Herb Riddle's photos

Taken from the mountains around the town of Kotor

A very cold December night tempts me out to try another star panoramic shot. This taken on the top of' 'Saddleworth Moor' where in all honesty I had expected it to be far darker. My tripod in about 12cm of icy snow and the temperature is -4C. This shot comprises of around 9 portrait photos (about 280deg) stitched for a panoramic photo. Each photo taken by my 18mm lens at around 6 seconds exposure. Freezing hands later, was it worth it?

The church called is called Our Lady of the Rocks or Gospa od Škrpjela and sits deep in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro. Here we see it just as our ship sails away from it, just before reaching the town of Kotor.

A friendly local Robin gives me an opportunity to wish all my friends and viewers here on Ipernity, A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Herb

Cavtat in Croatia is the location for this very Adriatic view. This is one of the two bays it has to offer, towards the land from one of Cavtats beautiful penisulars.

Delph, one of the small Saddleworth villages not far from my home here in North West England. After an earlier than usual fall of snow and sub-zero temperatures I have the opportunity again to explore in conditions like this. Of course, a shot for the super wide-angle lens here. Enjoy.

Here at Ioannina in Greece sits a beautiful lake, commonly called 'Lake of Ioannina'. The weather is a mild 23C and the first leaves of Autumn are falling on this September day. A stroll, a sit or just a pause to snap the scene, what more can we ask for.

A rather daring attempt to bring the season of Advent into the lives of ordinary Mancunians. 24 of the buildings windows are covered up by a number and is opened up on the appropriate days to reveal a picture.

As the nights grow colder, frost lies underfoot here in the North West of England and then the early sun melts away the frost giving this Winters fleeting mist.

The golden leaves of Autumn mixes here with the onset of Winter frost. A sunny walk along my local byways and countryside once again delivers the goods.

Leaving the harbour at Igoumenitsa in Greece we are greeted by this sunset. Enjoy

A view of the Ancient Dodona Theater here at Igoumenitsa. It is hard to believe that these seats were often full of adoring people watching and listening to the plays that were often staged here in this desolate spot.

A trip to the heel of Italy is not complete without a visit to this most unusual historic village. Here we see many of the Trulli houses. Most Trilli houses of this village are just for show now but some are still inhabited. A great place to wander. "A trullo (plural, trulli) is a traditional Apulian dry stone hut with a conical roof. Their style of construction is specific to the Itria Valley, in the Murge area of the Italian region of Apulia. Trulli generally were constructed as temporary field shelters and storehouses or, as permanent dwellings by small proprietors or agricultural labourers. In the town of Alberobello, in the province of Bari, whole districts contain dense concentrations of trulli. The golden age of trulli was the nineteenth century, especially its final decades, which were marked by the development of wine growing." Wiki

Taormina in Sicily is a facinating place. The old Greek Theatre built high above the town gives us a great view here. Its hard to believe that these walls were built in the days of the Roman Empire.

This old town sits upon a hill and so there are many streets such as this, making wandering about an arduous process at times. However the reward with such scenes present are evident.

A colourful Autumn look at my local canal here at Greenfield near Oldham in Northern England. Its a Sunday afternoon and a time to enjoy these trees and the canal paths whilst the leaves are still there. A reminder here of the canals of Holland maybe :)

A visit to Valletta would not be complete without witnessing the 12 o'clock salute at the Saluting battery. Just about made it here in time. "The Saluting Battery was constructed in the 16th century by the Order of Saint John, on or near the site of an Ottoman battery from the Great Siege of Malta. The battery forms the lower tier of St. Peter & Paul Bastion of the Valletta Land Front, located below the Upper Barrakka Gardens and overlooking Fort St. Angelo and the rest of the Grand Harbour. The Saluting Battery was mainly used for firing ceremonial gun salutes and signals, but it also saw military use during the blockade of 1798–1800 and World War II. The battery remained an active military installation until its guns were removed by the British in 1954. It was restored and opened to the public in the early 21st century, and it is now equipped with eight working replicas of SBBL 32 pounders which fire gun signals daily at 1200 and 1600." WiKi

Walking around in this magnificent old city, I spot this very interesting gardens and monument. Of course it was the lighting that struck me most. (typical!). However the story below is well worth reading: Sir Alexander Ball was a British naval officer who was sent to Malta in 1798 to help the Maltese rebels in the blockade against the French. Ball became the first Civil Commissioner of Malta, a post he held from 1799 to 1801 and again from 1802 until his death on 25 October 1809. Ball was widely loved and respected by the Maltese people.