Ionic Temple, Chiswick House, London

I like the way you framed this in the portrait orientation and emphasised the verticals to good effect. The swan is a good counter balance on the right. A nice tight composition.

Thanks, TLC. And as one of my Flickr contacts pointed out, the cloud helped. This shot would have been impossible on a sunny day.

Great verticals and a fine composition, John !

Thanks, Ulrich.

Exceptional capture!

Admired in:
www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance

Thanks, William.

Beautifully composed and great reflections, John.

Thanks, George.

Classic architecture, reflected in still water, with swan. So peaceful. And the flat perspective makes it very much like a detailed etching, Georgian perhaps.

Thanks, Bob, especially for the idea about the resemblance to an etching. I suspect I was using the zoom here, which would produce the flatness. I think I'll experiment with that.

An unusual composition John, I would never have thought of doing that - but it works really well. I like the verticals, especially in the reflection and the swan adds a nice touch of interest!

Cleverly done sir!

Thanks, Keith. Now that you mention it, I think I have a healthy/unhealthy interest in verticals. I've been using portrait orientation a lot lately.

Ha, ha. I think I'm the same way about the square format.........

When are you going back to England?

I hope to go this year, Sarah, but I can't be sure. But I want to go. Back in 2011 I renewed my passport for 10 years instead of 5, and I haven't so far justified the additional expense. And I have a fair sum left on my Oyster card.

I usually only visit major art galleries every few years (so the collections don't get too familiar), and it's about time I got back to the National Gallery, the Sainsbury Collection, and the Norwich School galleries at the Castle Museum in Norwich. Of course it's about time I got back to the Art Gallery of Ontario downtown and I haven't, even though I can get to it on the subway in about half an hour (half of which is walking to and from the subway). We've had enough dim days to justify a visit, too. Maybe it's all the school groups that are deterring me.

The enjoyment of a gallery is defined by its contents. On the plus side, the exhibits and their annotated notes, the seating, the peace. On the minus side, the visitors, the noise, the crass observations.

You would enjoy the McMichael Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario, near Toronto, TLC. A stunning collection on a beautiful, peaceful site.

Their collection: collections.mcmichael.com/collections

There's 100 acres of forest there, with trails and a sculpture garden. And a cemetery -- for six members of the Group of Seven. You may well never have heard of them but in the 1920s they were an international sensation with their new style of landscape, now known as Canadian landscape style. No people, and depth provided only by superposition of planes.

I followed the link and found that the page was under ongoing maintenance. Nonetheless, I think you are right in your supposition. Thank you.