Photo of the Week 2024-11-25

 

' A Birsay Bay Tearoom View '

On our second day on Orkney, after arriving in Birsay and making a number of images from a seaside parking area, I parked the car at the tearoom and stowed the camera gear for lunch. As luck would have it a grand scene developed outside our table-side window ... and me with only my cell phone :-/
 

I posted this shot at the time, direct from the phone complete with reflections in the window. Here, I've cleaned up the reflected lights, added a touch of processing magic and cropped more to my liking.

 

A few minutes later, it looked like this :-O

 

It was a great day, a great lunch and a great view !

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2024-11-18

 

 

' a stone still standing '

The Stones of Stenness today consist of four upright stones up to 6m in height

 in a circle that originally held 12 stone

 

' The Stones of Stenness '

 

The stones were encircled by a large ditch and bank, the form of which has been lost over time by ploughing. Some of their story is told on the interpretive panels at the site.

 

 

 

 DJE

Photo of the Week 2024-11-11

 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them

 

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal 

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; 

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound, 

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, 

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, 

To the end, to the end, they remain.

 

                                                                         Laurence Binvon

 

 

Note: Photo by John England, processing & treatment by Doug England
 

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2024-11-04

 

As we docked, then left St. Margaret's Hope for our Orkney accommodations in Stenness, rain came and then quickly passed. By the time we parked our car to unload, the heavy skies were breaking up ...

 

' Across to Graemsay and  further to Hoy '

 ... this was the view that greeted us from the entrance to our home for two nights on Orkney. The sun was beaming rays through the cloud down onto the northern tip of Hoy.

 

 

DJE