I'm having a white christmas...

I'm having a white christmas..., originally uploaded by jamesburden.

the horizon of dunstable downs

the horizon of dunstable downs, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Sometimes I crave horizon: the ‘long way a way’ kind of horizon. This is Dunstable Downs – near where I live and it is magnificent. You can feel your eyes stretch as you gaze out over the plains of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

This has been a long hard year. One of the hardest in a long time, and in many ways I’ll be very glad to see the back of it. So roll on 2010. I now have ten days off work and I intend to spend time with my family and relax – properly relax. Not the ‘I’ll squeeze in an episode of 24’ but the ‘that horizon is a long way a way’ kind of relax.

My apologies that I haven’t been as present on flickr as I would have liked – there are many excuses why and none of them really amount to reasons. Thank you for bearing with me, for welcoming me back on the intermittent occasions when I make an appearance. Your creativity, comments and friendship mean a great deal.

So I wish you have a wonderful Christmas, filled with laughter, love and lashings of cranberry sauce. I hope you find a horizon to stretch your eyes.

See you in 2010.

Stained Glass Abstract I

Stained Glass Abstract I, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I feel the need for something colourful tonight. So here are some abstracts I did of some stained glass windows in a church. I don’t like to brag – but these shots were made at 400mm with no tripod. I know, I know, I should have been a surgeon with hands as steady as these…

Which one do you like best?