The Concrete Circle - Basingstoke

Saturday 28th June

I did indeed threaten you all with an image of Basingstoke Bus Station, on the day I met up with my friend Des.

However, I got this on an early stroll through from the Railway station and through a block of flats that are highly visible in the town centre. I didn't know you could wander through and where it led you. I saw one person. I was using the Samyang fisheye and was merrily clicking away and then the compositions got better and better and then, looking up, the whole circle fitted nicely in the frame.

The sun just about appeared but not for long and shortly after, rain, followed by downpours and monsoons and thunder in the afternoon. Hence the bit of blue. Black and white was rubbish and these blocks really were yellow and blue, I accentuated the colour and held back on exposure and colour saturation of the other parts.

We later (about 5pm) went to Odiham Castle, on the Basingstoke Canal and the sun was just coming back out then. The castle is just ruins now, which you walk round and there is no car-park, signs for it even and no entrance fee or even gate. They are fairly impressive, if you use your imagination! Got a couple of nice shots, one of which was definitely going to be the Blip.

Before that, Old Basing House, where the Civil War brought down a wealthy palace that was fit for Kings and Queens to visit. For £5 it was a bargain and one wandered round the whole village for a couple of hours, checking out the very basic remains, atop a motte and bailey. Des loved this; a museum and visitor centre, with plenty of historical gumf (Des likes a bit of gumf) for him to read. They loaned out umbrellas, which we definitely needed. Snorkels and sou'westers too would have been handy! My pics were basic and simply documentary only.

According to Wikipedia, the Palace rivalled Hampton Court. It is now run and supported by Hampshire County Council. The site is a few miles east of Basingstoke, rural and far enough away to feel you are in the countryside. Well worth a visit. Lovely people running it too. (We joked and had quite a laugh, we had to, the weather was dreadful)