poliphilo: (Default)
poliphilo ([personal profile] poliphilo) wrote2009-08-03 07:33 pm

What We Did Last Week: 8

We went back to Avebury on the Sunday morning- on our way home.

I took some pictures: they're OK, but Avebury can't be photographed....







Still, that's never going to stop me trying...

[identity profile] athenais.livejournal.com 2009-08-03 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
That's a wonderful photo with Ailz. I've been enjoying all the photos you've posted in the last couple of days, actually. It's true, Avebury is hard to photograph.

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-08-03 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
For one thing it's so big. There's no way you can get the whole of it into a single frame....

[identity profile] wyrmwwd.livejournal.com 2009-08-03 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I am feeling pretty down, and that helps!

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-08-03 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad.

[identity profile] sorenr.livejournal.com 2009-08-03 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
they're OK, but Avebury can't be photographed....

That is very true! It's so large that a picture just can't do it justice. Well, maybe an aerial shot could give an inkling of the scale of it, but it would never capture the spirit of the place.

[identity profile] veronica-milvus.livejournal.com 2009-08-03 07:01 pm (UTC)(link)
The middle one catches the atmosphere, but the weather is too nice to make it look moody!

Wish you had dropped in at our house - one hour from Avebury and almost on your way home!

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-08-03 07:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, that would have been good. Another time perhaps.

You're right about the weather. I think the best pictures I've taken at Avebury were in winter, in failing light.

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-08-03 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I've seen photographs of Stonehenge- plenty of them- that make it look more imposing than it actually is, but that never happens with Avebury.
ext_12726: (View from study (evening))

[identity profile] heleninwales.livejournal.com 2009-08-03 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't know about "OK", that top one with Ailz is stunning! Such clarity, such lovely blues and greens!

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 07:49 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you.

Yes, they're pretty enough, but the spirit of the place eludes the camera :)
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[identity profile] heleninwales.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 10:37 am (UTC)(link)
I haven't ever been to Avebury, but I can see what you mean. In fact that is why I like the first photo best because you have just chosen one stone and not even tried to capture the whole.

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 11:02 am (UTC)(link)
Having a person in the frame also gives the scale. I've tended to keep people out of my pictures of the stones, but this may be a mistake.

[identity profile] qatsi.livejournal.com 2009-08-03 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
I've enjoyed this series of posts. Looks like you had a good time!

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 07:50 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks. Yes, when we go away we always pack a lot in.

[identity profile] pondhopper.livejournal.com 2009-08-03 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Individual stones can be captured, or a part of the circle but that just doesn't show the "real" Avebury. It's just a hint. Though I have to say the middle photo has excellent perspective and the hint is bigger.
:)
The photo with Ailz is lovely!
I have loved your travel series.

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 07:52 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, that's it. Or part of it. Every stone is a personality. But then it's not just about the stones, there's the bank and ditch to consider- and the avenues- and the way the village sits in the middle of the henge. Avebury is just so complicated.
ext_35267: (Peaceful)

[identity profile] wlotus.livejournal.com 2009-08-03 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I love the purple in her dress!!!!!!

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 07:53 am (UTC)(link)
She'll be pleased to hear. Purple is her favourite colour.
ext_35267: (Peaceful)

[identity profile] wlotus.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 03:24 pm (UTC)(link)
It's mine, too.

[identity profile] daisytells.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the wonderful photo tour of your recent travels. I especially enjoyed the photo of Ailz with the baby, and also this one of her at the standing stone. Those rocks are huge!
By the way, how do you pronounce Ailz's name? I know two Aileens, one calls herself A-leen, and the other calls herself I-leen? How does your wife call herself? I believe it is important to pronounce a person's name properly, even if only in one's mind.
Oh, your England! The way you present it in your photos is so appealing.

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 07:56 am (UTC)(link)
And that's not the biggest of them.

Ailz is A-leen. But since it's an unusual name she gets called all sorts. It annoys her to to be mispronounced.

[identity profile] daisytells.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 01:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I can relate to Ailz's feelings. My name is Janice (pronounced Jan-iss), but some people have called me Jan-eess. Long ago I shortened myself to just Jan to avoid mispronunciations, and guess what? Now, some people call me Jane. Cant win! (Laughing).

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
It wouldn't occur to me to pronounce your name "Jan-ess". I mean that's an "i" in there; why should I sound it as an "e"? :)

[identity profile] baritonejeff.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 08:07 am (UTC)(link)
WONDERFUL series of posts, Tony!

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-08-04 11:00 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you.