The Moon near Boston Stump

Over the past few nights I've been trying to catch a clear picture of the moon. Although the surface features aren't visible in this shot I couldn't resist the reflection. At -2°C the river had an icy shimmer, not quite enough to freeze over.

Over the River...

I discovered this tree overhanging the River Witham and couldn't resist climbing on it. Needless to say I left my camera on dry land.

Somewhere New to Explore

There's one place I love exploring almost as much as wild lonely places. I can't resist looking around second hand bookshops. They're far more interesting than new bookstores which seem to stock all the same titles. However there's a few strange and slightly annoying things I've discovered:

• Huge stacks of books on the floor. What's that all about?
• Books two deep on the shelf. Does anyone ever look at the back row?
• It's so narrow you have to walk sideways. It's impossible to see the books.
• A bizarre system to organise the books. Finding anything is impossible.

What do you wish you could change about your favourite second hand bookshop?

Capture the Moon

This week I've tried to catch a decent picture of the moon. Here's my latest attempt. I used a tripod and set the exposure compensation to -2.

Late Evening Sky

I was hoping to catch a few photos of the sunset this afternoon but left it a little too late! Instead here's a picture of the sky just after sundown.

Under the Bridge

The railway bridge by Grand Sluice is the most northerly of Boston's bridges. I've often wondered how far I'd have to follow the Witham before reaching another. One day I'm planning to walk along the river to find out!

Water Droplets on Hawthorn

I've been trying to take a photo of water droplets with the background focused in the droplet. This is my best attempt so far. Have you got any suggestions how I can take a better shot?

Boston Stump on a Misty Morning

I went for a wander around Boston this morning just as the mist was beginning to clear. No matter what I try I'm never quite satisfied with photos taken in the mist. Have you got any tips?

Market Day in Boston

I had the morning off work so I went for a wander around Boston market to browse the weird and wonderful goods. Anything from ostrich eggs to ewe's milk was available, but in the end I settled for a cream cake!

Boston Stump by Night

It was already dark by the time I finished work, so I used the opportunity to take a few photos of Boston Stump. The church is floodlit by night and looks quite spectacular when the conditions are right.

Common Orange Lichen

This morning I walked to Witham Park to experiment with a new camera. I photographed this lichen hoping to identify it, but my book isn't very clear. Does anyone recognise it?

Update: thanks to everyone who helped identify the lichen. It's Common Orange Lichen (Xanthoria parietina).

Two Seasons, One Picture

This morning I walked a couple of miles along the River Witham and discovered this sign. The picture shows the same view just after harvest.

The River Witham from Boston Stump

This view of the footbridge over the River Witham and the rooftops of Boston was taken from the tower of Saint Botolph's church. The tower is 83m high and once held the title of the world's tallest building. As you can see, most of the recent snow has gone.

Donkeys in the Snow

These two friendly donkeys greeted me as I followed a footpath across the fields. They reminded me how I used to watch the donkeys being taken across town every night in the summer holidays.

Beck Head Stream Cave

After climbing down about 3m in a tight rift and wriggling another 5m through a low passage, Beck Head Stream Cave opens out onto the sandy bank of an underground stream.

Not wanting to take my camera any further I took this one photo before braving the icy waters! After wading for ages upstream the passage reaches an underground waterfall and the end of my exploration, Broadbent Falls.

Putting the Decorations Away

The council were busy in the snow this morning taking down Christmas decorations. Well two were busy, the other two looked a little distracted!

Walking in the Snow

After waking up to a fresh fall of snow I couldn't wait to go for a walk around town! I just hope I have chance to visit somewhere in the hills before it all thaws.

Icy River Witham, Boston

The River Witham froze over a couple of nights ago when the temperature dropped to -4°C. This is the first time I've seen the tidal section of the river freeze, so I couldn't resist taking a few snaps with my phone.

The picture is from the foot bridge looking south towards Town Bridge. Here's the view in the opposite direction towards Sluice Bridge.

Falling Snow

It's always feels quite magical to walk in the snow. This picture on the riverside walk at about 7am just as it was beginning to get light. I love the way snowflakes reflect the camera flash! :-)