Photography – Travels with Ali

~ My Favourite Photos of 2025 ~

Tina from Travels and Trifles has asked us to post our favourites of 2025 for Lens Artist Challenge this week. It took me a while to look back and select just 12, one for each month.

January

A wonderful start to 2025 with my son Laurence marrying his fiancee Maddy. Such a happy day.

February

I took this in my garden, these little birds are usually hard to capture.

March

Also taken from my garden, most probably relaxing with a glass of wine watching the sky change colour.

April

Another from the garden! I did leave the house, I promise.

May

Somewhere in England

June

Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia

July

Zac on the pier, Nedlands, Western Australia

August

Cheeky Galah, Perth, Western Australia

September

The Munchkins, Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia

October

Comporta, Portugal

November

Leaving Portugal and returning to England

December

Sensory overload! Father Christmas arrived much to the delight of the munchkins.

Thanks for the memories Tina, this was a difficult challenge but happy I took part.

~ November Shadows and Reflections ~

The last but one day of November Squares. Becky has done an outstanding job of collating so many squares this month. The theme has been brilliant. Thank you Becky 😊.

Here’s a few I took in Portugal.

Reflections of the sun’s rays across the water at Porto Palafita da Carrasqueira.

I caught this lady taking many selfies against the backdrop of the Atlantic Sea in Portugal.

“I see a little silhouette of a man…”
The brother contemplating life.

Figures on the Monument to the Discoveries silhouetted against the sunset over the Tagus.

“Remember to Square”

“The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men”

After much planning and anticipation we flew to London last week. Our itinerary included a month in America, visiting friends and relatives. A visit to my mum was also long overdue.

My mum was overjoyed to see us on the first day, but sadly on the second had to be reminded of who I was. That is the cruelness of dementia.

Things were going swimmingly, flights and hotels were all booked for the US. Unfortunately a few days ago my poor husband had to visit the emergency department. There were problems with his bladder. He is now awaiting further tests.

Health always comes first obviously, but that still doesn’t mean there isn’t profound disappointment over a long awaited trip. We have both received quite a scare and a wake up call. As soon as he is fit to fly we will be making our way home.

We did have a few lovely days before this catastrophe. A walk along the River Crouch, along from where my brother lives. Staying at my brother and sister-in-law’s has been a blessing. We also had a fun day in London catching up with some cousins. Although Anthony did nearly fall down the stairs from the top of a double decker bus! He just about managed to hold on, this is where things started to go wrong. Who knows, a coincidence perhaps?

London Gallery

These are photos of the Guild Church of St. Katherine Cree and with the Gherkin in the background. I love walking around the streets of London, admiring the old and new. Although I think they could spend a few pounds on cleaning up this lovely old church! It is one of the oldest buildings in the city, with the present building dating back to 1628.

Overlooking Regent’s Canal

The best laid plans of Mice and Men is from a poem by Robert Burns. It highlights the idea that even the most carefully planned things can be disrupted. The best way forward is to accept all things with equanimity and not to rail against events that cannot be changed. This is my mantra for the moment.

🎉 Enjoy VE Celebrations 🎉

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~ Pick Five Words with Photos to Match ~

This is a challenge indeed! Paula from Lost in Translation has chosen March’s words and here’s my gallery below. You can make up your own minds if mine accurately match the words.

Dense

This is my mum in Ephesus, Turkey, writing her wishes. Visitors write wishes or prayors on pieces of cloth and tie them to the wall. We were on a cruise and one of the tours took us to the wishing wall at the House of the Virgin Mary. I hope hers came true.

Dusk

Taken from my garden a few weeks ago. I get quite a kick in seeing a different colour sky than blue! Although that’s not a complaint.

Illusion

A pavement drawing in chalk in Hong Kong. It seems such an effort to draw in chalk as these are only temporary. Very clever though.

Authentic

Authentic and iconic, this would be recognisable anywhere in the world. There are some similar buildings that share the sail like structures but Sydney Opera House is in a class of its own.

Bloom

Also a a recent photo from my garden. Anthony left this blooming cluster of bougainvillea when pruning the rest.

My Dilemma with a Spider: Live and Let Live?

A belated Happy New Year to everyone. My first post of the year is linked to Becky’s Geometric January. I have been tracking this little guy’s progress since Christmas Eve. Now, I’m in a dilemma about what to do.

Day One

I had visitors due from the UK and thought it would be interesting for them to see. These spiders are not venomous and are reluctant to bite. I was searching for geometric photos for Becky and loved the shape of the web designs.

“The next time you see a spider web, please, pause and look a little closer. You’ll be seeing one of the most high-performance materials known to man.“
Cheryl Hayashi

He was doing a pretty good job of catching all the other insects too.

