Israel, nr Masada, St George's Monastery: Treking in Israel for an out-of-the-way location is hard, hot, thirsty work. And the creators of this monastery certainly followed the rules for seclusion and silence. Once the directions for the location had been found a hefty walk down this Gorge finally rewards with this vista. Getting access to the monastery is another story altogether, as is it's own private access, which I decided to leave to another time - settling for the atmosphere, location and view instead.
Portugal, Sintra: Just an ordinary space for passers-by to sit and rest, or contemplate. A circlular wall, a bench, a few trees, light and shade. Beautiful simplicity. I stayed for a while to think about Sintra - which had achieved a UNESCO World Heritage Site award some years previously and well deserved it is too. This town is a truly magnificent example of the creation of outstanding architecture, combined with a deep respect for nature and man.
Portugal, Castelo da Vide: Here it is - a place of peace dedicated to Christ and nature. This spot is just outside the town and I loved it from the very first sight - requiring almost no manoeuvering to get the perspective I always try and obtain. The eye just goes there. The creators of this space had a terrific sense of aesthetics and drama, to say nothing of the vision to imagine how it would be in years to come.
England, North Somerset, Weston-Super-Mare: On impulse, returning from Bristol Airport I headed for Weston. It was a dull day, but I only realised how dull once I had arrived at the beachfront. 'This could be an exposure problem,' I said to myself zipping up my coat. But out of adversity opportunities rise and I soon found myself captured by the mono landscape, the minimal content, yet the grand scale of composition.
England, Somerset, The Steart Peninsula: This whole coast is brimming with wonderful sights, smells and sounds. Even the mud here is fascinating. It is also quite flat and the Severn (Bridgwater Bay) can be seen at three points of the compass around this slender finger of land. And although this image gives little inclination of the sky and the horizon - it is massive. Birdlife abounds here.
England, Wiltshire, The Deverills: Perhaps unique in the whole of Britain this wide landscape has probably been denuded of its original forestry due to intensive agriculture - which I don't condone. On the other side of the coin, what remains is a vista that is so big it cannot fail to impress. I often drive here just to relax, to see the changing weather patterns and shapes thrown on the ground.
England, Cornwall, Praa Sands: The wind was blowing a gale and the rain pelted, not down, but horizontally. Walking along this beach, with the storm at my back I dreaded the return journey. As quickly as it came the midnight black skies lifted and a weak, English sun made a welcome appearance. This was timed with my arrival at the far end of the sand and the surprising and joyful exclamation of boulders.
