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Friday, 30 September 2011

Kaleidoscope


The main reason I ventured over the border into Lancashire last weekend was to visit the city of Manchester's lovely Art Gallery.  There's so much to see there.  In the end, we didn't pay (£8!) to enter the current major exhibition ('Ford Madox Brown, pre-Raphaelite pioneer') but contented ourselves with browsing the permanent exhibits.  You generally can't take photographs in British art galleries, but there was an interactive space aimed at children that was more informal.  I took this colourful picture inside a huge kaleidoscope there.  I've always been fascinated by the patterns they make in their mirrors.  As a child I had one as a toy, with coloured plastic chips that rearranged themselves when you shook it.  It was quite absorbing.

I haven't joined in 'Weekend Reflections' for ages, so this can be my contribution this week.  See here for more wonderful and varied reflections from around the world this week.

PS: I suspect Manchester doesn't count itself as being in Lancashire, as technically it is part of Greater Manchester... but, to someone from Yorkshire, it's definitely in Lancashire.

17 comments:

  1. I remember those toys, I had one too!I like your picture, so colorful!

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  2. I suspect that youy are right about Manchester and Lancashire. Travel the very short distance to Bolton, and it's a different matter altogether!

    I used to have a beaded kaleidoscope too. I remember being very absorbed by it! What fun to stand inside one!

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  3. Coincidentally, I've recently bought a kaleidoscope for our granddaughters. Now, it's one of the first things they make for when they visit.

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  4. The colours and patterns in the kaleidoscope are beautifully arranged - I'm sure it was well worth the visit!
    Have a wonderful and safe week-end.

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  5. I loved my kaleidoscope. It had little bits of coloured plastic in it and one of them (just one!) was shaped like a flower. I always liked it best when that bit was in the picture.

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  6. We still have a toy one...I love to look through it!

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  7. Our former neighbor who did our stained-glass window (the "bat-signal") teaches a class on making kaleidoscopes. Apparently they were very fashionable in Victorian times as adult amusements. Jim

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  8. Can't blame them Mancunians for not wanting to be in Lancashire - who does. I seem to recall from the news earlier in the week a couple of fells and a small forest had applied to become part of Yorkshire.

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  9. This is fantastic! What a clever capture, Jenny.

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  10. Jenny, I haven't thought of kaleidoscopes in decades! Had one as a child and loved it, wish I still had it. I enjoyed your comments about Yorkshire and Lancashire and Manchester. My grandfather was from a tiny village on the border.

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  11. I like this one, Jenny. I have some kaleidoscopes and recently was thinking about whether it was possible to photograph within one, and decided that it wasn't possible. (Don't get too worried about geographic boundaries . . . if you post it, is is from Saltaire.)

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  12. Such wonderful patterns. It must have been fun to walk into a kaleidoscope.

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  13. That is a very nice shot, Jenny ! It is quite difficult to take picture of a kaleidoscope because of the variation of the depth of field. You did it so well... Magical !

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  14. What fun, Jenny! And what a wonderful, colorful capture for the day! Really terrific! Enjoy your weekend!

    Sylvia

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  15. A wonderful picture! I've always loved kaleidoscopes and have one right now on the table at my side!

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  16. It must have been fun to be inside that exhibition. Very pretty colors. ~Lili

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  17. This kaleidoscope makes a very cool reflection shot.

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