Everyday the web grew larger and he caught more insects.

A spider is slow, but its web catches the fastest flies.
~ Matshona Dhliwayo

Day 18

Christmas has been and gone and we’re now preparing for Halloween.

My dear hubby is of the voice of Live and Let Live, whereas I am “enough is enough”. So that is my dilemma. The spider has provided much entertainment and has certainly earned his keep. Any suggestions?

🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷️

~ The Changing Seasons – November 2024 ~

It’s been a fairly quiet month here in Perth for me. Many outings with Rosie of course, including one to the zoo. A few dinner dates, a concert in the park and a trip to the cinema. The weather has been very changeable, with a few hot days, extremely windy ones and too many cold ones!

On the day we went to the zoo it was slightly overcast and a few rain clouds about. Ideal for walking. I thought I had arrived early enough to find a carpark near the entrance, but not early enough as it was full. We drove around up and down the side streets and eventually found one, around ten minutes walk. Rosie seemed happy to walk. We hired a stroller once inside, but I ended up pushing it mostly empty! We had a lovely few hours checking out all the animals.

From here it all went downhill pretty fast. We walked back the allotted ten minutes and I said to Rosie, “hmm, I don’t remember walking past this building”. Well, after dragging Rosie up and down for almost 40 minutes, I called my daughter. I said, “Sorry, but you will have to come and pick us up. I’ve lost the car.” This was supposed to be her day to herself. We had to wait another 20 minutes but I was glad of the rest. Anyway, of course we found the car pretty quickly, I had missed a turning. Needless to say, the zoo is off the list for a while.

A day out with the munchkins at our favourite place, Chapel Farm. They keep some alpacas on the grounds. Such cute animals.

From a walk around Subiaco, looking at the new murals being painted.

Christmas cookie baking, although the icing was the best part

Taken on separate nights while having happy hour in my garden

Linking to The Changing Seasons, Last on the Card and Lens Artist Challenge – “Make me Smile”

~ Leading Lines from Across the Globe ~

For Monochrome Madness this week, Sarah from Travel with Me, has challenged us to find leading lines in our photos.

“Leading lines are a compositional technique that uses lines in a photograph to guide the viewer’s eye towards the subject. They can be natural or man-made, and can be straight, curved, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. Leading lines can create a sense of movement and depth, and can be used to direct the viewer’s focus, create balance, and tell a story“.

I’ve thoroughly scoured my archives to see if I had anything along these lines (excuse the pun!).

I wouldn’t have necessarily taken a photo because of the lines, these just become apparent after viewing. I will now try and implement this technique.

It’s something I’ve come to appreciate on these challenges, I find out more and more about different ways of taking photos.

Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a popular tourist attraction. For the more adventurous and not something I’ve ever felt inclined to do! I prefer looking up at the ant like characters at the top.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
Hong Kong Skyscrapers

Stairs leading up to a temple in
Luang Prabang
Looking over to Mount Sakurajima, Japan

Quiet street in Luang Prabang, mostly bikes. Such a peaceful road.

~ Capturing the “Dogged” Details ~

Patti is the Lens Artist host this week and she has challenged us all to find the details in our subject. Post three photos from different angles.

I’m not quite sure I’m on the right track with mine! Maybe I’m biased but I think Rufus is extremely photogenic.

The last one is a tad blurry, but it was taken on the spur of the moment. Looks 3D or as if I have cut and pasted! You can probably guess that he’s excited for his dinner. Although you would think he hasn’t eaten in a week.

Memorable Beach Moments: Sunrays, Vendors, and Jellyfish

Monochrome Madness this week is hosted by Brian @ Bushboy’s World. The theme is “On the Beach“.

I’ve gone back through the archives of many years ago as my recent beach photos have already been posted.

I like the use of a spot of colour. I think it can enhance a photo and create a focal point. I used the photo editor that comes with the S24.

Thanks Brian for an interesting challenge.

🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊

Balconies around the World- Lens Artist Challenge

This week the Lens Artist Challenge is balconies, hosted by Flights of the Soul. Who doesn’t love a balcony to sit out and watch the sunset or sunrise from your hotel, or if you’re lucky to have one in your own house to sit and watch the world go by. When we lived in Hong Kong we called a balcony a veranda or verandah, I’ve since learned that the word veranda is very much Australian. A proper balcony is elevated and a verandah is on the ground level, perhaps under a balcony!

Seville, Spain

The above photos were taken on a visit to Seville, Spain many years ago. With most cities a balcony is all important and a way to feel connected to your neighbour and the action below.