Roger Bennion's photos

It took me such a long time to find the light switch here and then I wasn't sure if the light would stay on long enough for me to get the shot :-)) I do hope it stays on 'cos I think it leads quite neatly to "Leave the Light On" by Beth Hart :-) And, wow.....a brilliant performance! Added to ~ Sight and Sound Listen here ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ~ Leave The Light On ~ Beth Hart

~ Explored! ~ Thank you very much :-))) This was a candid shot taken at one of the recent Oxford University Graduation ceremonies. I'm not sure if the lady might have been about to shed a little tear but, anyway, it seems like a good idea to me to link this to "Smile" by Nat King Cole :-) It says that this song was written by Charlie Chaplin. I did not know this :-) Looking at Wikipedia it says - "Smile" is a song based on an instrumental theme used in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin movie Modern Times. Charlie Chaplin composed the music, while John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics and title in 1954". Added to ~ Sight and Sound Listen here ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ~ Smile ~ Nat King Cole

The Andrew Wiles Building (Oxford University’s £70m Mathematical Institute facility) was formally opened on 3 October 2013. The building was designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects and constructed by Laing O'Rourke. It is called the Andrew Wiles Building in acknowledgement of one of Oxford’s most distinguished mathematicians. The building provides workspace for a diverse community of more than 500 mathematical researchers and support staff, including faculty, research fellows and postgraduate students. It is a centre for the academic life of approximately 900 undergraduates.

~ Explored! ~ Thank you very much :-))) Another shot taken at Willen Lake, Milton Keynes where the organisation - “Newfound Friends - Newfoundland Dogs working for Childrens Charities” was giving a rescue demonstration. The doggy had just 'rescued' these peeps :-) So, that leads me to "Rescue Me" by Amy Helm and the Handsome Strangers. Amy is the daughter of the late, great, Levon Helm. Added to ~ Sight and Sound Listen here ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ~ Rescue Me ~ Amy Helm and the Handsome Strangers An alternate take ♫ ♫ from Jam in the Van Such a neat idea methinks :-))

Last Friday I went over to Oxford and until I got there I had no idea Graduation ceremonies were taking place. So, I thought ...."what a great time to try some candids" :-) This could be the first of in a series :-)

I was framing this shot and, suddenly, the lady walked into the scene. I was so surprised that I accidentally pressed the shutter!! But, no matter because it has reminded me of a song :-)) And, that is "Alone" by The Bee Gees. I still cannot believe that Barry Gibb is the only brother left. So sad. Added to ~ Sight and Sound Listen here ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ~ Alone ~ The Bee Gees

~ Explored! ~ Thank you very much :-))) Fallin' well behind at the mo! Been trying to install Windows 10 and it seems to be a never ending job! But, I think I have succeeded. I have even persuaded Cortana to talk to me :-))) This rainbow was not photographed in Omaha but for the purposes of 'Sight and Sound' it could have been :-)) Added to ~ Sight and Sound Listen here ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ~ Omaha Rainbow ~ John Stewart And, Happy Fence Friday, All :-)

~ Explored! ~ Thank you very much :-))) View from the Eastern Lake Pavilion. From the National Trust's Stowe Leaflet - "The grand gardens of Stowe were created by Lord Cobham, a highly influential 18th century aristocrat and politician. At the height of their wealth and power, the Cobham family was richer than the King, and the gardens at Stowe were a bold statement to show this. The gardens quickly became one of the country's first tourist attractions"

~ Explored! ~ Thank you very much :-))) I looked at this shot taken in Ventnor, Isle of Wight and thought there must be music out there with “Tempest” in the title. And, sure enough, there is :-) After some searching I came across this track by Lucius and I thought this would make a sensible link for 'Sight and Sound' :-)) Lucius are a band from Brooklyn, New York. 'Rolling Stone' said they are “the best band you may not have heard yet" Holly Laessig (lead vocals and keys) Jess Wolfe (lead vocals and synth) Dan Molad (drums and vocals) Peter Lalish (guitar and vocals) Andrew Burri (guitar, drums, vocals) Added to ~ Sight and Sound Listen here ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ~ Tempest ~ Lucius

I hope no-one wants a full explanation of what I did here :-) Anyway, this was an oil on water shot that I then messed about with in Photoshop. There could have been some posterisation goin' on...but who knows :-) I think this looks like a space-person. Actually, to me, it looks a bit feminine. But, for the purposes of 'Sight and Sound', it is goin' to have to be Mr Spaceman :-) Added to ~ Sight and Sound Listen here ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ~ Mr Spaceman ~ The Byrds

