Strata Florida Abbey

This week I am featuring the ruins of Strata Florida Abbey in Mid-Wales. It is thought that the Abbey was founded around 1164 A.D. and was due to the patronage of the Lord Rhys (many of his descendants were buried there). This monastery increased in power and authority across Wales with farms belonging to it being spread out across the Welsh countryside. Its influence was felt throughout Wales and it sought influence over other monasteries such as that at Talley (which I have featured before).

The first photograph above shows the entrance doorway. It must have been quite impressive when the abbey was complete. The second image below shows the entrance door from inside the abbey. You can get an idea of the thickness of the walls from the window to the left.




This third photo shows what remains of the pillars along the knave that supported the roof. You still get a feeling for the strength and power of the stonework. It is amazing to think that these structures were built by hand without any powered machinery or tools that we would think of as being essential these days.



More photos can be seen in the 'Images from Wales' gallery.

Technical details:
Camera: Canon EOS350D
Lens: EF 17-85mm IS lens
Sensitivity: ISO400
Exposure: varies but typically at 1/250 @F16.
Lighting: Natural light. Light to medium cloud sometimes with the sun shining though.

Yellow Lichen

This week I feature some more lichens, this time a yellow one which I think may be Xanthoria calcicola. As with last week's subject, this was found on a small twig picked up from the grass when I had a walk in the meadows on our smallholding.

Although I have seen yellow lichens before - mainly small, velvet like, growths in stonework - this is the first time I have noticed a larger specimen. Although in this case larger is relative as the specimens here have a 'leaf' size of about 3-4mm.

The first photo above is an enlargement from another photograph to show some of the incredible detail in the lichen.

The second photo below shows a mixture of different lichens on the same twig. There is also a small piece of moss struggling for a foothold.




The third image shows another sample of the yellow lichen fighting for space amongst the others on the same twig. To my inexperienced eye there seems to be at least 2 other species here.


More photos can be seen in the natural history/environment gallery.

Technical details:
Camera: Canon EOS350D
Lens: Older EF 100mm macro lens
Sensitivity: ISO200
Exposure: 1/200 , typically at F16-F25.
Lighting: Off camera flashgun through a diffuser with a foil reflector

More Lichens - with Fruiting bodies?

I have been amazed at the amount of plant life that can be seen growing on apparently insignificant pieces of wood. All these photos are of lichens and other life growing on small dead branches that have been blown down from the trees. Most of the plant life is lichens, although you can often see fungi and mosses all growing amongst each other on the twigs.

I have found it very difficult to identify the different lichens as I have yet to find a decent field guide (if anyone knows of one, please let me know).

The first picture above shows what appears to be (to me at least) the fruiting bodies of the lichens growing on this twig - picked up from the grass during a walk the previous day. This is quite a detailed close-up - the specimen is less that an inch long.

The second photo shows another specimen - to my untutored eye it looks to be the same species of lichen. In the image you can see other lichens and towards the bottom, what may be tiny points of fungi breaking through the bark. I have chosen this photo to be this week's 'Photograph of the Week'.




This third photograph shows another twig with the different lichens growing amongst each other. There appears to be a few fruiting bodies similar to the ones above. I am just amazed at the wealth of life on these twigs. Normally, like most people, I would have ignored the twigs, except to tidy them away in the spring when clearing the garden after the winter. It pays to look closer at what is about!



More photos can be seen in the natural history/environment gallery.


Technical details:
Camera: Canon EOS350D
Lens: Older EF 100mm macro lens
Sensitivity: ISO200
Exposure: 1/200 , typically at F16-F25.
Lighting: Off camera flashgun through a diffuser with a foil reflector

Lichens on twigs

Even though the weather this week has been rather wet and windy, it does have some advantages. Living in the west of the UK, with the prevailing wind coming from the south-west, a lot of rain often blows in with the fresh air. Lichens are an indicator of air quality and we have many lichens growing on the trees.

The strong winds we have had also blows down dead twigs and branches from the trees. This has enabled me to take one small branch into my 'cardboard-box studio' and photograph the growths on the wood. However, I have found it extremely difficult to positively identify the lichens I have found - there seem to be few field guides available.

The first photograph above shows a lichen that is very common on my smallholding, it grows in clumps up to about 3-4 inches across. This photo is of a smaller specimen, about 1½ inches across. I think this may be Evernia prunastri.

The second photograph below shows a smaller flake-like specimen that I think may be Hypogymnia physodes. I think this one may be spawning due to the powdery, greener edges - other samples did not have this.



The third photograph is a chance image that was captured with my small compact camera whilst on a walk through some nearby woods. This is an enlargement from the original photograph. Some stems seem to be growing out from the base - they could be the fruiting bodies, or perhaps it is just part of the plant.



More pictures can be seen in the Nature Gallery.
Technical details (first 2 photos):
Camera: Canon EOS350D
Lens: Older EF 100mm macro lens
Sensitivity: ISO200
Exposure: 1/200 @ F16.
Lighting: Off camera flashgun through a diffuser with a foil reflector

Technical details (3rd photo):
Camera: Canon Ixus 500
Lighting: Natural diffuse lighting in woodland.
Hand-held.

Talley Abbey on a bright day

This week I feature some more photographs taken on a second visit to Talley Abbey. This time is was a brighter day with blue sky and fluffy white clouds. This meant that at times the sun was bright with hard shadows; at other times, more subdued with indistinct shadows.

The first photo shows the main structure of the remains of the Abbey with a background of the rolling Welsh Countryside. I like this for the contrast between the blue sky and green countryside, with the building bridging the two.

In this second photograph, I try to give some impression of the size and majesty of the building. It is impressive enough to modern eyes, it must have been awe-inspiring to the peasants of the time.




This third photograph was an attempt, only partially successful, to capture a view through the 3 remaining arches. I need to think about how I can improve this view, yet still capture the 3 arches.



More pictures can be seen in the Images from Wales Gallery.

Technical details:
Camera: Canon EOS350D
Lens: EFS 17-85mm IS hand held
Sensitivity: ISO200
Exposure: ranges from about 1/400 at f13 to 1/60 at f22.
Lighting: Natural light A sunny day with some clouds occasionally covering the sun.