Pictures

Goldfinch in the Autumn Sunshine (+bonus Starlings)

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The last day of October 2020 brought a dull and grey morning and some heavy rain over lunchtime and early afternoon in West Berkshire. But around mid afternoon it cleared up and the sun came through, giving some nice autumn afternoon sunshine. As soon as the rolls I had started baking at lunchtime as the heavy rain stopped me from going anywhere were finished I grabbed my camera to try and get a few shots. I only had about an hour before the sun went too low and no time to go far, but I managed to catch these Goldfinches on a tree in its autumn colours (and some bonus Starlings on the top of a bare tree branch):

  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (1)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (2)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (3)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (4)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch on the top of a tree in the autumn afternoon sunshine
    Goldfinch in the autumn afternoon sun
  • Picture of seven Starlings on the top of a branch in the autumn afternoon light
    Starlings in the autumn afternoon sun
Goldfinches (and bonus Starlings) in the autumn sunshine

As usual click on the pictures for the large size gallery view. I hope you enjoy and like the pictures, I must admit I’m quite pleased about the first picture, managing to catch the Goldfinch just in the hole in the autumn leaves (there were also plenty failed versions of that picture…).

Pictures

Autumn colours along the Kennet & Avon Canal in West Berkshire

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Having decided not to travel to Islay because of the Covid-19 pandemic this year I had a two week staycation at home in West Berkshire. Unfortunately the weather didn’t turn out as nice as I had hoped, so I didn’t get out for walks as much as I had thought (I ended up visiting a Swedish furniture store and completing some home improvements I had thought about for a while instead). Still, I managed to squeeze in a few short sunny walks along the Kennet & Avon Canal allowing me to take a few nice autumnal pictures (click on the pictures for the full size gallery):

  • Picture of two trees in their autumn colours next to a canal, seen from a window overlooking the canal
    (1) Colourful trees from the window
  • Picture of two trees in their autumns colours reflecting in the water of the canal
    (2) Autumnal trees reflecting in the canal
  • Picture of a canal boat moored along a canal in the autumn sunshine, trees in their autumn colour in the background
    (3) Canal boat in the autumn sunshine
  • Picture of Chestnut trees in their autumn colours along a canal
    (4) Chestnuts in their autumn colours along the canal
  • Picture of a canal boat moored on a canal under colourful autumn trees
    (5) Boat moored under colourful autumn trees
  • Picture of a canal boat cruising through fallen autumn leaves floating on a canal
    (6) Canal boat cruising through fallen autumn leaves
  • Picture of colourful autumnal trees along a canal
    (7) Colourful autumnal trees along the canal
  • Picture of colourful autumnal trees along a canal and floating fallen leaves on the canal
    (8) Autumnal trees and floating leaves on the canal
  • Picture of a beautiful tree in its autumn colours next to a canal towpath
    (9) Colourful autumn tree next to the canal towpath
  • Picture of a beautiful tree in its autumn colours next to a canal towpath
    (10) Looking up a beautiful autumn colour tree

Except for the first picture (which is from my flat overlooking the canal in Aldermaston Wharf) all the pictures are from the towpath from Aldermaston Wharf walking west towards Woolhampton. Some really nice autumnal colours around, especially over the second week. All the pictures were taken with my large wide angle zoom lens (14-24mm, mostly towards the 14mm), allowing me to capture some big views of the trees and their autumn colours.

I hope you’ll enjoy the pictures and the colours.

Snippets, Video

Space & Time x2

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Two versions of a song I had on heavy rotation today. First the loud and pounding studio version with the drums driving it on:

Wolf Alice – Space & Time

Second the “unplugged” version with the drummer switching to vocals and Ellie’s beautiful lead vocals:

Wolf Alice – Space & Time (Live on KEXP)

I love both versions.

Snippets, Video

Three new bands (New to me) in 2020: (3) The Big Moon

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That went quickly, the third and final entry of this short series is already here. After The Mysterines, Dream Wife we last but by no means least come to The Big Moon (Wikipedia entry) from London. Of these three bands I believe they’ve been around the longest, so I’m rather late to the party. They certainly make brilliant videos. Let’s start with one where they play every single role, Sucker:

The Big Moon – Sucker

They get rather colourful in Cupid, must have been fun making that, despite the mess:

The Big Moon – Cupid

Silent Movie Susie is a beautiful stop motion video with dolls taking on all roles. There’s also a cameo of the band, both as dolls and real people. Can you spot the previous video they are quoting?

The Big Moon – Silent Movie Susie

From their second album is Your Light. With lots of cycling. And puppets. What more could you want?

The Big Moon – Your Light

To close a cover version. I discovered The Regrettes via their appearance on The A.V. Club, interesting to see that The Big Moon also played a cover at The A.V. Club, Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler from 1983:

The Big Moon serves up a stellar rendition of “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”

I hope you enjoyed this little series and maybe even found a band or two you’ll like. Maybe let me know via the comments?

Snippets, Video

Three new bands (New to me) in 2020: (2) Dream Wife

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Having started this introduction of bands I discovered for me this year with The Mysterines I’m now moving on to the second band I found: Dream Wife (Wikipedia entry). Formed while at university in Brighton they have since moved to London. Let’s start with Hey Heartbreaker from their debut album:

Dream Wife – Hey Heartbreaker

Also from their debut album is Somebody (with a very memorable chorus line):

Dream Wife – Somebody

Moving on to their second album, released in 2020, with Hasta La Vista:

Dream Wife – Hasta La Vista

Another one from the second album is So When You Gonna…. with a quite interesting video:

Dream Wife – So When You Gonna…

To close a live performance mixed with an interview on KEXP:

Dream Wife – Full Performance (Live on KEXP)

Again I hope you enjoyed the music, I love the variety in Rakel’s singing and Alice’s guitar play, brilliantly supported by Bella’s bass. The third and last band in this series to follow tomorrow.

Nothing but the truth…