Random Things

I was going to take a day off work today since it looked like it was about to chuck it down before I left the house, but in the end I decided to throw the camera in the bag anyway when I went for a coffee. And, as is annoyingly often the case, I think I got more usable pictures than when I'm working to a plan. I guess the lesson is: plan less, shoot more.

So this is just some random grabs as I wandered around. Loved the stormy skies when the sun was on the squinty bridge!

Spring!

We're about two weeks into what's conventionally called "winter". And yesterday, I turned the central heating off. Does that seem right to you? It's really nice not to be freezing my arse off. And not to be slipping and sliding down the hill when I go for a walk. But it doesn't feel quite right.

I enjoy the change in weather. I often say that my favourite time of year is whatever comes next. I do like the snow and the ice (but I really like when it goes away). I love the sun and warmth, but am relieved when it turns to rain and cool. And another warm January is hardly the strangest bit of weather that's ever happened.

Last year at this time was really windy. 3rd January (I think) a big chunk of my roof blew off. Which resulted in all kinds of issues, major and minor. One of the minor ones was that the starlings didn't nest in my attic last year. No doubt 10 weeks of me going up there several times a day most days to bail out the rain water collecting in a load of plastic tubs, and all the racket of the roof finally getting fixed sometime in mid March, didn't make them feel like it was a good spot to raise a family. They've been nesting here pretty much every year for the 20 years I've been in the place, and I was slightly nervous that 2011 would turn out to be the last time.

But today I heard skittering around up there. And two of the cats were very excited at the window. So I watched with them and soon enough a starling appeared on the gutter and flew off. And a little while another (or maybe the same one...I'm not a great distinguisher of starling faces) flew back carrying a twig.

A twig? It's the 4th of January. Are they building a nest? It really must be spring.

Doulton Fountain

I have some photographic plans for this fountain. The big problem is that they're pre-dawn plans. Ugh!

Riverside At Night

I took a wander by the Riverside Museum this evening.

I probably didn't need to mention it was the evening. Right?

New Show in February

I learned today that I've been accepted as one of the artists in a show of "International Art" to be exhibited in Wisconsin through February and March this year. I'll have three of my photos of standing stones included. Which is nice!

Sunrise in Kilmartin Glen, March 2012

Glasgow University Cloisters

For the last couple of weeks I've not removed the 40mm lens from my camera. All the pictures in this recent series of posts have been shot with it. The idea being that I feel the need to get more familiar with most of my lenses and probably the best way to do that is to not chop and change, but to use just one at a time for an extended period and shoot every day. It's too soon to say if it's helping, but I'm certainly enjoying the experience. The last time I spent so long just using a normal (ish) length lens was when I had a Zenit 12 in the 1980s. Normal is good - there's a phrase I don't say very often!

Self Portrait With River

Reflection in the window of the Riverside Museum. Happy New Year!