Herb Riddle's photos

Just when I was thinking that Autumn might quickly bypass me this year, a spell of sunshine lets me go find these wonderful colours in my local valley. Enjoy full size.

Here in my home town of Oldham, UK, we have a splendid public park. There are quite a few fences in there but this one recently caught my attention as it has just been completely re-furbished. An old Edwardian style wrought iron fence with a brand new coat of paint makes it a pleasure to view. (All right then, I know some people would describe this as a bridge railing but hey….it does carry on after the bridge…I think!) I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb

Dogs Bay in County Galway, near Clifden and Roundstone must surely count as one of the most beautiful that I have ever set foot on. With sand as soft as silk its no wonder that the trailing sea leaves so many tiny channels. We see here the changing sky from the blue morning clarity to the coming rain storms. The home of two of my recent HFF fence pictures on here too, just to my right, behind me here! See NEW pip with two older ones here. As usual, a must for full size on black.

Red Deer Rut at Tatton Park, Cheshire The sound of a red deer stag bellowing is both unmistakeable and unforgettable. At this time of year stags are battling to show their dominance to gather together a harem of females. As always, beautiful at full screen. See pip

A look at a local country forest park just a 25 minute drive away. After posting my last years photo from almost the same spot (see pip), I thought that I had better take another look this year. Not to be disappointed here is the result. Enjoy full size.

As I walk up this small hill, only metres away from the sea, I cast my eyes on another fence. This style of fence now becoming quite familiar on my travels here in County Galway. Enjoy. I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb Best viewed full screen

Quite a walk from the road, high above here. The castle actually faces a beautiful bit of coastline only about 200 metres below and right left of me here. One of those ruins which looks better from afar rather than nearby where you see the decay. A nice detour though and completely free to wander down this track. See PiPs In reality an old ruined Manor House built c. 1818 for John D'Arcy, the local landowner, in the Gothic Revival style. Uninhabited after 1894 it fell into disrepair. In 1935, ownership passed to a group of tenants, who were to own it jointly, and it quickly became a ruin. WiKi

We see here the back of this ruined castle which is in reality an old ruined Manor House. See Pip for classic view.

Another rare clear night with hardly any moon coaxes me out again to our moorlands between Manchester and Holmfirth, Yorkshire. Here we see the now familiar red glowing transmitter of Holm Moss but also a moorland reservoir called Digley. We can still see the light pollution of our great city of Manchester some 15 miles away from here, shetered somewhat by the trees and hills to my right. The tower is directly south of me. Best viewed full size on black. This photo is another massive stitch panorama of 15 photos. Yes 15! all portrait taken in three rows of 5 across.Each photo taken at: ISO1600, F2.8, 20 secs using my Nikon 7100 self times and Tokina 11-16mm F2.8G. Again I am indebted to my Ipernity friend Steve Paxton for his help in all this.

The twelve pins or sometimes called the twelve Bens are a series of sharp-peaked quartzite summits and ridges located in the Connemara National Park. This view taken from near the minor road to Clifden from Roundstone.

A lovely Western Ireland bay sees us here with another fence. Where this started can only be guessed at, but we certainly know where it ends. Note the twisted white and black wire, usually denoting an electric fence wire so beware in trying to cross it. I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb PiP Best viewed full screen.

A look at this beautiful harbour of Roundstone here in Country Galway. Looking North here towards Bencullagh and Bengower.

Just days after seeing my first Autumn leaves of 2018, I get to see a scene like this. This spot on the River Tame is just near the visitors centre and stepping stones. The prehistoric plants/bones are a bit of a mystery to me I must admit. Sorry but they are not original to this spot. However they make a fine centre of attention behind which are these beautiful yellows. As normal here, enjoy full screen.

A rare waning moon mixed with an almost rare clear night sky tempts me out to the far reaches of our Saddleworth Moor towards Yorkshire, in order to catch the illusive Milky Way from here. In fact you can just make it out as the smears of cloudy light rising diagonally left from the white-hot light of the Greater Manchester conurbation. Seen here also is the red glowing communications transmitter mast of Holme Moss. The white horizontal scratch line is most probably the International Space Station which was due across here at this time (aeroplanes leave a coloured dotted line). PiP For the technically minded, this is a four photo, portrait stitch. Each photo at 20s F2.8 -Tokina 11mm. This photo covers roughly 120° of the horizon. My grateful thanks to our Ipernity friend Steve Paxton without who's help and encouragement, this would not be here.

As the sand swirls over the stony surface towards my camera, I wonder if this is all worth the effort, but as I gaze later upon this scene the answer is clear. Taken at Dog’s Bay in County Galway Ireland. HFF, I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb Best viewed full screen.

A local park (Tandle Hills, Oldham) just a few weeks later than now, last year, reminds us of the photographic pleasures of this season. Enjoy Pip shows almost same spot a few years earlier

Another taken on our 'Roundstone' round tour, just south of Clifden in the Connemara. A little estuary of sorts, sheltered from the Atlantic storms by Islands and spits of land. See the fisherman out near the top boats and his dog is keeping a keen eye on me. This was the average type of weather out here with constant winds from the West over the wild Atlantic. Makes for moody cloudscapes though. Deserves full screen on black! PiP

Seen on our Roundstone trip. Also better known as Bunowen Castle. A chance sight but well worth recording here. Seated on Dun Hill in the area of Bunowen, County Galway. Built in the 1500s and overlooking a private beach which in the old days was used as the main access here for the ‘Ferocious O’Flahertys’ were seafarers; the head of the clan, Donal, even married the legendary pirate queen Granuaile (Grace O’Malley). (bravoyourcity.com) more info; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aughnanure_Castle