After what seems like an age, welcome back to Photo Challenge. It's been a tough couple of months, I don't mind telling you, (see posts passim) but we're back. As predicted, we lost January and February so now 2025 becomes a metric year! But if I know you I've got a feeling we'll cram just as much into ten months as we have previously in twelve. And who better to kickstart #PC than our very good friend Rol Hirst.
"Hi John,
Good to have you back. Hope the recovery is going well.
Here are a couple of shadowy pics - I rejected loads more because they fell into the previous sunset/sunrise category. Hope they fit the bill. The one with the sculptures is at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The other one is just some local woods.
Take care,
Rol." Thanks, Rol. As usual, a solid start to proceedings.
Next up, a shadow quartet brought to you by the Cheese Collective. The Cheese Collective - so named after the delightful get well cheese hamper they recently had delivered to my door - comprise three newbies to Photo Challenge and a, by now, regular - Johnny Legs.
Newbie No. 1 - Claire. She calls this one 'Anthony Gormley and his soul'. From Houghton Hall, Norfolk October 2024.
Newbie No. 2 - Margaret. 'Dudley and his shadow' - Whitby 2015.
Newbie No. 3 - Harry Harrington Harris - 'Margaret, Claire, Anthony Gormley and Catherine, Norfolk 24.10.24.' (For the record, Anthony Gormley and Catherine are not part of the Cheese Collective - JM)
Johnny Legs: "Lunchtime bell in the Douro Valley." A huge thank you to all four of you; for the photos and the cheese!
Graham Lester George makes a welcome return. His tree shots from #PC October '24 were stunning. Here's another six of the best...
"Marseilles, 2009."
"Nottingham Castle, 2005."
"London, 2016."
"Kitchen utensils."
"Theresa."
"And finally, Budapest 2008." Thanks, Graham. A brilliant collection and no mistake.
Another couple of newbies: Rachael and Bob with their pooch, Maisie, on Whitby beach. Great stuff!
Cee, from Sun Dried Sparrows, and her favourite tiny spider c/w its tiny shadow. (As you know, I try not to rank photos on #PC but this is definitely in this month's Top 5 - JM.)
The current Mrs Medd and two self portraits. Thank you, Jenny!
Ernie Goggins next: "Hi John, hope you're feeling a bit better day by day. (I'm doing much better, thank you Ernie - JM.) I've struggled with the shadows theme as I am a simple-minded fool who only sees the sunshine. But here are two photos that are really silhouettes not shadows. One of the Hackney Colliery Band in concert and one of Billy Fury on the Albert Dock in Liverpool about to be bitten on the arse by a seal. The other is of an 'accidental exhibit' in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin - the lady in the wheelchair had been parked there temporarily - which has proper shadows although they are not really the point of the photo.
All the best, E." I should have said shadows, silhouettes and reflections in my shout out. Great stuff, Ernesto.
David Cooper has a brilliant couplet up his sleeve: "Hi John, the first photo features my shadow twice - taken on the Thanet Coastal Path near Broadstairs. The second is a photo of Neuschwanstein Castle in the Black Forest emerging from the shadows." Cheers, Coops; you never let me down.
My favourite teacher next - Miss Turner: "Me and Alfie walking by the Trent."
"Alfie again, looking more like a giraffe!" Thank you, Miss Turner. Say hello to Alfie for me.
Pete Zab always takes us to another level - "Hi John, I've attached four pictures for you. Not a lot to say about them, other than two were taken in Birmingham and two in Nottingham: Shadows on Milton Street, Nottingham - some lovely shadows created by a combination of trees, bus stops and shop fronts."
"Rowers on the river, nicely framed by Trent Bridge."
"Grand Central or New Street, whichever you prefer to call it.
"And the Radisson Blu Hotel in Birmingham, a quick grab shot taken on my way back to the station. Looking forward to seeing the other contributions, Pete." Thanks, Pete. Brum is far from a photogenic city but you've done it proud.
Jo Shreeve my mate from Twitter (RIP) - Jo, please come over to Bluesy! - found this photo on her phone. "Hi John, some shadows from Stithians churchyard I took on the school run! x" Thanks, Jo. Always a superstar.
Three from Kotswold's finest, Mr. Khayem: "I was walking from work to a car park in Gloucester when I noticed my shadow against a brightly lit brick wall and thought 'Aha!' After a few attempts, I got one that I quite liked!"
