Herb Riddle's photos

A grand long distance view from this small lake (Tarn Hows) where I am standing in our English Lake District. The highest peak here is called 'Pike of Stickle'. Enjoy ps best enjoyed large.

Scale, waves, ripples and the constant change of sea depth all blurred in reality here. Even where the rocks may touch the sky is not clear at all on this thirty second exposure.Taken at Port Logan, Scotland.

A walk north a few miles from Port Patrick gives us this delightful view to the next lighthouse. We decided we had done enough walking at this point and so returned back to the town but not before taking a few snaps. Enjoy

Overlooking my home town of Oldham and neighbouring towns of Ashton and Mossley. This monument has stood within my home eyesight for most of my longish life now. At 940' ASL it can get a bit nippy up here, especially when the snow is blowing. A previous tower was built here in the early 18c which you can see the remains of behind these youngsters, but the main tower started life in 1863. The town directly ahead is Oldham. For you photo technicians this was created using 22 portrait Raw photos with my 23mm Nikon lens, then stitched together with MS ICE. I used a Lee ND filter to darken the clouds. The original of this was around 30,000 x 6000. Enjoy

Situated on the Rhins of Galloway this port was a very important outlet for fishing, giving access to Northern Ireland. Earlier its quay was protected by the baron of Dunskey Castle. When being invaded, the fishermen and their families probably scrambled up the cliffs to Dunskey for protection. (The old castle situated just behind the top rocky cliffs seen here in the background.) Now a delightful place to stroll and also to spend some time, especially as I am stood in the grounds of the grand 'Port Patrick Hotel' here.

A striking view of this magnificent ancient ruin. It is hard to believe that it was once a bustling hive of activity. It is picturesquely perched on a rocky outcrop jutting out into the Irish Sea and I must admit that it really comes into its own at sunsets. (When I was not here!) Dunskey Castle is a ruined, 12th century tower house or castle, near Port Patrick on the Rhins of Galloway, Scotland. "The massive towerhouse was built in the mid-16th century for the Adairs of Kinhilt - the same family that owned the Castle of St John in Stranraer - and the long wing to the north was added in the 1620's. By 1700 the whole building was derelict.The defensive ditch on the landward side is all that survives of an earlier Adair Castle. First recorded in the 14th century, this castle was destroyed around 1500 by the McCullochs of Myrton and Cardoness." www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/dunskey-castle-p255821

A trip to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland has many surprises for the visitor. As far as great buildings this takes some beating. Here we see the Parliament Building with the old Stormont Castle hidden in the trees to our right. "Stormont Castle is a mansion on the Stormont Estate in east Belfast which is used as the main meeting place of the Northern Ireland Executive. It was never a castle as such: the original building was reworked in the nineteenth century in the Scottish baronial style with features such as bartizans used for decorative purposes. Between 1921 and 1972, it served as the official residence of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. However, a number of prime ministers chose to live at Stormont House, the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland, which was empty as a number of speakers had chosen to live in their own homes. It also served as the location of the Cabinet Room of the Government of Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972. Before devolution it served as the Belfast headquarters of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Office Ministers and supporting officials. During the Troubles, it was also used by MI5 officers." Wiki

Port Logan on the 'Rhins of Galloway' in Scotland is a very sleepy seaside hamlet. One of its great worthy things to see though is its old lighthouse at the end of the old pier. The pier was part of an old harbour started in 1818 designed for ships to bring cattle over from Ireland. Now only used to shelter the odd craft.: LIGHTHOUSE TOWER: 3-stage circular tower, with open light-chamber to 3rd stage. Situated to NW of pier, incorporating and terminating parapet. Granite and sandstone ashlar. Band course between 1st and 2nd stages. Doorway to SE to ground floor chamber, with small fireplace and shelved recess. Forestair to doorway to S to 1st floor chamber; window to SW; open hatch to light chamber above (formerly accessed by ladder). Open light chamber, formed by 4 rebated square pillars carrying stone conical roof of concave profile. Latrine annexe. (http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk)

A very impressive lighthouse that is now owned by a local trust. Perched on the edge of a 260 ft high cliff, the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse sits on the edge of Southern Scotland. It was built by Robert Stevenson, with work commencing in 1828 and taking two years to complete. The light, which stands 99m above sea level, was first lit on the 26th March 1830. The light remains operational today.

A pleasant sight as I stroll across the local beach at Port Logan in Scotland. It would be dufficult to arrange such a still-life composition.

Here we are at the very tip of the 'Rhins of Galloway' otherwise called the' Mull of Galloway'. Just around the corner is yet another impressive lighthouse too. I believe seals and such creatures are regularly seen from here, but not for me, this time. Enjoy.

This wonderful lighthouse sits on Corsewall Point, Kirkcolm near Stranraer in Scotland. First lit in 1817 and now alas a hotel. I was lucky here with the matching sea and bluebell colours.

The memorial to Queen Victoria erected in 1897, seen around the old castle in this port town of Stranraer in Scotland. This is actually a hdr three raw image edited with an artistic slant. Better viewed in full size!

A very pleasant view of the sands and tower here in Port Logan on the 'Rhins of Galloway' in Scotland.

A local cricket match on this delightful Sunday in April belies the forecast of snow over the next few days here. Ah well lets enjoy it while we can and for me a well earned sit-down on this local photo walk at Greenfield,UK

Usually referred to as El Castillo ("the castle"). This step pyramid stands about 30 metres high and consists of a series of nine square terraces, each approximately 2.57 metres (8.4 ft) high, with a 6-metre (20 ft) high temple upon the summit. Inside the temple chamber was a Chac Mool statue and a throne in the shape of Jaguar, painted red and with spots made of inlaid jade On the Spring and Autumn equinoxes, in the late afternoon, the northwest corner of the pyramid casts a series of triangular shadows against the western balustrade on the north side that evokes the appearance of a serpent wriggling down the staircase, which some scholars have suggested is a representation of the feathered-serpent god Kukulkan. (Wiki)

Another of my Chichen Itza ruin shots. These Mayan ruins date from about 600AD This temple encases or entombs a former structure called The Temple of the Chac Mool. The archeological expedition and restoration of this building was done by the Carnegie Institution of Washington from 1925 to 1928. (Wiki)

Another fine pyramid in this giant archaeological site.: The Osario itself, is a step-pyramid temple dominating its platform. Like its larger neighbour (The Castle), it has four sides with staircases on each side. There is a temple on top, but unlike El Castillo, at the center is an opening into the pyramid which leads to a natural cave 12 metres (39 ft) below. Edward H. Thompson excavated this cave in the late 19th century, and because he found several skeletons and artefacts such as jade beads, he named the structure The High Priests' Temple. Archaeologists today believe neither that the structure was a tomb nor that the personages buried in it were priests. ...............Modified Wiki