The irony is that I haven’t travelled anywhere much in weeks, not anywhere. Apart from daily jaunts round the garden, where I now like to venture with my camera at the ready – just in case. I feel like a wildlife paparazzo, lying in wait for an unsuspecting spider to come out to its web, or lurking behind a bush to spy on a beetle.
I like it when I come across photogenic things by chance. Yesterday, having hung the washing out on the line an hour or two earlier, I noticed a Red Admiral sunning itself… on my knickers! Both of them were flapping gently in the breeze. I sneaked up to study the delicate beauty, rather liking the combined colour scheme and the way the edges of its wings complemented the lacy trim of my undies. You know, that juxtaposition thing. Or maybe you had to be there?
Anyway, I’m not airing my dirty - or clean, for that matter - linen in public, so instead here are some other shots of smalls from yesterday's travels down the garden path. And if you're not feeling quite so sunny yourself, I hope this little fix of natural beauty may help a bit.
Also - it gives me a tenuous excuse to include an early album track from the highly prolific and charismatic Joseph Arthur... someone I've seen live so many times now I've lost count. If he comes to the UK to gig again soon I'll be travelling to that - but I'll leave my camera behind.
Joseph Arthur: 'Evidence' from 'Redemption's Son' (2002)
It is impossible now for me not to think of you and this blog every morning when I see the fat little geckos scrambling for cover in the morning or watching a Blue Jay chase a cricket or look at the web like trails the slugs leave on our windows. Good Job.
ReplyDeleteMy feelings about butterflies are well documented.
Is that a hydrangea?
Thanks - tho' I wondered what you were going to say at first: thinking of me when you see the fat little geckos...?! I'm glad you qualified it with the other creatures too ;-)
DeleteIt's a buddleia - often referred to here, for obvious reasons, as a 'butterfly bush'. The whole shrub is alive with them at the moment, I'm mesmerised. Plus it smells nice.
Top track and excellent pics especially the spider
ReplyDeleteThanks! Glad you liked it.
DeleteI have this cheap old camera but it comes into its own with outdoor close-up shots. I couldn't believe the detail that came out on the garden spider - gorgeous creature, innit?!
These are lovely photos, C. Thanks for the introduction to Joseph Arthur. Reminds me a bit of Ed Harcourt, which is a big compliment based on this one song.
ReplyDeleteThanks, SB - very glad to be able to introduce you to JA too. He's made so much music, done various side projects too, every live gig has been a different experience, sometimes he has his backing band, sometimes he paints on stage too - it's hard to know where to begin. But if you want to check out a few more tracks by him you could do worse than listen to 'Honey and the Moon', 'Devil's Broom' and 'In The Sun' for starters!
DeleteBravo!
ReplyDeleteJust great photos C. I must upgrade my old point and press camera - this is so inspiring.
ReplyDeleteCheers, guys.
ReplyDeleteIt's just a cheap little Kodak, bought about 5 years ago (?) for under £50 from Tescos, and didn't think much of it until I started using it for these close-up shots. With nothing but pure luck they seem to come out amazingly, especially when you view them full-size when first downloading them; the magnification and detail is staggering.
Must admit I'm so glad I don't have to go through that process any more of sending off the film, and waiting excitedly two weeks for it to be developed only to find that they're all blurred, too dark, double-exposed, etc - and still having to pay for the privilege!