Thursday Doors

16-03-17

I haven’t been out and about much this week, taking the opportunity to do a bit of tidying up in the garden when the weather has been good. Did manage to get into town on Monday though and captured a few doors for the excellent Norm 2.0 blog.

Cherub

Another former Hosiery factory, the stone and brickwork set the door off.

Former Police Station #1

Former Police Station #2

The police station was built in 1933 of Portland stone and is Grade 11 listed.

I couldn’t finish without a Blue Door.

Took this one in 1993 on my first visit to Riga, Latvia. I liked the old cannons embedded into the pavement and the two imposing faces. (The door has now been restored and to me at least doesn’t look anywhere near as good)

5 Days of Grey

That’s the BBC weather forecast for my part of the UK, so I thought I would cheer myself up by posting some photographs from summer 2016 in Latvia.

Lying On The Beach And Looking Up

Olympus EPL1

Beach Bums

Olympus EPL1

Flower Boot

Olympus XA – Ilford HP5+

Hopefully I will be going back to Latvia in June to visit my lovely relatives.

Thursday’s Door

01-12-16

For Norm 2.0 Thursday Doors

Riga Latvia. So many amazing doors, could have spent the whole holiday searching out and photographing them.

Last few from Latvia visit

I was hoping to post some images from my replacement Olympus OM40 that I bought a couple of months ago, I scanned the negs and when I opened them in Photoshop there were dust specs all over them. I am a man of patience but… so I will re-scan them later in the week.

So here are the last images from my Latvia visit.

Wild flowers at the family cemetery.

Grandfather, Grandmother and my Mum

Half of my Mums ashes are buried in Latvia the other half in the UK.

Three Trees

On the family farmland, one tree planted for each of my Mums brothers.

Sigulda National Park from Turaida Castle

Sigulda is a beautiful park, looking forward to visiting it again.

River Gauja

We stopped off here early evening on the way back to Riga, it’s a popular swimming and fishing spot.

Russian Orthodox Nativity Cathedral (recently restored)

Latvian Freedom Monument

Can’t wait for my next visit.

Riga – Olympus XA Ilford HP5+ #7 last few

Hanging around outside shoe shops is not my idea of fun, outvoted by 5 women I didn’t stand a chance !

In the Mall

Riga Old Town

Happy Tourist

Juicy

Thanks for all the fish

Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum

Just on the edge of Riga is the Ethnographic Museum, I first visited the site in 1993, at that time it was just getting started so it was really good to go back and see how it has come along. They have lots of exhibitions, festivals, and craft fairs throughout the year, not to mention an excellent shop/cafe that sells lovely food and Latvian beer.

Here are a few photographs from the museum site, as usual could have spent a lot longer looking around.

Old Wooden Mill

Roof Detail

Bee Hive

Mossy roof on this old farm building

While we were waiting for my relatives at the end of our visit this lovely affectionate cat came and sat by us demanding lots of fuss, a great way to end our day.

Riga – Olympus XA Ilford HP5+ #6

Shutters

Riga – Olympus XA Ilford HP5+ #5

Riga Central Market

The market in my hometown (Leicester) is quite big and has been around for about 700 years. Riga central market on the other hand was opened in 1930, having been built in and around disused Zeppelin hangers.  It is enormous and a fantastic place to visit.

Hustle & Bustle

A Quick Drag

Day Dream

Shall I or Shan’t I

Two digital images from the Olympus EPL1

 

Riga – Olympus XA Ilford HP5+ #4

Chez

The shutter button on the Olympus XA is very sensitive and it’s easy to take an inadvertent shot, but I liked the way this one turned out.

Feline

This women caught my eye ! while I was waiting for the tram.

Break

A pair taking a well earned rest from all the hustle and bustle of lunchtime.

 

Riga – Olympus XA Ilford HP5+ #3

Philippe Halsman

Metal sculpture dedicated to photographer Philippe Halsman who was born in Riga.

http://pro.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL535KMJ