SHROPSHIRE

The Saturday Self Challenge: "Using Fill Flash." There was a fairly good sunset, so I decided to try this technique, although I very rarely allow flash. The result does show the structure of The Cross and the plants that surround it. I was fairly pleased that the sky remained fairly true in colour, and only The Cross was lit up. However, on the whole I prefer the photo without the flash. It is worth looking at this photo in ORIGINAL size, to see why this village is so called.

Aricia agestis is a very small butterfly with a wing span of only 25 - 31mm. The upper-wings are brown with orange spots on the wing edges. I didn't manage to get a good photo of this.

I suspect this piece of agricultural machinery is on its last legs. Bits have broken off and were lying on the field.

This fence is part of a kissing gate. A kissing gate is a type of gate that allows people, but not livestock, to pass through. The normal construction is a half-round, rectangular, trapezoidal or V-shaped part-enclosure with the free end of a hinged gate trapped between its arms. The name comes from the gate merely "kissing" (touching) the inside of the enclosure. It reliably forms a barrier rather than needing to be securely latched on each use. Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kissing_gate The more romantic notion, and one that I like, is that the first person to pass through would have to close the gate to the next person, providing an opportune moment to demand a kiss in return for entry. When we go through as a family it can take a bit of time for the kisses, but on that day I was by myself. :-) Kissing gate - England

Saturday Self Challenge: Find something red, shoot it, but then change the image into black and white. This was an interesting challenge. I wanted to take a photo of something that the majority of folks would accept as red without having to show the original photo. Here are my attempts:

Attingham’s Deer Park was created in 1798 as part of Thomas, 2nd Lord Berwick’s grand improvements to the Mansion and grounds. Today, around 200 fallow deer, descended from the original herd live in the park. The park rangers maintain the number of deer annually, culling if necessary. One of these young fallow deer clearly doesn't think much of my skills as a wildlife photographer. ;-)

Attingham Park is an English country house and estate in Shropshire, located near the village of Atcham. It was built in 1785 for Noel Hill, 1st Baron Berwick, who received his title in 1784. Noel Hill already owned a house on the site of Attingham Park called Tern Hall, but with money he received along with his title he commissioned the architect George Steuart to design a new and grander house to be built around the original hall. The new country house encompassed the old property entirely, and once completed it was given the name Attingham Hall. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attingham_Park

Saturday Self Challenge: Photograph the view out of a window and use your window as a frame for the picture. Our home was built at the second half of the 19th century, and still has the original sash windows in 2 of the upstairs rooms. The sash windows are ill-fitting and draughty, and so there are 2 panels of secondary glazing in front to minimize the problem. The whole window consists of 2 larger sections topped by 12 small square panes. The paintwork is poor as is the putty work, and at least 2 of the small panes have cracks in them, which you might be able to see in the PiP.

Swallows, swifts and house martins gathering together before migration. Most leave the UK during September, with early broods of youngsters being the first to go; but a few stragglers may hang around into October. The return journey to Africa takes about six weeks. Swallows from different parts of Europe fly to different destinations. Time to say goodbye-Andrea Bocelli,Sara Brightman - arr. Roberto Molinelli