Herb Riddle's photos

Another look at this area, this time looking across the small damming of the river by a weir resulting in a small mirror lake. To the left of this used to be a small canal like structure which fed water to a steam water-pumping house. Yes, this was coal mining country. High above are the cliffs of 'Roger Rocks' which I can remember finding fossils in, when I was a kid exploring this area. You see here our lonely path to the right too. Enjoy full screen.

As we here in England take the first steps to normalisation in this C19 lockdown, we get natures reply. Taken on a recent isolation exercise walk, this is along a place I know as ‘Roger Rocks’. In reality it is part of the larger Country Park area called ‘Park-Bridge’ in Ashton-under-Lyne. Running down the centre of the photo from left to right is the River Medlock, almost in draught condition. Of course the colours and verdant wild-flowers of late May in this beautiful lighting attracted me to this. As usual best view full screen on black.

As we leave the Island of Lanzarote and indeed the whole set of Canary islands, the sun starts to set over one of Lanzarote's closest neighbours, the Island of Alegranza. This is the most northerly point in the Canary Islands, and is part of the Chinijo Archipelago. The island features a volcano with a crater of about 1.1 km in diameter and an altitude of 289 m. That is the end of my memories from Lanzarote series, I hope you have enjoyed it. As usual, best viewed full screen on black.

Another of our old cotton-mill fire-escapes here, standing out quite spectacularly in the bright rare sunshine today. Fortunately, not often used! Maybe I should have posted this in this months ‘windows’ theme SPC :) HFF, enjoy your weekend

Another view from inside the wine growing district of the La Geria valley. Presumably the house of the owner here. Maybe the green new plants seen near the house spells out a message? As usual best view full screen on black.

As we return to the port from the fire mountains we pass through a most unusual scene of semi-circles along the base and sides of the broad valley. This is actually a vineyard were the famous Malvasía grape is cultivated resulting in excellent wines. To me, even though the wines were indeed very good I was entranced by the unique scenery. As usual best view full screen on black. The valley of La Geria, which has been declared a 'Protected Area', is Lanzarote’s main wine-growing region, occupying about 20 square miles (52 square kilometres) and stretching on both sides of the road from Masdache to Uga and right up to the volcanic slopes. This area produces most of Lanzarote’s excellent wines, of which 75 per cent are made from the Malvasía grape, one of the oldest known grape varieties. Best known as a honey-coloured, very sweet wine with a rich flavour, already praised by Shakespeare hundreds of years ago, today the Malvasía grape produces a wide variety of quality white, red or rosé wines, from very sweet to very dry. Located on the edge of the badlands and covered with black volcanic ash, the vineyards of La Geria valley look like they have been transplanted here from another planet. The Lanzaroteños found an indigenous way of cultivating vines on this arid and hostile ground. They dug more than 10,000 funnel-shaped hollows into the thick layers of picón (coarse volcanic ashes), planted the vines, only one vine per hollow, filled them with soil and poured thick layers of picón over it, as the porous volcanic granules ideally retain the night humidity to feed the plants. In order to protect them from the constant winds and drying out, they built low, semicircular walls around them. This unique cultivation method results in a prosperous wine industry, renowned for excellent wines, which can be sampled and purchased in a number of local winegrowers’ bodegas (wine shops). La Geria has become quite a popular attraction, it looks like a gigantic and spectacular piece of landscape art.

Up in the heights of the Timafaya National Park it can get a bit wild. Since Lanzarote gets on average only 18 days of rain compared with our 184 in NW England it’s also very barren and dry. One of the few animals that can survive is the dromedary and for some time, people have been making use of that. Here we see one of the very regular tourist ‘camel safari’ tours that captivate the visitors. You can sit in relative comfort, two at a time for about 30 minutes, up and down (sic) on these trails gazing at the black ashen slopes. ~ Not for me, much too slow and not the best way to photograph the scenery I thought, but I managed to get some shots of other folk enjoying themselves. You too, enjoy the spectacle and marvelous alien scenery here. As usual best view full screen on black.

The second in this series. Taken from its neighbours summit here in the Timanfaya National Park.

Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, is quite unlike its green neighbours. About a quarter of the Island is strewn with a string of volcanoes, named the Timanfaya National Park. Here we see Volcán El Cuervo. Part of my 2015 Canaries cruise. Nice full screen

A rare clear night beckons me out to my nearest high point only a fifteen minute drive from my home at around 23:00. Even so, in these days of semi-lockdown, there are other people still up here enjoying the views in the unusual warmth. This is almost a view towards the highlights of Oldham to the NW, Notice the still blue after-glow of daylight where the sun had dipped hours before, a result of our relative high latitude. The results of 12 portrait shots in a double vertical row with my Tokina 11mm taken at F5.6 for 10 secs using a clear-night filter to help take away the light pollution. Enjoy full screen. My thanks again to Steve Paxton for his invaluable help in producing these.

A rare clear night beckons me out to my nearest high point only a fifteen minute drive from my home at around 23:00. Even so, in these days of semi-lockdown, there are other people still up here enjoying the views in the unusual warmth. This is almost a 180deg view towards the highlights of Manchester and Oldham to the west, showing on the right side, the path to the old long-gone tower with people sat on it. Notice the still blue after-glow of daylight on the right side, a result of our relative high latitude. The results of six portrait shots by my Tokina 11mm taken at F5.6 for 10 secs using a clear-night filter to help take away the light pollution. Enjoy full screen. My thanks again to Steve Paxton for his invaluable help in producing these.

Fences and dry stone walls describe the fact that we are in The Yorkshire Dales looking towards the iconic mountain of these parts Ingleborough. On the other side of this fence, one would usually encounter the many breeds of sheep that roam about here but mainly Herdwick. Have a great and safe weekend, ps best viewed full screen

Our home lock-down does not enable me to get many good sunsets at the moment. So here is a splendid evenings shooting at Balnakeil Bay in the very North of Scotland from 2014. This was taken around 22:00 but I stood snapping for another hour getting the glorious after-effect lighting. As I took this, I was accompanied by about another dozen photographers all shooting the same scene, some doing long time exposures. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this. Enjoy full screen

My tenth and last still life here today, displaying a photo with some of the same ingredients as in my SPC competition entries that started all this. No surprise really as this was done on the same shoot. I have tried to harmonies the colours and shades somewhat as well as having harmonies in shape and form. The woven basketwork base tries to imitate the lines in the shell too. Another end result that may have looked good on a restaurant place mat perhaps. I hope you have enjoyed this series from me as much as I enjoyed producing it, and that it demonstrated perhaps some different ideas from me other than my usual landscapes and holiday selections. Nice full screen.

Two pieces of glass standing side by side, almost mirroring themselves in their enveloping curves. Behind is a background of sky blue and clouds with hints of red reflections in the glass from somewhere, we know not where from.

Another in the grand tradition of still life. The subject of many an artist, be it in oils, watercolours or pencils. You can tell a nice still life fruit study by the increase in saliva it provokes or the urge to simply touch the fruit skins, and in this case stroke the soft wood of the bowl too. The secret to it all, of course, is lighting. I hope that you too recognise these things as I do. Nice full screen

A chance for me to take still life on holiday. Here we were staying in a charming rented house were all that was needed was for us to fill up these decanters. With six adults here, they would not have remained full for long :) I like the gentle harmonic greens with the warm golds of the whisky but the shape and lines of the glass also appealed to me. Enjoy full size.

When a couple get together in a certain atmospheric situation it only takes an extra touch, like a rose, to set things afire. Enjoy this prelude to love! Enjoy full size.