Sundial

Prev | Home | Next

This is the restored globe sundial on Guisboroughs market cross.

The sundials were removed in July and taken to Wiltshire where they were restored to their former glory by Harriet James, a member of the British Sundial Society.

Ms James is quoted as saying: "There is a similar globe sundial in Sweden but it is the particular horizontal arrangement of the numbers on the globe that make the Guisborough sundial unique."

She believes it is possible the globe was modelled on a drawing from a book written in 1686 by John Moxon because of the same arrangement of numbers. The numerals indicate it dates from the late 17th Century and the globe from the early 19th Century.

If you look at the placement of the sundial on the market cross, it is now slightly turned. I understand this was neccessary for the sundials to give an accurate reading. The council in their wisdom wanted the sundials to be mounted back squarely on top, so it looked neater! Typical.

There are also plans to put up a board, with instructions on how to read the sundial accurately.

Oh, and as a side note, when I was looking at this image I thought I had some dust in the camera. You may have noticed a blob near the point of the arrow at the top. When I looked more carefully, I saw it was a bee hovering about!

Shadow play

Prev | Home | Next

I took this shot yesterday and I love it (that will no doubt mean my wife hates it, she doesn't usually like these type of shots).

It's amazing what photographs present themselves while looking into shop windows. This was a charity shop in Guisborough, and I love the colours, or lack of, and the way the shadows sprawl across the sofa.

The blue door

Prev | Home | Next



There are various things I like taking photos of. Such as candid images of people, abstracts, reflections in shop windows, and doors surrounded by nice brickwork or walls. This obviously falls into the latter category. I like the blue contrasted against the light and dark stone surrounding it.

Cat

Prev | Home | Next



Another shot taken in a shop window. I liked the way the cat ornament is balanced by the squares, and the almost monochrome feel of the image.

Window

Prev | Home | Next



This was taken looking into a shop window on Westgate. There was a blind pulled down and the early morning sun cast a shadow from the light orange/brown letters etched on the window, onto the blind, forming the easier to read darker letters.

Graffiti

Prev | Home | Next

One thing I don't notice as much of these days is graffiti. Yes, there is still some about, but not to the extent it ssemed to be 10-15 years ago. Mind you, trips to London show that it seems to have more than it's fair share. I'm sure it's the same with all major cities, and not just London.

This alley way shot was taken while standing in Westgate (the High Street).

On saying that, this is the second graffiti shot I've posted, so perhaps there is a bit more around than I consciously notice.

92

Prev | Home | Next



Still continuing with the Guisborough images. this was a front door I came across on Westgate (the High street)

Early morning

Prev | Home | Next



The Saturday morning I went out taking photos around Guisborough I actually set off too early. The main reason I went out when I did, was due to some low lying fog the previous day at about the same time, however, just my luck there wasn't any this day. For the first hour before the sun came up I struggled to get any useable shots. This is one I did get that I like. What does it for me is the movement in the cows leg. Strange how such a little thing can affect your view of an image.

Cars

Prev | Home | Next



Continuing with the shots I took from Guisborough. For this shot I was attracted by the cars and the sunlight on the buildings. As is quite often the case, and angled shot gives more tension and interest than a straight forward horizontal shot, in my opinion.

Tree of life 2

Prev | Home | Next



Another shot of the tree posted the other day. This angle shows more of the names carved into the tree.

Self portrait

Prev | Home | Next



Well, about as near to one as I'll probably get!

Railings

Prev | Home | Next



Another one from Saturday mornings walk around Guisborough. The early morning sun had broken through and was illuminating the tops of the railings. The dark background contrasts nicely with the light railings to help with the impact.

Priory shadow

Prev | Home | Next



This is part of a frame that holds information about Guisborough. I thought it was quite apt, that the shadow cast from the frame is of Guisborough Priory, an image closely associated with Guisborough.

Tree of life

Prev | Home | Next

This tree is located about half a mile from my house. It reminds me of The tree of Life found in Walt Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida. The Disney one has animals carved into the trunk where as this one has the names of various people.

