black and white

A tale of two rivers

Today I thought I’d show you a slightly different aspect of Tavira. The Rio Séqua rises in the hills of the Serra de Caldeiráo and flows down into Tavira. For no very obvious reason when it reaches the bridge, Ponte Romana, it changes its name to become Rio Giláo.

The above photo was taken after heavy rain which brings the bright orange soil tumbling down with it. A road bridge carries the E125 over the river and around the city and a railway bridge does the same for trains.

Beyond the railway bridge the river flows beneath a low level blue bridge and into the heart of the city, where it meets Ponte Romana, with its hearts and love locks. Mysteriously becoming Rio Gilao, it then flows towards the former Military Bridge, completely renewed but not yet open.

The river starts to widen and flows on, beneath the high level road bridge. and out through the salt marshes, leaving the city behind.

In the normal course of things you can catch a ferry to follow the river on its journey to the sea, or you can walk the road beside it, through the salt pans and out to Quatro Aguas. I’m really missing being able to do this but, hopefully, after Easter.

Two rivers, six bridges and a ferry later you will find yourself on the Ilha, looking back at lovely Tavira. I always prefer to share the colour and beauty of this place, but sometimes I can be persuaded to see life in black and white. I think that the bridges make good subjects for this, with their strong lines and the deep shadows cast by the sun.

Terri at Second Wind Leisure Perspectives prompted me to share a black and white view of my world. I simply converted my images from colour. What do you think?

Black and White 5 day Challenge- Day 5

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia, in black and white

Here I am at Day 5 of the Black and White 5 day Challenge and it’s the ‘big reveal’, though I gave the game away yesterday with my Day 4 photo.  You knew all along it was Barcelona, didn’t you?

And now, with the help of a little WordPress magic, you can see both colour and black and white versions of my photographs.  Which would you choose?  Colour, or black and white?

Day 1

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Day 2

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Day 3

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Day 4

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In spite of myself I did enjoy the challenge, and have to thank Pommepal and Wilbur’s Travels for nominating me. They would love a visit from you.

There are only two rules for this challenge:

1. On 5 consecutive days, create a post using either a past or recent photo in B&W.
2. Each day invite another blog friend to join in the fun.

My last nomination is Elaine at I used to be Indecisive.  We meet every week on Six word Saturday and share our love of Snoopy.  I have a great collection of Charlie Brown cartoons which I’ve acquired from her blog. (thanks, Elaine!)  I look forward to seeing her take on the challenge.

I’m going to finish with Sagrada Familia, in colour, of course.

Too glorious for words, isn't it?

Too glorious for words, isn’t it?

Hopefully see you tomorrow.  Don’t forget to bring your walking shoes.

Six word Saturday

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Black and White 5 day Challenge

I’m not one for photo processing, tending to prefer a natural look in my photos.  I know they could all be greatly enhanced, but normally what I ‘see’ is what you get.  This week I succumbed and have been taking part in the Black and White 5 day Challenge, and I quite like some of the results.  My photo for Day 3 seemed to develop a life that it didn’t previously have when I converted it to black and white.

Faces on a roof

This is my entry for Day 4 and I like the bold lines of this composition in black and white.  All week I’ve been having fun with the question ‘Have you guessed where it is yet?’  I’m pretty sure this one gives it away.

I need to say thank you to Pommepal for suggesting that I might enjoy myself once I started to play.  She was right!  And thanks also to Wilbur’s Travels for nominating me.  If you don’t know these blogs, you’ll surely enjoy a visit.

There are only two rules for this challenge:

1. On 5 consecutive days, create a post using either a past or recent photo in B&W.
2. Each day invite another blog friend to join in the fun.

Today I’m inviting Yvette from Priorhouse Blog.  She’s only just back from visiting family and will be in a whirl ‘catching up’ around the blogs, but she’s a whizz at challenges and can turn her hand to anything.

I’ll be doing a round up of the challenge tomorrow, with my final photo for Day 5.  Thanks for tolerating this ‘intrusion’, Six Word-ers.  I hope you have a happy weekend, whatever the colour. As always, I’m off to visit Cate at Show My Face with my ‘six words’.

