I did not go to Bath, England to do nature photography, but sometimes opportunities arise. We were actually there to do a bit of urban tourism — visiting the historic baths, viewing the nearby church, checking out the Georgian architecture. In fact, those were the things we spent most of our time on. But at by this point we were over four weeks into our trip, and sometimes it is nice to get away from the urban stuff. So we went for a walk.
Continue reading Leaves, Bath
Visiting this remarkable old church was not particularly on our agenda when we stopped in Chester, England. We had some extra time so we made a several-hours layover during a train ride between two other cities, thinking that while it wasn’t worth an overnight stay it would be fun to poke around in Chester. The central part of this English town contains lots of fascinating old buildings, and it is surrounded by an old defensive wall.
Continue reading Columns, Chester Cathedral
It is easy for travelers to get swept up in seeing all of “the important sights,” the things that all the guidebooks list as the “Top X Things To See” in every city, town, or village. In truth, there are things on those lists that you really should visit. But there is a ton of fascinating stuff to be discovered if you go out and… just walk, perhaps with no particular destination in mind. These “discoveries” often create more enduring memories than the icons, and they help you start to form a personal relationship with places.
Continue reading Stairway, Bath
I am not the plant or macro photographer in the family. That would be Patricia Emerson Mitchell, my wife, whose camera is most often fitted with a macro lens. But I tag along, and I enjoy the challenge and the change that comes with photographing small things. While we were in Bath, England last June we visited a botanical garden, and I made this photograph while wandering among the plants.
Continue reading Spring Leaves