not a wing mirror because they are above the wheel arch. Nor is it a rear-view mirror - they are inside at the top centre of the windscreen. Door mirror is sometimes used, as is A-pillar mirror and side mirror. I've plumped for the latter.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Dusk over the Fens, Lincolnshire

The Fens is an area of low-lying, flat land in eastern England. The soils are very fertile and consequently it is not heavily populated but is intensively farmed. The landscape has a character of its own with level expanses punctuated by church towers and spires, sparse trees and more recent intrusions such as electricity pylons and wind turbines. The Fens also have big skies. Clouds assume the significance of mountains in the Fens and the hours of sunrise and sunset are especially noteworthy, as is dusk, the time of day shown in the photograph above.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100     2017

The warm light of (almost) winter

The pollarded willow tree above featured in a photograph with vapour trails that I took in June. This was shortly after it had been cut and all the year's shoots had been removed. The photograph above is testament to the resilience of the willow: by next year it will have quite a full head of shoots and branches. I took this photograph at sunset as we walked by the River Wye, the warm tinges of the sunlit clouds contrasting with the cold blue of the sky and the growing shadows. The image is a reminder that winter will offer warmth to photographs but mainly when the sun is near the horizon.

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2