Lacock

For the last couple of weeks, the National Trust at Lacock Abbey have been illuminating the abbey. They did the same thing last year but the abbey was closed at 1600 hr, before it was properly dark. However, the experiment proved sufficiently successful that this year they had special evening openings for the event, Illuminations, from 1600-1900 hr.

It was still light when I arrived so the effects on the trees in the grounds were quite subtle, unlike when I left an hour and a half later, but still quite beautiful in the cloisters. I had a couple of chats with the volunteers as I took pictures and waited for dark to fall, and learned more about the event and the NT. As Lacock was the home of the photographic pioneer William Henry Fox Talbot, there were a couple of references in the light display. 1839 was the year he first exhibited the 'photogenic drawing' process and displayed the picture of the window (taken in 1834) that is illuminated beneath the projection. A wall in the cloisters has a projection of the leaf that was the first ever negative.

Photography has certainly come on considerably since then. One lady volunteer was concerned that every time she walked past a doorway, there was someone taking a picture that she thought she was spoiling. I pointed out that with digital cameras this would be of little importance since one could easily just take another picture and delete the first one, without all the inconvenience and cost associated with film photography.

L.
9.2.2014

Blip #1172
Consecutive Blip #034
Day #1411

Alternatives:
In The 'Hogwarts' Room
In The Brewery Courtyard
Illuminated Old Tree
Trees At The Entrance

A Visit To 'Illuminations' at Lacock Abbey NT, 2 February 2014 (Flickr set)

Lenses: Pentax 12-24mm, Pentax 17-70mm

Lacock series
National Trust series

Lozarhythm Of The Day:
The Crickets - Not Fade Away (recorded 27 May 1957)
This day is the anniversary of the "day the music died", 3 February 1959, when Buddy Holly was one of four who were killed in a plane crash on their way to a gig. This song, written by Buddy Holly (using the name Charles Hardin), employs the famous Bo Diddley beat, with drummer Jerry Allison using a cardboard box to create the sound. This rhythm was later accentuated by the Rolling Stones in their 1964 cover version, so that many assumed it was a Bo Diddley song. The Crickets original was the B-side to Oh, Boy!, and was also included on the album The "Chirping" Crickets.

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