The Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia

The Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

You don’t want clear blue skies as a photographer. You want storms, you want wind, rain, clouds, ideally snow and ice - you want weather chaos. If the sun makes an appearance, you want it to have waged war against the clouds to get there. You want to feel as though you’ve battled against the very elements to make your image.

Down with blue skies. Push them down the stairs.

all the better to see you with...

all the better to see you with..., originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’ve been away for a week or so, in the wonderful world of North Wales – hence my general lack of flickr activity. I’ve got some landscape stuff which I’ll post up over the coming weeks, but I was most struck by the garden where my Mum and Step-Dad live. It’s a totally amazing garden, with enough food in it to support a small army for several weeks. It has wonderful plant life and a puzzling array of insects. Here’s insect no. 1 – no idea what it is.

Truth really is stranger than fiction. Have you ever seen an alien more alien looking than this?

Zebra Abstract

Zebra Abstract, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Today is my 13th wedding anniversary.

What have I learnt in 13 years of marriage? Two things:
1: My wife is more wonderful then I could ever have imagined.
2: Nothing in life and marriage is as black and white as it might seem.

The 21 Greatest Photographs of Space

If only I had taken these...! See here for the 21 Greatest Space Photographs

White Lion on White

White Lion on White, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

After yesterday’s White Lion on Black , here’s a White Lion on White!

White Lion On Black

White Lion On Black, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I photographed some white lions yesterday. Magnificent, imposing, inspiring creatures. So here’s a white lion on black.