What A Choice – 52 Week Photographers Challenge

I have been saving this picture for a while as it covered umpteen different categories that I could have opted for – it shows hand knitted figures that kept mysteriously appearing around the pier front last year at Saltburn-By-Sea in England. No-one knows who the mad knitter was, I am told it started with the Olympics and this picture shows the celebration of the Queens’ 60 year jubilee and other notable royal highlights. You can see Prince Harry with no clothes on after he was photographed naked on a trip to Las Vegas – almost used the ‘Politically Incorrect’ theme for this one. So I had lots of choices but it just goes to show that art comes in all shapes and sizes and if entertaining the public is the goal, then this artist certainly succeeded.

Glitter – 52 Week Photographers Challenge

This was a tough subject and thank goodness we have our beloved granddaughter Riley’s wardrobe to help me out.  Grabbed her princess dress as a back drop, added a princess purse and some of my wife’s jewels and stand and here is the end result. Glad this tough one is behind me.

 

The Wheels Go Round – 52 Week Photographers Challenge

On a visit to England, we visited Alnwick Castle in Northumberland and found this magnificent carriage. It was the state coach that once carried the 3rd Duke of Northumberland to the coronation of Charles X in France in 1825. Are you like me and ask your self how did they get it there in 1825? It was used in the coronation of King Edward VII and was recently renovated for the wedding of the present Duke Of Northumberland’s daughter. I remember getting a special car for my daughters wedding – wonder if I should have invited the Duke and who knows he may have loaned me this.  They certainly don’t build them like this anymore.

The Wheels Go Round – 52 Week Photographers Challenge

Ever scratched your head and said ‘I see it but I have no idea why.’ This is the conundrum I had when I walked past this parked car in a busy area of Rome. It was coated with newspaper from head to toe so to speak. Under the windshield washers, around the wheel arches and mirrors but why? The only thought we had was perhaps the owner was away but heck, it was rainy weather so the newspaper would afford little protection against the elements. I am still scratching my head and if anyone has any ideas please let me know. The wheels were capable of going round although visibility is not great, so another subject is in the bag in this 52 week challenge – yeah!

Workers Present – 52 Week Photographers Challenge

Workers come in all shapes and sizes so I decided to go through some recent pictures and see how many show workers of all varieties. Apologies in advance for my zany  sense of humor.

And now for the first candidate – In St Peters Basilica in Rome I couldn’t help but be distracted from all the magnificent sights to capture this worker cleaning the confessional – he better not have been listening or he would never get to heaven – I guess I’ll meet up with him again but hopeful not too soon!!

And the next worker is a job I could not do – imagine being a crane driver and your crane is thousands of feet in the air. These workers earn every penny of what they are paid.

….and now from the sporting world, a relief pitcher who is probably the highest paid person but I guess does he deserve it? Views anyone ….

This one tickled my fancy. We were on a cruise and returned to the ship just before it left port. As I sat on our balcony to rest my weary feet, I peered (yes peered) over the side to see this worker stranded on a concrete platform. His role was to let the ships ropes go at the right time – how much do we pay a relief pitcher and all he has to do is throw a ball vs a man who has 3000 lives hanging on his rope performance – hmmm. How did he get off the concrete island without getting wet – ideas in a sealed envelope please.

And finally, one of my favorites. I was asked to take pictures of 20 of the YMCA’s fitness instructors. They were coming together as a new team and wanted to show unity and professionalism. I like this one the best and I have no idea how much they are paid but I know they deserve more.

Red, White and Blue – 52 Week Photographers Challenge

On a recent trip to Pittsburgh, where we stayed with our great friends and ex-neighbors ‘The Ross’s, we did a tour of the Strip District. For those who do not know the ‘Burgh, it is not a seedy mens club area, it is the old market district with fantastic food suppliers and it has a real buzz. We exhausted the Italian, Chinese and many other nationalities markets and had a gastronomic blast, not to mention one or two liquid purveyors of merriment! Before I was too out of sorts to see clearly, I took this picture of the rooster atop DeLuca’s Italian Market. I had in mind ‘It’s Big’ as the theme but felt the colors took me closer to the ‘Red, White and Blue’ theme. I have finally got some blood back in my alcohol stream so my pictures will be less blurry in future!