Winter fragments

Light and colour are the things that catch my eye at this time of the year.

On clear mornings the colours on the skyline can sometimes be  quite intense as it was this morning as I walked Treehaven Way at about 6am - but only for a very short period of time - as little as 5 minutes. Then the colour fades away as the sun comes over the horizon.

©2017 Barry Smith - Surreal early morning winter light

©2017 Barry Smith - Colours dusts the valley below

©2017 Barry Smith - Bands of colour to the west

I'm also intrigued by the intensity of the morning star against the grey background ; and again it is washed away by the ethereal light and then the sun.

©2017 Barry Smith - Morning star in a grey morning sky

A finger nail sliver of a moon appear a couple of nights ago - hard to photograph as there was so little light and the moon was getting close to the horizon - the camera focus kept flaring out. Still I like that I was able to capture the finger nail moonlight and the grey of the rest of the moon.

©2017 Barry Smith - Two aspects of a new moon

©2017 Barry Smith - New moon with evening stars

Nothing is able to suppress the colour and texture of Fiona's dad's orchids. He has gone into hospital for surgery and he gave us these couple of special orchids to look after. The white and yellow orchid had not bloomed when he gave it to us - so it was good to take a photo to show him how it looked in full bloom.

©2017 Barry Smith

©2017 Barry Smith

©2017 Barry Smith

The bees are loving the winter blossom on the nectarine bush.

©2017 Barry Smith - Head first

©2017 Barry Smith