Oresome

There's something I love about cogs on old machinery - and when they're rusty... well, I love the patina and the pattern and the sense of venerable age. This was a pic I shot for my 'Rust' monthly photography theme but I decided it was an 'also-ran'.  My viewpoint was, I think, just a bit too high.

Retained as a sculptural reminder of the buildings' industrial and textile heritage, the weaving loom is slowly oxidising outside the Victoria Mills complex (see also here). I wonder how long it will last before it all falls to bits? (Longer than I will, I'll bet!)

Ever on watch

This lion is 'Vigilance' - one of the four proud beasts, sculpted by Thomas Milnes, that grace the centre of Saltaire. Of the four, this is perhaps the hardest to photograph. For much of the year he is pretty much smothered in tree - as his green coat testifies. I like his look - very snooty, very proud - though I think someone ought to give him a good scrub come the spring. If only he could tell us what he has noticed in his 140 plus years of keeping watch over the village's comings and goings......

Rust bucket

Still not getting out with my camera very often (so much dull, damp weather) but I had to grab the chance to go out looking for rust! This is the theme for January's photo challenge in my photo group (see here). Finding rust round here is not too much of a problem but getting an interesting photo is more of a dilemma... do you go in for close detail or attempt a wider view? I headed off to the local scrap-metal merchant, which has provided rich pickings on previous visits. The site has recently been the subject of a local scrap (ha!) over whether the recycling business should be booted out in favour of developing the area for (another) supermarket. In the end a rival scheme has been chosen so the scrap business can remain. However, I was a little dismayed to see that the area seems to have been tidied up a lot. Gone are the colourful skips overflowing with debris (here); I just found this one. I felt there was something quite attractive about the random arrangement, nevertheless.

Through rose-coloured specs

I couldn't resist taking this view again.  I've taken it so many times before (click 'That View' label below to see the others) but this morning it looked so lovely. It was a cold, frosty, very still morning and the rising sun was just catching Salts Mill, giving it a really rosy glow. I really like the way that at certain times of year it illuminates the mill and leaves the rest in shadow. There was not a ripple of wind on the canal either. It was a quick photo on my phone on my way to work but once again the iPhone does a creditable job, enhanced a bit by the 'Snapseed' app.

Orange

Busy grannying this week... Eric Carle's books have stood the test of time. I used to read these with my daughter too.

Wild wind blowing

This photo was one of those 'happy accidents' that sometimes happen. I was setting up my tripod and somehow managed to take a photo whilst moving the camera. I was about to delete it but then I thought that with a square crop it makes quite a nice image.

Intersection 4

This is the photo I chose to enter for the 'Intersection' theme (see previous days). It's a very reflective office building near the rail station in Leeds. Where two blocks meet at a corner, the reflections create this riot of intersecting lines. It was a dark winter's afternoon and I was initially dismayed to find that the office lights were on - but in the end I think that lifts the image from being simply a pattern picture into something a bit more interesting.

The theme for January is 'Rust' - now that shouldn't be too difficult....!

Intersection 3

Another 'Intersection' attempt. I don't think this one works really, mainly because of the very light area on the left. I couldn't shift my viewpoint a lot as I was hanging over a balcony in a shopping mall!

And then it dawned on me...

.... when I flung open the curtains this morning -

time to listen to Norah Jones:

Intersection 2

I mentioned (here) that I was seeking inspiration on the December theme of 'Intersection' for my online photography club... This is another attempt. It's taken right outside my front door, where there is a veritable tangle of woodwork where two fences align.

Belated HNY

Wishing everyone a belated but sincere Happy New Year. Apologies that I'm not getting round to taking any new photos yet, never mind actual blogging. I am being productive in my spare time but just in different ways at the moment. In common with many others in this country and abroad, the weather hasn't exactly been conducive to getting out and about much either, with lots of rain and strong winds. My thoughts are with blog-friends in the northern USA - those low temperatures sound scary.  It's been lovely stopping by a few blogs to taste summer in Australia!

There have been  a few sunnier days here - mostly when I've been at work, of course. I took this shot when I went out for a walk on Boxing Day. It's the Coppice Pond at St Ives, Bingley. You may recall a similar viewpoint on a more autumnal day - here.