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Showing posts with the label Winchester

Spring in the Hillier Gardens

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Back in May we joined a number of relatives in Winchester for my son's wedding. Before the big day we had an outing to the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey, close by to Winchester. The gardens are a treat, with formal and less formal areas, places to eat and have a coffee and even 2 pet pigs. They were established by the plantsman Harold Hillier in 1953 and given to the sole care of Hampshire County Council in 1977. In mid May the rhododendrums were putting out a tremendous show. I took the photographs using a Holga lens. A cheap plastic lens that distorts and vignettes, especially on a full frame camera. I wanted to achieve a more dreamy look and used the lack of complete focus to do this. I have placed the photos on an Adobe Spark video which allows a slideshow and the addition of music to make it more of an experience.                        

A day in Winchester no 3, 31st August 2016

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Our final trip of the day was out to St Catherine's Hill which has a fine view over Winchester, and I am told, to the sea. It was too misty when we were there to see that. Hettie was with us and did very well at the climbing and descending, although I am sure she was pleased to be back at the car. The hill winds up through beech coppices and is supposed to support a number of wild flowers earlier in the year. After we had returned to the city and eaten we went down to the water meadows at dusk and saw a deer crossing the river.

A day in Winchester no 2, 31st August 2016

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No visit to Winchester would be complete without popping your head around the doors of the cathedral. In the early afternoon we queued for tickets in the nave, no passing without them, and managed to get on to a little tour which actually gave us loads of information we would not have known otherwise. Going on a tour is a little challenging to a photographer and I was always at the end of the trail and frequently missed an important nugget dropping from the lips of our guide. Here is the photographic history of our progression. All taken with the Zeiss Batis 25mm lens on the Sony. We started in the nave and then passed though the chancel where lies the stone tomb of the Bishop of Winchester, Prince Henry of Blois who died in the 12th century. Work began on the stone 'Great Screen', which stands behind the alter in 1455. It was knocked about a bit during the reformation, but the saints heads were replaced in the 19th century. The font is 12th century and was carved from

A day in Winchester no 1, 31st August 2016

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Last summer I spent some time in Winchester.  Mike and I spent a day 'doing' the city. We started at the military museum, home of the Royal Hampshire Regiment and the barracks, now converted to rather smart apartments.. We followed on looking in the 13th Century Great Hall, where hangs the Round Table of legend! and a rather ugly statue of Queen Victoria which seems to have been left there as if nowhere else could be thought of to house her. Then to Westgate, which I did not photograph due to being surrounded by vans, but we did take some photographs from the roof and Mike was regaled at length by the curator. And finally we walked to to the cathedral which will figure in the next blog.

The hands will have it

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A few snapshots from a brief pub visit with Alan and Michael. Michael looks far more relaxed!