Day 317: Snowy Edinburgh

We are reaching the end of the year - well for me anyway as I won't probably be able to post again after today, heading to Dumfriesshire sometime either today or tomorrow, then to Lyon via London on Boxing Day - flights and general weather-related mayhem permitting.

So... well... this has been great, the best New Year's resolution I've ever made (and one of the very few I've kept). A vast improvement on the one I made aged 10, 'Practise piano every day' which lasted until the 2nd Jan. Ok, I haven't posted every single day of the year but I've done pretty well. A lot better than I ever expected.

And personally, this has been a really amazing journey for me and one I've really enjoyed. I've learned so much about photography along the way, about what I like to take photos of, what I'm good at taking photos of (and what I'm not). The journey doesn't end here but I think the 'Photo Photo 365' blog might. It's too limiting in some ways, too wide open in others. Next year's focus will, I hope, be more project-based.

I'll keep you posted on where I go and hopefully those of you kind enough to follow this blog, will follow my next one. There should be some interesting projects ahead, involving another Malawi trip hopefully and an epic horse ride through Scotland - so keep in touch.

In the meantime, I wish you all a very happy festive season and thank you again for all who have taken the time to view the photos, given me fantastic feedback on what you've liked, where I can improve, etc.

In this photo, the Duke of Wellington (currently covered in snow in subzero Edinburgh) is pointing to the way ahead as his horse gets ready to gallop off in that direction. So shall I.

Day 316: Santa on CCTV

Santa was asleep on the back of the bus this afternoon, wrapped up in a nice warm jacket.
Can you spot him.

Day 315: Snowy eve

This is the street I work on, in the snow, beautiful moon, above the Mosque.

Day 314: Vantage point

This is the same pic again (obv) but with his friend in too.

Again, I don't know which works best. This one, I like for the triangulation, and the sense of something being observed on the other side of the wall on which they are standing. But I love the floating aspect to the other two.

What do you think?

Day 313: Boy floating

This is the cloned version and I would love your advice on which works best.
I love the sense that this boy is floating almost flying in this pic and leaning in to the thing we can't see in the background of the photo.
But does it need more of a sense of context. I'm not sure it does but I'd love to know what you think?

Day 312: Education Day II

I can't make my mind up whether this picture should have the wall and spotlight cloned out of it but I think there is something really incredible about this boys pose. This and the last Education Day pic are a couple of my favourite pics taken this year. It's funny how it's often when you revisit the pics you've taken, you find something in them you didn't see to begin with.

Day 311: Sleeping boy

or girl...

Day 310: Ceiling decoration

Edinburgers - spot the pub!

All ceilings should be decorated like this, don't you think.

Day 309: More fairy lights

Day 308: Fairy lights on George st

Day 307: Looking Up

Day 306: Fungi

Day 305: Music and Smiles

Day 304: Stairwell

Day 303:

Yesterday morning, I was almost heading back to Malawi today due to unforseen circumstances.

In the end, it was just a bit too short notice to organise.

Bit of a shame in a way, bit of a relief in another.

Christmas is fast approaching and at some point I'm going to have to again take an almighty deep breath and belly flop into the middle of the pre-Christmas panic buying frenzy, complete with noise-repelling earplugs to protect against any possible Cliff Richard Christmas medleys I might encounter along the way. Wish me luck.

Day 302: Fly by

Day 301: Snow on branches

Day 300: Snow

You may have noticed but we've been having some weather in Edinburgh these days.

It's been great, although obviously bringing the city to a standstill has its down sides too. This evening, I had to walk most of the 4 miles home as the bus services had been suspended.

By the time we got to Duddingston, socks soaking, feet cold, we thought 'maybe we could hitch the rest of the way', stuck thumb out in a rather half-hearted fashion just as a giant 4x4 was passing.... and... IT STOPPED. Approx. 1 nanosecond spent waiting for a ride - the fastest hitchhike in history.

Giant 4x4 therefore driven by Guardian Angel No. 4, as she shall now be known, and took us all the way home.

I took this photo at lunch time today in the Meadows. Hope you like it.

Day 299: Neon

Day 298: Birthday girl

Day 297: Minaret at sundown

Day 296: Djemma El Fna

Day 295: Snails

I think, generally, I'm quite adventurous when it comes to food... but... I'm afraid, there is something about snails. Maybe it's the look of their rubbery texture or the knowledge of how they drag their slimey asses over every surface. I don't know if I will ever actually pluck up the courage to try them.

They are popular in Morocco though, great vats of the things, as here, at the many snail stalls in the Djemma El Fna, all with plenty of people gathered round enjoying their hearty bowl of snail soup.
Sadly, I wasn't one of them. Not this time anyway.

Day 294: Starry night II

Day 293: Starry night

Day 292: Riad Edward II

Day 291: Riad Edward I

If you ever find yourself in Marrakech in need of a place to stay, make sure you book at least one night in this beautiful place, Riad Edward.

Day 290: Moo

I'm thinking this might be my bid for a travel guide front cover. What do you think?
Topical, reflective of the region, plenty of space for text?

If only travel guides came in landscape format... doh!

Day 289: Shadows V

Day 288: Shadows IV