I took this on Big Moor, Derbyshire, a few weeks ago. There's an area of rushes where darters roost in large numbers. On still evenings it's usually possible to find a couple perched high up on the stems, from which they can be silhouetted against the setting sun.

Tags:   Black Darter dragonfly Big Moor Dark Peak Derbyshire evening moorland Peak District Soft Rush

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Apologies, I am disabling comments for these two photographs. It'd be a busy couple of weeks or so for me, and I have limited time on Flickr. As always, there is no obligation to fave. Enjoy!

Singapore skyline
July 2022

Copyright Rebecca Ang 2023. All Rights Reserved.
Do not copy, reproduce, download or use in any way without permission.

Tags:   Singapore city cityscape architecture urban architecture Esplanade Marina Bay Sands MBS marina bay Singapore Flyer The blue hour blue hour twilight Rebecca Ang

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Cottingham became my local railway station during my student days between 1970-72. During this time, it remained staffed and was also lit by gas, an increasing anachronism. I used to treat myself to riding into Hull Paragon on Saturday jaunts - a 6-minute ride that was more expensive than the EYMS bus service. Decimalisation wasn’t far away when I pressed the shutter here - I recall that the day return fare was 1/9d, becoming 9p in the new money. (No student railcards for me - they were only introduced the year after I graduated.)

Cottingham station opened in 1846 as part of the Hull & Bridlington Railway, and much of the original infrastructure remained in place in this view, including the former goods shed. The architect was G.T. Andrews. Cottingham is Grade II listed today.

The 2-car DMU heading north is a mixed Cravens Class 105/Metro-Cammell Class 101 formation. To use local East Riding vernacular, the stations served beyond Cott included Bev, Driff and of course, Brid. Trains also called at Nafferton, which I guess locals would have called ‘Naff’.

October 1970
Boots Instamatic camera
Gratispool colour slide film.

Tags:   g T andrews cravens dmu class 105 East Riding of yorkshire dmu British rail Cottingham station cottingham

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After quickly silencing the early alarm, I took a look out the window, seeing favorable skies for a colourful sunrise, I was up and going. I tried to leave the house as quickly and quietly as possible . . . my wife when given the option had decided to sleep in, rather than getting up in the dark to go watch a sunrise . . . as I headed down the stairs I could hear her say, “that’s just stupid!”. I closed the door, fired up the car and quietly pull away from the house, flipped on the headlights for the short drive on empty roads . . . if the sheep resting or sleeping on the edge of the tarmac aren’t included. Parked the car, laced up the boots; grabbed the kit and made the quick walk on the path to today's location. I had previously scouted the location, so after setting up the tripod and camera I still had time to relax and enjoy the approaching sunrise, it was only 4:30AM.

As the dawn light began to break the horizon the clouds were the first to brighten and show the morning color, followed by the Trotternish Ridge. In this capture the sun highlights Cleat, Bioda Buidhe, Dun Dubh and the Trotternish Ridge down to Beinn Edra. The stone on the face of Dun Dubh seemed golden in the sunrise light. It’s all about the light . . . 15 minutes earlier the sun hadn’t risen . . . 15 minutes later the sun had risen enough the light had gone flat.

This view of the Trotternish Ridge is toward Bioda Buidhe and Cleat while between them in the distance is Beinn Edra. The two bodies of water in front of Cleat are Loch Cleat and Loch Leum na Luirginn. On the right is the Staffin-Uig road as it meanders up the ridge to the Quiraing parking area and before it continues on to Uig. On the horizon are the mountains of the Scottish mainland.

While others slept, I was enjoying the sunrise and capturing the moment. Some days it’s worth getting up at Stupid O’Clock . . . and this was one of those mornings! I hope you enjoy the resulting image.

Looking forward to a return to the ability to travel and not delving into the archives.

To see the details in this image please click L (large).

Tags:   Inner Hebrides Isle of Skye Skye Trotternish Ridge Cleat Bioda Buidhe Dun Dubh Beinn Edra Loch Cleat Loch Leum na Luirginn Staffin-Uig sunrise golden light stupid o'clock Scotland Panorama vibrant cloud serene peaceful alone vista colourful early Quiraing landscape Brad Eide Nikon D7100 Nikon 10-24mm Lee filter nd neutral density Gitzo

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A rare spring storm rolls over the lush green hills of the Tri-Valley area.

Tags:   storm chase clouds drame dramatic rainbow nature rolling hills house rural suburban California west coast bay area san francisco livermore water

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