Angel of the North

Despite living close to the Angel, I had not previously photographed Mr Gormley's sculpture. People either love or hate the angel in these parts, I rather like it!

The statue is made from Cor-Ten steel, which, in time, acquires an attractive protective coat of oxide that gives it the lovely colour. Unlike common or garden rust, this stuff clings on tight, preventing further corrosion.





Canon 5D 24-70L lens

Morning Light

The Alexandra bridge in Sunderland once carried a railway line on its top deck in addition to the road below. The railway has long gone, but this stub of masonry, a set of arches in red sandstone, stands isolated and out of use as a reminder of its former function. I see this view every day as I cycle to work, and, on occasion, the low sun picks out the detail very nicely.

This is a savage crop from a portrait format shot. I know that there is an attractive image there somewhere, but it's playing hard to get!

Canon 20D - Zeiss Flektogon 35mm lens.

Durham Festival of Light

The Durham Festival of Light was intended to boost that city's bid to be the UK City of Culture in 2013 and was presented over four evenings starting last Thursday night. I thought of going on Thursday but the weather was poor and Friday worse. Fortunately Saturday and Sunday were better and I spent a couple of hours on Sunday wandering around Durham. I have never seen so many people in the city, coming down from the cathedral square after the Son et Lumiere display, stewards were marshalling people onto the right side of the road, to allow new visitors to use the left. All motorised traffic was stopped.



The castle and cathedral



Prebends Bridge



The cathedral seen across the weir at the fulling mill.



The cathedral reflected in the river



Part of the Son et Lumiere display.

Canon 5D 24-70L

Last of the Autumn Colours

The builders planted this cherry tree before we moved into the house over 20 years ago. I think that the variety is called Hisakura. It has a rather stark upright aspect, nothing like as pleasing as the form of our weeping birch, but the colours in the spring and autumn are superb.