Liverpool Cathedral

I took my lovely sister for her first visit to this Cathedral on Wednesday.

Liverpool Cathedral is the Church of England Cathedral of the Diocese of Liverpool, built on St James's Mount in Liverpool, and designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.
It was started in 1904 and finished in 1978, the largest in the UK and the fifth largest in the world.

It may be referred to as the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool (as recorded in the Document of Consecration) or the Cathedral Church of the Risen Christ, Liverpool.

Images using my Fuji X20, set to aperture priority. It's great in low light!!

High Altar and Window

North Window and Tower

Main Nave from Choir

Main Nave from Choir, Dynamic B/W

Tower from Directly Below in Nave

Remembrance Sunday 2013. Lest We Forget.

I went to the Remembrance Sunday Parade at Wigan Parish Church today. As usual there was a large turnout and the crisp November sun shone on the proceedings.

Waiting to Parade

(Left) Former Tail-Gunner Bill Hickling who flew in Lancaster Bombers.

Marching Flags

Parade Master Calls Parade

Wigan Dignitaries

Service of Remembrance

Wigan Parish Church and Cenotaph

Wigan Council 'Believe' Photo Competition

I've actually won a photo competition!

My 'Poolstock Planter' image was chosen as the winner of the 'Flowers and Plants' Section of the recent 

Wigan Council 'Believe' Campaign Photography Competition.

Taken on Poolstock in the Summer, I wanted to show how lovely, colourful and well maintained the flower planters are, even on busy main roads of the Borough. They certainly brighten up the motorists' journeys!!

There is a link to the winners' page here;

http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/Consultations/Believe-Photography-Competition/Believe-photo-competition-Your-Vote.aspx

Fairy Glen

 One of the most picturesque woodlands in the Borough, the small clough valley of Fairy Glen can be found near Appley Bridge, Wigan.
The secluded atmosphere of the Glen provides an ideal home for a variety of wildlife.

Designated as a Biological Heritage Site for its ancient woodland of oak, birch, ash and alder, the woodland floor may be covered with bluebells, wild garlic, ferns, and red campion.

The waters of Sprodley Brook have, over time, cut down through the underlying sandstone to create the steep Fairy Glen valley, which has spectacular waterfalls and cliff faces.

Panasonic Lumix G1, 14mm lens.

Scotman's Flash

We went for a walk in the warm October sunshine today to the Flashes area off Poolstock outside Wigan. These areas of former pit workings have subsided to create large lakes or 'flashes' as they are locally known. They have become a haven for wildlife, especially migratory birds, and are a very popular local recreation destination for walkers, cyclists, sailors and fishermen. The Leeds/Liverpool Canal runs straight through the middle of the area, bringing visitors from even further afield.

Dappled Sun path leading to the Flashes

One of the most iconic and distinctive of British fungi, Fly Agaric, with its red cap and white spots, is renowned for its toxicity and hallucinogenic properties.

Hazy Sun over Scotman's Flash. Wigan Sailing Club are based here.

A Speckled Wood butterfly blending in.

Swan Reflection

Cygnet on the Canal

Male Swan Preening on the Canal

A Cygnet being carefully watched by its parents

Salford Quays Architecture

The architectural developments at Salford Quays in Trafford, Manchester are great for photography.
The buildings compete with one another for attention around the whole site, with glass and steel reaching for the sky and reflecting in the surrounding dock waters.

Among the many new structures are the Lowry Centre and Theatre, The Imperial War Museum North, MediaCity UK which houses the BBC and ITV Northern Studios, the Millenium Bridge and Quay West office building.

All taken using my Fuji X20 camera.

These images do not include any of the new MediaCity site. I have heard that photography is forbidden on its site, but I'm going to give it a try and see what happens......

Let's start with a panorama.

Left to Right, Imperial War Museum North, MediaCity Footbridge,  MediaCity UK, Lowry Theatre, Lowry Centre, Millenium Bridge.

Reflections in the bronze glass windows of Quay West

Millenium Bridge in B/W

More Quay West reflections

Steel walls interior of the Lowry Theatre

Steel and glass interior

Steel and glass exterior geometric shapes of the Lowry Theatre

Steel and purple tiles

Billinge Sunset

I dashed up to the previously photographed harvest fields to capture this colourful sunset.
Canon 60D, Tamron 10-24mm lens, AV Priority.

Summer Harvest

The fields at the top of Winstanley are owned by farmer John Alker. 

It's a busy time for him now as he harvests his Wheat crops.

We went for a walk through the fields just before and just after he cut and baled his crops.

Some have been square baled and others round wrapped.

Canon 60D, Tamron 10-24mm lens.