Winter Walk

A post Christmas walk

across fields

soaked with incessant rain.

A glimmer of sunlight

Creates a rainbow.

Symbol of hope

for the New Year.

iPhone Camera, processed in Snapseed and DistressedFX

Fragile Beauty

The delicate fragile beauty

Of a curtain of ice

Spreading slowly down

A window pane.

iPhone Camera, processed in Snapseed.

Fractured cloudscape

Thick frost on the car windscreen

Sunlight just catching

An impressionist painting

Of a fractured cloudscape.

iPhone Camera image processed with Snapseed

Ways of seeing

The centre of an orchid

A rare bird

poised for flight.

Hipstamatic, GSquad Lens, W40 Film

The same bird captured with the iPhone Camera,

processed in phone using Snapseed and BigLens.

Beach Sunset Two Ways

A beautiful clear sky at sunset on a cold November evening.

Photographed with Hipstamatic App.

Hipstamatic, Jane Lens, Ina's 1982 Film

The same scene photographed with the iPhone camera.

Image processed in Snapseed using Tune Image and Drama.

Many Shades of Autumn

A tall beech

resplendent in its coppery autumn coat.

iPhone Camera, processed with Snapseed App.

Early morning leaf fall

Fresh after a passing shower.

Hipstamatic, Loftus Lens, DC Film

Glorious autumn colours in Alexandra Park, Crosby.

Hipstamatic, Loftus Lens, DC Film

The stately beech,

Contrasts of copper

and green.

Hipstamatic, Jane Lens, Sugar Film

The glory of a leaf

as autumn chills hit the air.

In dying it gives us a whole

new palette of colour.

iPhone Camera, processed with Snapseed App.

Skies full of drama

Cold winds

Push rain laden clouds

across the stormy waters

of the Mersey Estuary.

Hipstamatic, Jane Lens, Ina's 1969 Film

Remembrance

The turning leaves

When dying

Bring such beauty

to the land.

Green yellows

To golden umber,

Deep rust

And poppy red.

November's sad mists

Illuminated by symbolic poppies

As our thoughts turn

To those who gave their lives.

We will remember them

As trees around us

Shed their tears

The falling leaves of autumn.

Hipstamatic, Jane Lens, Ina's 1982 Film

Art in a Cup

At Tate Liverpool

Even the Cappuccino

Is a work of art.

Hipstamatic, Jane Lens, Ina's 1969 Film

Liverpool Scene

The magnificent view from the gallery

at the Museum of Liverpool.

Liverpool's Pier Head as dusk falls

on a winter evening.

iPhone, Instagram, Lo-Fi Setting

Magnificent Light

Strong cold winds pushing

Rolling masses of storm clouds

Over the beach at Crosby

In the golden light

Of a winter sunset.

Hipstamatic, Jane Lens, Sugar Film

Tuscan Sunset

A glorious sunset

Viewed from the walls of Cortona

End to a perfect day.

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, DC Film

Tuscan Sunlight

A certain shaft of light

Falls across this venerable wooden door

Affixed with a simple cross

In a Tuscan hillside monastery.

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, W40 Film

Sunlight and shadow

Light and shade

Patterns on a crumbling wall.

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, W40 Film

Tuscany, Bramasole

Bramasole, near Cortona, Tuscany

Home of author Frances Mayes

Under the Tuscan Sun

An inspiration to all who love Italy.

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, Blanko Freedom 13 Film

A shaft of warm September sunlight

Falls across

The shrine beneath the house.

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, Big Up Film.

Flying

Storm clouds over the Irish Sea

Sweeping in

Blotting out the sun.

Less than an hour later,

Somewhere over Germany,

That same sun sets

The sky aglow

Purple, vermillion and indigo.

iPhone Camera, no processing.

Ian Bailey Sings

Talented local singer songwriter Ian Bailey

performed at Grateful Fred's in Formby last Thursday.