There is always someone who wants to walk into my shot at the very moment I press the shutter :-)) Anyway, this is one of my fave buildings in Oxford to photograph. It is the Mathematical Institute named after Andrew Wiles the Oxford professor who proved Fermat's Last Theorem, one of history's most difficult mathematical problems. I would have probably proved the Theorem myself but Andrew beat me to it :-)) The tiling in front of the building is Penrose tiling, named after the mathematician Roger Penrose who invented it in the 1970s. Allegedly, no matter where you stand the pattern never repeats :-)

Happy Fence Friday :-) Have a great weekend, All. If you walk from one of the busiest roads in Oxford thru' the entrance of Magdalen College within a couple of minutes you come to this delightful and peaceful haven i.e. the Water Meadow :-) With just a wee bit soft focus added :-) Carol (Ecobird) has commented "Fields of Gold!" And, of course, this immediately brings to my mind "Fields of Gold" by Eva Cassidy. So, that is a good enough reason for me to add this to 'Sight and Sound' :-)) Added to ~ Sight and Sound Listen here ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ~ Fields of Gold ~ Eva Cassidy

~ Explored! ~ Thank you very much :-))) If you look ever so closely at this shot of The Shard in London I'm sure you will see a birdy with wings :-) I am probably risking being put in the 'sin bin' for only vaguely keeping to the Rules :-) I hope it won't mean outright expulsion from the Group but rather sitting in the 'sin bin' for short time.....please :-) I found a musical link that I think is quite clever :-) Initially, I wasn't sure if it was "Birdy" by Wings or "Wings" by Birdy :-) But, I have worked out it is the latter :-) Apparently, Birdy is Jasmine Lucilla Elizabeth Jennifer van den Bogaerde. Added to ~ Sight and Sound Listen here ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ~ Wings ~ Birdy

In 2013 Balliol College celebrated its 750th anniversary being founded in 1263. An extract from Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balliol_College,_Oxford follows - "Balliol College was founded by John I de Balliol under the guidance of the Bishop of Durham. After his death in 1268, his widow, Dervorguilla of Galloway made arrangements to ensure the permanence of the college in that she provided capital and in 1282 formulated the college statutes, documents that survive to this day."

Okay.....here comes one of my slightly tenuous links for 'Sight and Sound' :-) To me it looks like the young lady on the bicycle is 'racing' the two peeps in the background to see who can be the first to reach the 'King's Arms' Public House :-) Therefore, this links to the legendary "Racing in the Street" by Bruce Springsteen. Now, I know I should use the original version by The Boss :-) But, quite simply, I absolutely love the version by Emmylou Harris from her 1982 "Last Date" album. However, I have put in a second link to Bruce's original and awesome version :-)) Added to ~ Sight and Sound Listen here ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ~ Racing in the Street ~ Emmylou Harris & The Hot Band Original version (Live in Houston 1978) - ♪ ♫ ~ Racing in the Street ~ The Boss

~ Explored! ~ Thank you very much :-))) Time to try something in monochrome methinks :-)

~ Explored! ~ Thank you very much :-))) I have no idea if this is the correct colour of a 'San Antone Rose' :-)) But, no matter, I am linking this to "I'll Be Your San Antone Rose" by Emmylou Harris & The Hot Band. A performance on the Old Grey Whistle Test. Ah, memories, memories, memories of seeing Emmy several times in concert. Must have been the late 70's I guess :-) I even made myself an Emmylou Harris coffee table :-))) The Hot Band - Albert Lee................Lead Guitar Rodney Crowell......Guitar, Vocals Emory Gordy...........Bass, Vocals Hank De Vito...........Pedal Steel Guitar Glen D Hardin.........Piano John Ware..............Drums Added to ~ Sight and Sound Listen here ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ~ I'll Be Your San Antone Rose ~ Emmylou Harris & The Hot Band Another performance from German tele I guess :-) ♪ ♫ ~ I'll Be Your San Antone Rose ~ Emmylou Harris & The Hot Band p.s. there was a lot of messing 'bout in Gimp Photo Software :-)

Back to April for a shot taken on a lovely sunny day in Oxford :-) Kenny says "roll on summer" and has given a link to "In the Summertime" by Shaggy featuring Rayvon. So, that is a good enough reason to add this to 'Sight and Sound' methinks :-)) And, I like the video! Cheers, Kenny. Added to ~ Sight and Sound Listen here ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ~ In the Summertime" ~ Shaggy feat. Reyvon