PHOTO PAIRS - LOOK UP! LOOK UP!

Often when I am out with my camera I am looking for photo opportunities, such as pairs to share  on Helena's weekly meme over at Helena's Creative Maven.  The problem is I download them and then get involved in other things or don't get round to posting. Which is a shame as I love photo challenges and taking part with others. I must find a way round this....

But for now I do have a pair to share, taken on a walk the other day when I visited a local garden. I took a path I do not often venture down and stopped in my tracks to admire the bark on this tree: 

And while I looked up I noticed something on the tree next to it.

A pair of Koala's!  I had to add this pair too! 

What was interesting is that as I looked up, other people passed and were tempted to do the same. This created conversation about the importance of looking up and amusement at seeing the unexpected. It also made me think of my friend Melanie in Australia. And how much pleasure I can get from a simple photo challenge. Thanks Helena. I really will post more and not just take photos to leave them in my downloads!

Thanks for popping by and if you missed my last post you can see more photos taken on my walk including daffodils in December. And for more photo pairs, just click on the link at the beginning.

INSIDE OUTSIDE - PHOTO PAIRS

Recently I visited Scotland to attend a book making workshop.  And while I was there I had other things I wanted to see. It was a long way to go just for a book making course after all!

The Kelpies, in Falkirk, were on my list.  And I was not disappointed. These stainless steel sculptures stand over 30m tall, and the light reflects and changes constantly.   Not only that, you can see them miles away.  Three and a half miles a way in fact, from the top of the Falkirk Wheel. I'll show you another time.  But for now I am joining in with Helena's weekly meme, photo PAIRS. 

When visiting The Kelpies we paid to go on the tour. We were shown around the site and told about the artist Andy Scott, and best of all, we got to go INSIDE as well as see OUTSIDE. See for yourself:

Aren't they amazing? 

And look closely. Can you see these people in the photo above?

You can find out more about these sculptures here and there is also a time lap video of them being built.

Thanks for popping by and to Helena for the great idea of sharing PHOTO PAIRS. Why not go and see what others have shared? You never know what you will find! 

And as I am taking part in a 30 Day Blogging Challenge I'll be back tomorrow. Hope to see you then! 

PHOTO PAIRS - REFLECTIONS

 

I immediately thought of Helena's photo pairs this when I saw tis scene in Birmingham.  Where major demolition work is underway they have screened with scaffolding and hoarding that gives a mirror like finish and looks sculpture like.  Look close and you can see cars and street scenes....

And close up, beautiful ripples and distortions.   Sometimes even the ugly can be made beautiful.

I tried to include this a couple of weeks ago as part of my Birmingham posts but unfortunately I had technology problems. But perhaps the timing is more fitting since Helena's own PAIRS post this week is about demolition.  You can read about it here.

THE CUBE - LOOK UP LOOK DOWN

Last week I spent a few days in Birmingham with my blog friend Bernice, and she showed me around the city.  One of the buildings we visited was 'The Cube'.  

I loved it's strong architectural design.....

 

And we had reason to go inside, where I looked up....

 And looked down....


I think you will agree the view is quite amazing.  I love the geometric design, both inside and out.

Look close..... can you see red dots?

These are sculptures called 'The Lovely People', by spray artist Temper, aka Arron Bird.  These are life size  and instead of having faces each has a large red heart. I found them rather strange but I liked the silhouette in the middle photo of the floating child holding a balloon.

The reason we visited The Cube was to find owls. Yes owls. Many cities have started to organise annual sculpture trails and Birmingham was no exception. You can find out more about that here.

I am joining in with Helena today, and to find out what PHOTO PAIRS others have discovered do pop over to see.

LONDON PAIRS

My friend Melanie is visiting from Australia and on Friday we went to London for the day with her husband and brother.  We drove up and parked at the Millennium Dome which was a good decision as we could walk along the embankment and enjoy the Thames. We made our way to Greenwich where we went on the Cutty Sark and walked up to the park because Melanie was keen to stand on the meridian line. 

 

In fact we did this on two occasions, once along the embankment.... 

 and again in the park.....

 

While at Greenwich we also visited the Old Royal Naval College and went inside the Painted Hall. 
It was hard not to look up at the amazing ceiling....

or down to the end of the hall.... 



One of the attendants told us the history of the paintings and the Naval College.  So outside we went to find the engraved stone, and take another look down... 




and then up....

Then it was time to walk through  the tunnel that goes from Greenwich under the Thames..   

and after a ride on the Docklands Light Railway we crossed the Thames again..  this time over

The view from the Emirates Sky Ride was amazing...  we could trace our walk and see the Cutty Sark in the distance.  And then it was touch down back at the Millennium, and time to find the car for the drive home.

In all we crossed the Thames five times:
1.  OVER - Woolwich ferry
2.  UNDER - Foot funnel from Greenwich
3.  OVER - by DLR
4.  OVER - by Sky Ride
5.  UNDER - Dartford Tunnel

Thank you to Helena for giving me a chance to share these photo pairs and there are more to be seen at Helena's blog. Do pop over and take a look!  Thanks for popping by.... 

BRESSAY - PHOTO PAIRS

I have just returned home from the Shetland Islands and while there I stayed in the lighthouse on Bressay.  On my first morning I woke up and admired these flowers growing on the wall. 

 

And when I raised the camera you could see a scattering of snow that had fallen overnight.  Luckily it was our first and last but I was undeterred because I had gone prepared for all weathers! 

 

Today I am joining in with Helena's Photo Pairs.  I often take photos with this in mind but then I don't get round to posting them, which is a bit daft!   I hope to do better in future.