Hipstamatic, Jane Lens, BlacKeys B+W Film

Incoming Storm

Saturday afternoon at Crosby beach

The weather changing

Dark clouds laden with rain

Sweep across from the Welsh Hills.

iPhone Camera, image processed with Snapseed App

Yellow Plums in a Blue Bowl

Shades of Matisse

The contrast of colours

Yellow Plums in a Blue Bowl

Hipstamatic, Jane Lens, Big Up Film

Liverpool Snapshot

The Minton floor of St. George's Hall

Recently on show

Brings the Hall alive with colour.

iPhone Camera, image processed with Snapseed App

Colour

The vibrant colour of this hydrangea

Attracted me to take a photograph.

Although it was a brilliant sunny day

This bush was in shade,

Yet glowing with light

from reflected sunlight.

I love the way the leaves

Graduate their colour to match

The flower's shading.

Hipstamatic, Jane Lens, Sugar Film

Wonderful Skies after rain

Crosby beach,

The air, clean and clear after rain,

Clouds gently dispersing

Aflame with orange light

From a golden setting sun.

Hipstamatic, Jane Lens, Ina's 1982 Film

Rain Laden Skies

Churchyard at Kilcash, Co. Tipperary, Ireland

The clouds gather

Oppressive and grey.

Across the valley,

Distant Comeragh mountains,

Green and sharp in the clear air,

A warning of rain on the way.

Hipstamatic, Foxy Lens, Sugar Film

Festival Gardens opened

Liverpool's Festival Garden site has reopened

Water features abound

Soft greens and wild flowers

soften the margins.

Lilies float on the water

Reminding us of Monet's art

Which is currently at The Tate.

Hipstamatic, Watts Lens, Castelli's DC Film

Wild flowers bloom

Heavy rain and bursts of hot sunshine

the wildflowers of Victoria Park

luxuriate in the damp warm air

blooming forth to make their mark

on this small patch of England.

All pictures; Hipstamatic, John S Lens, Ina's 1969 Film

Jubilee Party

All over the land

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Was celebrated with red, white and blue.

She has reigned for 60 years

And the rain over the weekend

Seemed to know that too.

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, Ina's 1969 Film

Florence Diaries 4

A beautiful spring morning

Marble statues on the terrace

Of the Bardini Gardens

Frame the Church of Santa Croce

Seen across the Arno

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, Ina's 1969 Film 

At sunset the Arno becomes a river of molten gold

Reflections of ancient buildings 

have rippled in this water for centuries.

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, Ina's 1969 Film

Florence Diaries 3

Early morning down on the Arno

The calm waters reflect the golden buildings

Glowing in the warm low sunlight.

Hipstamatic, Watts Lens, Pistil Film

Swallows dart through the clear air,

The Arno reflects a scene of glowing buildings

Much as it did in Renaissance times.

Hipstamatic, Watts Lens, Pistil Film

The church of San Frediano in Cestello

viewed from Piazza Goldini.

Hipstamatic, Watts Lens, Pistil Film

Florence Diary 2

Monastery of San Francesco, Fiesole.

This small window of a monk's cell

Appeals for the way the light pours through

Lighting the rough plaster walls

And the simple furnishings within.

Hipstamatic, Watts Lens, Pistil Film

A rough stone cloister gives shade from the Tuscan Sun.

Hipstamatic, Watts Lens, Pistil Film

Everywhere you go in Florence

The Duomo dominates the scene.

Brunelleschi's dome a constant landmark

Glimpsed through narrow streets.

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, Ina's 1969 Film

The Ponte Vecchio

Much loved bridge

Instant Florence.

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, Ina's 1969 Film 

Florence Diary 1

Walking along Viale Niccolo Machiavelli

Villas in varying shades of yellow and terracotta

Shaded leafy lanes invite your curiosity.

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, Pistil Film

San Miniato stands in glory

High on a hill overlooking the city.

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, Pistil Film

The Renaissance City glows in the valley of the Arno.

Hipstamatic, John S Lens, Pistil Film

Cool and dark the interior

Of San Miniato Al Monte.

Rays of brilliant sunlight

Reflect off smooth marble columns.

Hipstamatic, Lucas AB2 Lens, Claunch 72 Film