Blue Lake in Old Quarry

Blue Lake in Old Quarry, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Aymestry Limestone Formation, Woodbury Quarry, Shelsley Beauchamp, Worcestershire. The water is of a very striking blue colour.

The 16:30hrs Steaming Out

The 16:30hrs Steaming Out, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Number 2857 Great Western Railway heavy goods steam locomotive leaves Bewdley Station and is about to pass Bewdley South Signal Box on it's way to Kidderminster.

The 16:30hrs Steaming Out Towards Kidderminster

The 16:30hrs Steaming Out Towards Kidderminster, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Number 2857 Great Western Railway heavy goods steam locomotive leaves Bewdley Station and is passing Bewdley South Signal Box on it's way to Kidderminster.

Wood House, Shrawley,Worcestershire,UK, in Black and White.

Wood House, Shrawley,Worcestershire,UK, in Black and White., a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Shrawley Wood House is a 19th-century country house in a landscape park. Features include three large pools, a boat house and two lodges. The park is first shown on the Ordnance Survey six-inch map of 1883.

Female Scaup

Female Scaup, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Who says that the female of the species has dull colouring? Just look at the plumage on this one to see that's not the case.

Out Swiming at Slimbridge

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickardowise/5025713039/Out Swiming at Slimbridge, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Nice day for a swim on a lake at Slimbridge WWT. Does anyone know what species I am?

Harris Hawk named Sid.

Harris Hawk named Sid., a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Sid was the star performer at a Hawk Experience event that our son in law bought for his wife's birthday. We walked in open fields with Sid flying from gloved hand to trees and hedgerows and back again. A great experience enjoyed by all.

Red Fungi on moss covered wood.

Red Fungi on moss covered wood., a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

The beauty of nature is every where, through every season and in every country.

The River Rea near Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire,UK.

The River Rea near Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire,UK., a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

The River Rea is a small river that flows through south east Shropshire, England and passes just to the east of the small market town of Cleobury Mortimer, before entering the Teme at Newnham Bridge in Worcestershire. Its waters eventually reach the Bristol Channel, via the Severn. The upper stretch of the river is known as the Rea Brook. For a short stretch between Cleobury Mortimer and Neen Sollars the river forms part of the Shropshire-Worcestershire border.
The name of the river derives from a root found in many Indo-European languages and means "to run" or "to flow".
The historic or alternative name for the river is the "River Neen" and there are various settlements along its course of that name or variations of it, such as Neen Sollars, Neenton and Neen Savage. What is the old brick structure is at this point in the river?

Fungi Attack

Fungi Attack, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

A pile of logs cut and stacked for burning on a fire are being attacked by ravenous fungi. The power of nature is just awesome.

Low Tide at St Ives

Low Tide at St Ives, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

The Texture Of Wood

The Texture Of Wood, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

The Texture Of Wood

What interest wood can give, even when cut and left to slowly rot in the wood where it grew.

How Did I Get Like This?

How Did I Get Like This?, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

A multi -limbed tree of all shapes and textures. Three images merged into Photomatix to produce the HDR. The four images then opened in Photoshop as layers and blended as required. The final layer was duplicated and Topaz Labs Black and White Effects 2 Platinumn 3 preset was used. The two layers were then blended in Photoshop to give this effect.

Tumbling Water

Tumbling Water, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Water flowing in a small stream. Three shot HDR merged in NIK HDR Efex Pro 2, then edited in Lightroom, Photoshop and NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 plugin. I used Nik Silver Efex to give a Cyantype effect then blended it with the orginal image using Photoshop layers and blend modes.

Shrawley Woods in February Sun,Shrawley,Worcestershire,UK.

Shrawley Woods in February Sun,Shrawley,Worcestershire,UK., a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

As one of the largest small-leaved lime woodlands in the country, Shrawley wood really is something special. On top of that it has a spectacular display of bluebells April/May.
Visitors may park behind the New Inn pub (small charge applies) but are asked to patronise the pub in return!

Wood House, Shrawley,Worcestershire,UK

Wood House, Shrawley,Worcestershire,UK, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Shrawley Wood House is a 19th-century country house in a landscape park. Features include three large pools, a boat house and two lodges. The park is first shown on the Ordnance Survey six-inch map of 1883.

Bridge Over Stream

Bridge Over Stream, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Driveway Bridge leading to Wood House, Shrawley,Worcestershire,UK. The park is first shown on the Ordnance Survey six-inch map of 1883.

Do These Woods Feel Creepy To You?

Do These Woods Feel Creepy To You?, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

This shot was taken in daylight but with the help of Lightroom and Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 things become a little creepy.

"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!"

"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!", a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Not quite the battle of Bosworth Field and Richard III, more Chaddesley Point To Point course in winter.

Me and My Mate

Me and My Mate, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Two Shetland Ponies discussing the possibility of attacking the photographer! Shall we or not that is the question?

Gotta Mint Then?

Gotta Mint Then?, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

One of a pair of horses that had had some fun running up to us in a menacing way as we crossed their field.

Stourport Bridge Stourport-on-Severn

Stourport Bridge Stourport-on-Severn, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Stourport Bridge Stourport-on-Severn The bridge was built in 1870 by Thomas Vale Construction, a local contractor. It is the only river crossing at Stourport-on-Severn and connects the main part of the town with the area on the other side of the River Severn known as Areley Kings. During 2006/7 the bridge was renovated and painted in an attractive blue and gold colour scheme. (Attribution: P L Chadwick)

Boats Frozen In

Boats Frozen In, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

The canal opened to Stourport in 1771 and by 1812 the five canal basins had been built. Stourport Canal Basins still remain largely intact from that golden age of the canals. The canal basins are home to nearly 100 narrow boats and yachts, and one re-opened basin, plus five canal locks and a dry dock, all located on the bank of the River Severn in Worcestershire, UK. This shot shows the main basin on a cold day in winter with the water frozen around the boats.

Gates Now Closed

Gates Now Closed, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

Part of the walls and gates surrounding the garden to Arley House and Arboretum, Worcestershire

Sun back lighting a tree.

Sun back lighting a tree., a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

This shot was taken in the grounds of Arley Arboretum and Gardens, Arley, Worcestershire on a particularly bright day at the end of November 2012.

The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal viewed from Timber Lane Bridge

The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal viewed from Timber Lane Bridge, a photo by rickardowise on Flickr.

The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal linked the River Severn with the Trent and Mersey Canal and as a result, after Birmingham, Stourport became the busiest inland port in the Midlands. This view is looking towards Stourport approximately 1mile from the canal basin.