"Another night-time walk, though closer to home. The shadow of my hands holding the phone was created by my head torch, creating a symmetrical pattern."
"The inevitable shadow on a beach shot!. You’ll have to take my word for it that said beach was a short bus ride from where Clan K were staying in Valencia, Spain." Thank you, K. I could tell the beach was in Spain - I know Spanish sand when I see it.
Swiss Adam is next off the mark - "The sun came out today for the first time in eons and I was able to get some shadows for you: a triptych of shadow self portraits that I'm calling 'Grass, Tarmac, and Black & White'". Thanks, Adam. I feel an album cover coming on.
The first from Riggsby, our San Diego corespondent, has no backup information whatsoever - maybe that's why I find it a tad eerie.
He goes on: "These red stools are at the entrance of a Chinese restaurant in Irvine California. Presumably people sit here when waiting for a table during busy times."
I said to Riggsby I was put in mind of the cover of Paul McCartney's first solo album.
"This was an evening in La Jolla a couple of streets from the Ocean. The colour came from the sunset on the austere concrete walls of the Museum of Contemporary Arts."
I asked Richard what colour would you call the wall. He said he didn't know, "but there must be a Pantone colour for it." Indeed there is, Richard; indeed there is...
The Swede "The silhouette of the South facing middle floor window in the building formally known as Swede Towers, on a cold, damp morning around a decade ago." You've nailed it, TS. Thank you!
Tim W "Hi
John, here’s a few shadow based pics.
Been struggling a bit to find appropriate pics, will endeavour to up my game going forward.
There’s a brace of The Waddler a small unit who thinks he’s at least the size of the shadow he casts.
And a long legged hill walk in Hucknall & night time manoeuvres in Porto (not solely shadow based but I like the vibe). Cheers, Tim. You needn't have worried, Tim; a strong shadow game in evidence on all three. I think we need to introduce The Waddler to Alfie btw!
Martin of New Amusements (pictured with Mrs. New Amusements and New Amusements Minor) apologises for his lack of originality. Not a bit of it. Original or not, I think these long shadow pics (often on sand, often with dogs) are hugely entertaining.
Charity Chic tells me he "...is Big Leggie!" (See my note above).
My very good friend Neil Abdo paints, pulls pints, and pushes pedals. Here we see photographic evidence of the latter. Thanks, Neil! Ever thought about getting a mudflap?!
George from Portugal next: "Hi John, hope all is well with you. Here's two for you. This is me me tending our goats - Parsley and Anita."
And this is me tending a bonfire." Thank you, George. Or should I say obrigado!
Alyson Mac (last seen dancing on tables) has a couple for me: "Hi John, two pics for you. A 'frost shadow' of our garden bench."
"My daughter and her husband sent us a photo of the hotel they stayed in recently, the hotel where Elvis Costello filmed the video for 'A Good Year for the Roses.'" Kudos for the frost shadow, Alyson! Ditto for namedropping Elvis Costello!
One or two from me to wrap things up. Part of my recuperation (and generally trying to return to normal - whatever normal is) has been going out for breakfast. This was taken last week in the Bentinck Hotel, Nottingham.
A former gas station in Nob Hill, Albuquerque, 2022. I'm pretty sure I had an identical toy garage when I was a kid.
The entrance lobby to a rather resplendent gallery in downtown Los Angeles, 2022.
Bingham Leisure Centre, 2024. A winter sun on a freezing cold day with remnants of snow still on the ground.
The recently decommissioned Ratcliffe-upon-Soar Power Station just off J24 of the M1. Within two years these iconic towers will be blown to smithereens.
Nottingham Station. I still call it Nottingham Midland Station even though it's the only station in town and has been since they demolished Nottingham Victoria in the early 1970s.
The Abdication, my spiritual local. Taken sometime during Covid.
The imposing wall of HMP Nottingham plays host to some lovely tree shadows.
A huge thank you as always to everyone who took the time to send me their photos. Despite a late start to the year I've got a feeling 2025 will be our best yet. I'll post April's theme in the comments section below in a few days. See you soon. J x
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Before I go I just want to return briefly to Harry's 'Gormley photograph'; my eyes were drawn to the shaft of light from above descending upon Gormley's statue in an almost celestial manner. I hope Harry doesn't mind, but I briefly played around with his photo and tried to bring out further said shaft of light. I've probably failed miserably but I am a huge fan of AG and his iron men' and thank Harry in his absence for indulging me.