It's a beautiful tree, I'm surprised I've never noticed it before, but I suppose most of us walk around with our eyes closed.

Wandering around, when the object is to come back with some usable images you certainly notice a lot more, both large and small.

Red

Prev | Home | Next



Another Guisborough shot. I liked the way the sign is starting to be covered by the foliage, and the way the bricks almost glow from the early morning sun striking them

Sign with shadows

Prev | Home | Next



I had a walk around Guisborough on Saturday morning. This was part of the name of a dentists surgery. I love the colour of the letters caught by the early morning light against the background.

Hedgehog

Prev | Home | Next



My wife spotted this visitor to our back garden a couple of days ago. She gave me a shout, and so it was a couple of quick snaps and he was on his way.

They that go down to the sea in ships

Prev | Home | Next



this is part of a sculpture in Saltburn. I really loved the colour of this one.

Rolls

Prev | Home | Next

This was taken around Tow Law at th start of this year in January. We had once again got up to take the dogs for a walk, and to clear our heads after another heavy drinking session, this is usually the case when we visit our friends in Tow Law!

Sheltering from the rain

Prev | Home | Next

This guy was stood in this spot for quite a few minutes from the rain. He never moved, just stood on this spot and waited. As I was watching him, eventually he started to fall forwards, with his feet planted firmly on the ground, like you sometimes get on comedy shows. I thought he was going to hit the floor, when at an angle of about 60 degrees to the floor, he suddenly moved his legs and sprinted off around the corner.

Very bizarre.

Old Council building

Prev | Home | Next

This is a shot of the old Redcar and Cleveland Council offices. The council moved everybody up to a brandspanking new clinical looking building in Guisborough. Shortly after the vandals moved in.

All the lead was taken from the roof and the windows were put through. I'm not quite sure how that corner of the building has been destroyed, looks like somebody started to take a wrecking ball to it.

It's a shame these old buildings are either being knocked down or left to rot and vandalised. Central Middlesbrough is the same, with two of the more historical buildings being flattened in the last couple of months.

Balloon head

Prev | Home | Next



The left hand side of this image, the balloon head, was part of a poster on a billboard. I thought it would make an interesting abstract image.

Rain

Prev | Home | Next



Another shot in the rain from Middlesbrough. This is my wife and daughter coming across to meet me.

Hip shot, hip cats

Prev | Home | Next

I've been pondering whether to include this shot, because, due to the large number of diagonal lines there is a lot of artifacts and broken lines. But there is something about it I like. I was sat on a seat and as this couple approached I fired off a couple of shots by just turning the camera towards them.

Anyway I like it.

Window reflection

Prev | Home | Next



Reflection from a window in the new Mima gallery in Middlesbrough (due to open early next year).

The crooner

Prev | Home | Next



This is a guy called Paul Harper, who is the singer with the Palm Court Dance Orchestra. According to their flyer, that I was given on Sunday while watching them, their aim is to "recreate the unique sound of the 1920's and 1930's". They seemed to go down very well with the audience who had gathered to watch them.

Binns Roof

Prev | Home | Next



This was taken from the top of a car park in central Middlesbrough. It is the top of the Binns department store. I was only there for a couple of minutes taking shots, but it was still time for a security guard to come up and see what I was doing. Big brother IS watching you.

Here's looking at you

Prev | Home | Next



Taken in one of the shops in Middlesbrough

Checkmate

Prev | Home | Next



One of the things available for the public to participate in on Sunday, was a giant temporary chessboard.

Aerial acrobatics

Prev | Home | Next

The new MIMA art gallery in Middlesbrough is due to open early next year, but this weekend saw the official opening of Centre Square (the area in front of the gallery). There were various events and acts performing over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including this young lady, doing aerial acrobatics from a balloon, presumably filled with helium. She was moved around and lifted higher and lower by two guys holding ropes on either side of the balloon.

She must have a very trusting nature as I'd hate to think where she would have ended up if they had let go of the rope!

It's raining, it's pouring

Prev | Home | Next



We were out and about in Middlesbrough today, and the rain started to come down.