Tag Archives: ironmongery

Friday Dragon: Torchholder

Florence. Wrought iron torch holder or horse tether from the Strozzi Palace

Collection: A. D. White Architectural Photographs, Cornell University Library
Accession Number: 15/5/3090.01635
Title: Florence. Wrought iron torch holder or horse tether from the Strozzi Palace
Sculptor: Niccolò Grosso Caparra (Italian, active ca.1500)
Photographer: Fratelli Alinari (Italian, 1852-present)
Architect: Simone del Pollaiolo
Architect: Benedetto da Maiano (Italian, 1442-1497)
Building Date: 1498-ca. 1550
Photograph date: ca. 1865-ca. 1885
Location: Europe: Italy; Florence
Materials: albumen print
Image: 15.748 x 9.5276 in.; 40 x 24.2 cm
Provenance: Gift of Andrew Dickson White
Persistent URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/1813.001/5tv5

There are no known copyright restrictions on this image. The digital file is owned by the Cornell University Library which is making it freely available with the request that, when possible, the Library be credited as its source.

Wikipedia entry on the sculptor here.

Via Flickr Commons

Friday Photo: Bridge building

Forth Bridge construction: General view taken late in the evening

Photograph of general view of the Forth Bridge under construction. We have here a view taken late in the evening, which accounts for the smoothness of the water and the depth of the shadows. This view is chiefly remarkable for effect, much detail at the base of the cantilevers being lost. The picture embraces the whole of bridge up to date, north of south cantilever and on a considerable scale.
—Transcription from Philip Phillips, ‘The Forth Railway Bridge’, Edinburgh, 1890.

(This is the Forth (Rail) Bridge, not to be confused with the Forth Road Bridge.)

Further photos available on the National Library of Scotland site here Via Flickr Commons.

Photos from London

I’ve been down in London a good deal over the last few weeks, studying for an exam. I brought my phone, of course, which means I brought my camera.

I rarely find the classic London landmarks inspirational for photography. They’re too…well…big.

But the pavement by Tower Bridge really got my interest.

DSC01137

Taken 17 May 2006

DSC01130

Taken 17 May 2006

pavementcurve

Taken 17 May 2006

The leaves of an ornamental plant near the Tower also caught my eye.

DSC01299

Taken 13 June 2006

On one of my visits, I walked by the crew setting up for a concert on the Tower grounds. The ironmongery was interesting.

DSC01176

Taken 23 May 2006

DSC01182

Taken 23 May 2006

I was also fascinated by the bright yellow locks on the gates to Trinity Square, a tiny park dedicated to naval war dead near the course hotel.

DSC01219

Taken 24 May 2006

Rainbow over the Thames

DSC01199

Taken 23 May 2006

Overall, though, London does not appeal to me photographically. I guess my heart is in Edinburgh.

The Camera is Back

My phonecam developed a spot about a week ago. Ugly, in the way, and depressing. It ruined a number of photos that I really wanted to take.

DSC00925

Taken 1 April 2006

Occasionally, I could get a shot in that it didn’t ruin, but that was rare.

DSC00924

Taken 29 March 2006

Fortunately, my phone insurance covers the functionality of the whole instrument, including the camera. I called Vodafone, and they sent a new phone to replace the old one. So now I have my camera back!

I tried it out on Fiona this morning.

DSC00930

Taken 4 April 2006

Then I was back to taking the pictures I’ve been missing.

Leaf growing through a fence, Newington

DSC00937

Taken 4 April 2006

Shadow of a doorknob, looking like a warmer day

DSC00944

Taken 4 April 2006

Cut-off fence post.

Dsc00946

Taken 4 April 2006

Framing the world, one tree at a time (this photo has been cropped)

emptyframe

Taken 4 April 2006

Yay new phone!

Hail, Hail!

Yesterday, while I was walking in the Botanics, I came under a sudden assault of hail. I had to shelter under an umbrella under a tree – one layer of protection was not enough.

After the white stuff stopped falling, it seemed to vanish. Only a few balls were left to convince me that it wasn’t a dream.

DSC00719

Taken 21 February 2006

The hailstones didn’t last, but the raindrops were beautiful as well.

DSC00724

Taken 21 February 2006

This shot reminds me of one of my favourite poems, No Road by Philip Larkin

DSC00727

Taken 21 February 2006

I’ve had a few other photos building up that didn’t really deserve their own entries. Of possible interest:

The sacred cow is coming home to roost.

Dsc00716

Taken 20 February 2006

Plant in the car park at the Cuddy Brae. Very red!

DSC00711

Taken 19 February 2006

Bus stop hardware…one of those tiny details of life that looks so good up close.

DSC00641

Taken 19 February 2006

January Walk Shots

It’s been a while since I’ve posted photos, mostly because I’ve been too ill to take many. The flu this year has been dreadful, and it made its mark as it swept through our household. Alex was ill week before last, Martin got it last week (and still coughing now), I fell ill last Thursday and didn’t really resurface until Sunday, and now Fiona is just coming out of a bad bout.

I have taken a few pictures over the past week or so, as I have walked my way back to health. But the muse hasn’t really been there. Here are the ones that made the cut.

The first crocus leaves, peeping up from the soil at the foot of my road. I think they are in for some difficult times.

Dsc00434

Taken 12 January 2006

Gate hardware, Drum Street. One of the few manmade items I’ve been drawn to photograph, mostly because it looks so human!.

Dsc00441

Taken 12 January 2006

Wrinkled rose hep, on a back path through Gilmerton.

DSC00445

Taken 12 January 2006

Grass underwater in the Water of Leith. (This photograph has been cropped and its colour altered to reduce the reflections off of the water.)

watergrass

Taken 18 January 2006

View through the fence, Powderhall.

Dsc00470

Taken 18 January 2006

Reddening ivy 1, Powderhall.

DSC00471

Taken 18 January 2006

Reddening ivy 2, Powderhall.

DSC00474

Taken 18 January 2006

Tuesday Walk

It was a lovely day, cold but bright. The autumn is turning to true winter, with bitter winds, with the last leaves dropping from the trees. But with the bright sunshine, I hardly cared about the cold. I walked along the Rocheid path by the Water of Leith, then through the Royal Botanic Gardens back into Canonmills and back to work.

The last leaves on the oak tree on the Rocheid Path.

DSC00150

Taken 29 November 2005

Piece of a wrought iron fence, Arboretum Avenue. Sunlight and shade.

Dsc00152

Taken 29 November 2005

Dsc00153

Taken 29 November 2005

Holly leaves, Aboretum Avenue. I love the shapes of these leaves, but I think I need a better background next time..

DSC00155

Taken 29 November 2005

Red leaves with the green, Royal Botanic Gardens.

DSC00160

Taken 29 November 2005

With a walk like that, on a day like this, the world is a good place.