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Black and White 5 day Challenge- Day 3

I’m quite beginning to enjoy myself with this challenge!  Pauline told me I would.  When my husband saw my Day 2 photo yesterday he guessed Seville.  Honestly, you’d think we took separate holidays! (well, we do occasionally, but that’s a different story).  His excuse was, he spends his time looking out for bollards and potential hazards in my path.  He has a point!

Bubbles

I promised an easier clue today, and I’m not sure that this fits the bill but, when I converted it from colour it developed a charm all of its own.  I’ve tried to use photos that you’ve never seen before.  Tomorrow’s will give the game away for sure.  Any idea where it is yet?

My nominations for the challenge came from Pommepal and Wilbur’s Travels, so I owe thanks to them.  Please visit and say ‘hi’.

There are only two rules for this challenge:

1. On 5 consecutive days, create a post using either a past or recent photo in B&W.
2. Each day invite another blog friend to join in the fun.

Next the tricky part.  So many people have already taken this challenge.  I’m going to nominate Kannika at Kan Walk Will Travel.  You may know that she runs a lovely challenge called ‘Joy is’ and the link will take you to an explanation of her unusual name.

Black and White 5 day Challenge- Day 2

They tell me these challenges are addictive.  Are you hooked yet?  Yesterday I published Day 1 of the Black and White 5 day Challenge and asked if anyone knew where it was.  Turns out not even my husband recognised it, and he was there at the time!  So, here’s another clue for you today.

Hacienda

This one has a distinctive feel to it, doesn’t it, and yet there are a few places it could be.  It won’t help you to know that I like this better in black and white than my original, but there’ll be a better clue coming up tomorrow.

I have to thank Pommepal and Wilbur’s Travels for nominating me for this challenge.  Both of them did a great job, with vastly differing styles.

There are only two rules for this challenge:

1. On 5 consecutive days, create a post using either a past or recent photo in B&W.
2. Each day invite another blog friend to join in the fun.

Today I’m inviting Debbie at Travel with Intent.  She’s a seriously busy lady so she might not have the time but she’s an ace at black and white.  I think she may know where my photo was taken too.  No obligation to join in, of course.

Black and White 5 day Challenge- Day 1

I’m very much a person who thrives on colour, be it vibrant or more subtle nuances, so I kept my head down when I saw the Black and White 5 day Challenge making the rounds.  But when a lovely lady like Pommepal invites you, how can you say no?  Just as I was considering it, Wilbur’s Travels threw down the gauntlet too.  What’s a lady to do but delve into the archives for something you might like?  This is what I came up with.

Sculpture

I really like it, but more for his wonderful expression than the colouration.  Any ideas where it might be?  I’m sure some of you will know.  I’ll give you another clue tomorrow when I post my next black and white photo.

There are only two rules for this challenge:

1. On 5 consecutive days, create a post using either a past or recent photo in B&W.
2. Each day invite another blog friend to join in the fun.

Today I’m inviting Viveka.  She’s another colourful lady, like myself, and not much given to black and white, but I know if she takes the challenge on that she’ll do a cracking job.  No obligation to take part, of course.  It’s meant to be fun.  Apologies to lovely Gilly, whose kind offer I spurned (what a cad!) and many thanks to Pauline and Wilbur.

 

Sunday Post : Black & White

The best thing about challenges is when you think to yourself, “I can’t do that”.  And then you discover that you can!  I owe big thanks to Jake of Jakesprinter’s Sunday Post this week for his theme of Black & White.

Now you know I like to hum along, and black and white to me immediately conjurs up those lovely old Fred and Ging movies.  In the wink of an eye I was singing “Heaven, I’m in heaven”….  Even worse, I was twirling around the kitchen!

Yes, I know- but what about the challenge?  I was thinking that I might share some “cheek to cheek” wedding photos, as they’re the only thing I have in black and white.  But I’ve already written that post and wanted to be more original.  Nothing else for it but to “gingerly” embrace technology.  And I was amazed!

Looking down on Funchal from the castle

Porto Moniz

Punta de Sao Lourenco

Monte Palace gardens

The photos are of Madeira because I felt they had that slightly decadent, “of another era” air to them.  I could just picture Fred and Ginger tapping their way through those gardens.  Couldn’t you?

These are the product of an afternoon’s playing with Photo Express and I love it!  I had no idea this was possible, but Jake motivated me to try.  So thanks Jake, for your time and your patience, and all the encouragement.  Click on the dragon logo, or the links, to fly away with Jake, and all will be explained.