I can’t believe there’s anyone who would wish ill will on ducks as a species. They aren’t aggressive, they don’t crap on your head, they’re good-looking and they pose very readily for the camera. What’s not to like?
After a long spell of extended summery weather, things may be changing. Wind is probably the hardest climatic condition to capture on camera but here is an attempt.
Most of the university campuses featured on this blog — and there have been a good many over the last five and a bit years, at least 20 I make it — have plenty of nice, green space. But the one on which I spend the most time, Manchester, has hardly any, it is the most urbanised, built-up campus I can think of. So it’s nice to picture some of its very rare green space on another very pleasant day. Even if this shot isn’t ‘green’ in the slightest. (It looked better in monochrome.)
Still sunny… but that little bit chillier, as we pass the Equinox and head into autumn.
Every year at this time the campus goes from being peaceful and quiet to a heaving mass of people. Still, if it wasn’t for them none of us would be doing what we’re doing. Sam Harris of the International Society at Manchester says hi to the gathered new postgraduates in Education: who collectively I am now responsible for…. (there are a couple of hundred more in the room than pictured here). Let’s hope they all fulfill their potential over the next 11 months or so.
At 554 feet, or 169m, this is the tallest building in the UK outside of London, and also one of the world’s thinnest buildings: not apparent in this shot but the unseen third dimension is very slight. Only the topmost floors are seen in this shot, but these are the highest residential apartments in the UK. And apparently it makes a great noise when the wind is high. I like the way the windows had caught the vague sunlight this morning.
Gosh, it was an exciting day here in the household today, I can tell you. Still, I quite like this shot, considering the limited opportunities the day threw up; I like the various arcs and textures and that it’s nearly monochrome, but with that nice blue intrusion of the cup.
What is a summer, but a return to autumn? An end, but a start?
[Haiku warning]
It was in 1990 that I first heard the band Primal Scream, when my then-flatmate Dave played me their eponymous second album. In the two and a half decades since they have released some complete shite, it has to be said, but also many moments of brilliance (like the whole album XTRMNTR for a start). And in those 26 years despite never giving up on them and them refusing to turn into their own tribute band (like so many of their peers) I have never seen them live.
Until today 🙂
The first of what should be three days’ photos from Leeds. Today was spent there working, at least until 5pm… the next two will not be work. This is the kind of shot that only really works if one gets the symmetry exactly right, so what do you think?
Being 42 