Croquet

Croquet is a serious game. Other games are spoiled by the dominion of money. Croquet is pure, and intense on a different level. Nikon D700 + AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-210mm f/4 lens at 125mm. Relatively few of this constant-aperture lens were made: it was expensive and sales were slow. Nikon replaced it with a cheaper variable-aperture 70-210mm with a push-pull trombone action lens.

Croquet on the lawn of the Bishop's Palace, Wells, Somerset. Nikon D700 + AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-210mm f/4 lens.

The Bishops' Palace, Wells, Somerset. Nikon D700 + AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-210mm f/4 lens.

A Byzantine game, maybe, full of nuance and innuendo. A game where interlopers mysteriously insinuate themselves and ghosts of games long past gaze wistfully at the shadows cast by the hoops.

Cropped square from a picture made with a Nikon D90 and an AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens.

A lot can happen in seven years.