Snowdrops at Benington

These images were all taken early in the month, before all the recent storms started.  It's been a few years since I last took a trip to Benington, so I thought it was time for a revisit.  The gardens of Benington Lordship are great, but this trip, like many in the past, I didn't get that far.  Instead I spent my time in the churchyard of the church of St Peter.  This too has a superb display of snowdrops, with the added attraction of the old gravestones.

 

Kings Chapel In Green

Last night the chapel of King's College was one of a number of buildings across the country that were lit green, as part of Kidney Cancer UK's awareness week.  Several CCC members came out to photograph it.  I was there in time for blue hour, and the green looked superb against the dark blue sky.  Once the sky was full black, I concentrated on details and reflections.

 

More from The Mosque

Another set of pictures from the Cambridge Central Mosque.  Starting with some detail shots from inside, followed by some images from the Islamic garden and portico.  It was a rare sunny morning, which gave some interesting shadows, both in the atrium (see previous post) and the portico.

 

 

 

 

 

Cambridge Central Mosque

I recently took part in one of three trips by CCC members to the newly opened Cambridge Central Mosque on Mill Road.  Thanks to Alan for organising.

The design of the mosque was inspired by both Islamic and English religious architecture.   Worshippers entering the building pass first through an Islamic garden, followed by a covered portico and then an atrium, before reaching the prayer hall.  A connecting space between the atrium and prayer hall has access to wash rooms, but is also angled, so that the atrium can face Mill Road and the prayer hall can face Mecca.  A series of large wooden columns ('trees') dominate the portico, atrium and prayer hall.  These are reminiscent of fan vaulting in European Gothic church design.  In particular, the architects wanted the prayer hall to echo King's College Chapel.  The result is a beautiful, airy and contemplative space.

 

 

One day in Devon

My first post of the new year is about the penultimate day of last year.  New year, but just as slow as ever on the posts.  I was down in Devon for a few days to celebrate the new year with my friend Vic.  It was a quick visit, with only time for one day out with the cameras.  We decided to scout out  Blackchurch Rock, near Hartland, a location neither of us had been to before.  It was a very sunny day, and we had to wait for the sun to move around to a position where it would light the rock.  We passed the time with some slow shutter work on a stream that crossed the bay.  Sadly, it became clear that sun wouldn't hit the rock before it set.  Wrong time of year.  So we took a couple of record shots and added this location to the pile marked 'unfinished business'.
 

Speaking of 'unfinished business', we ended the day at Hartland Quay.  My relationship with this location is long documented on this blog.  I love it, yet never manage to do it justice photographically.  This visit was no exception.  Still, it means I will just have to go again.
 

An Evening in Cambridge

It's been a while since I have taken any night shots.  So I decided to take the Olympus into Cambridge and see what I could get.