Red Rosehips, in the Rain

...at Southampton's Old Cemetery...

For about 18 months, a couple of years ago, I was a lay medical advisor to a team of doctors and specialists based at Southampton's University Hospital. It was cutting edge stuff; I was confused and baffled half the time, I made a few points occasionally, the rest of the time I simply looked forward to the end of the meeting, so I could go off and explore a bit more of Southampton.

Receiving a small bursary, to cover travel and other expenses, I made sure of making full use of these times and one of the places that I always enjoyed a wander to was Southampton Common and on its southern corner, the rather wonderful and now almost totally wild and overgrown Old Cemetery.

Unlike my Blip of 8th, which was taken in Salisbury's Cemetery, a really rather boring and modern cemetery, Southampton's is one of those old, wild and gnarled places, where health and safety has definitely not taken root and almost none of the headstones are now upright.

I have cashed in the weekly bus pass that I bought before the recent lens purchase as I visited my father yesterday. He had a really good day, for once, (relatively) lucid and in good spirit. That is why I was away from Blip for most of yesterday.

So, what a week to go travelling on buses!! Dampness in the air by the time the bus got to Southampton and by the time I'd walked up to the Common, the drizzle had turned to persistent light but very wetting rain.

I knew I wanted my Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 to be isolating headstones, with selective focus and in an arty way. Yes, I was getting wet, but had my nice Craghopper overcoat that should be waterproof. But the camera was getting wet and the lens too - trying to shelter under and shooting from the many trees helped, for a while. Wiping the camera down regularly with the big lens cloth I'm sure prevented camera failure!

I don't really see gravestones as markers for dead people. Nothing mordant in wanting to spend time in such places, I just find the shapes and textures interesting and highly photogenic. After a couple of hours, the rain really came down and so it was a rush to get back into Southampton city centre for a dry-out and some lunch.

This image was partly chosen by the two guys in the Oxfam music shop. As I myself had volunteered in the Salisbury book and music branch for a year, I always try and pop into other branches and to buy a CD or two. Actually, four: Aztec Camera, The Incredible String Band, Elkie Brookes and best of all, Madeleine Peyroux. All four about a tenner, all in.

Most of my shots were of the hicklety-picklety slabs of grey, or shades of. They liked the colour of the rosehips (they made comment on the camera etc and it went from there, like what on earth was I photographing on such a miserable day - you can imagine how that answer was received...!)

An awful bus journey back home. Traffic jams, the bus driver not even knowing the route and going the wrong way, then having to go back to correct his mistake, I felt quite ill by the time we eventually rolled back in.

Lens is Sigma EX 70-200mm f2.8

HUGE thanks for ALL the many Hearts, stars and comments on yesterday's landscape Blip, getting it well up into the Spotlights. I'm glad it was well received as I am very fond of that view and I thought the colours and light really rather exceptional (the scene, not me, that is). How many of you spotted the three grazing deer? The detail was indeed impressive, they are clearly visible in large.

I AM a bit behind, but the Challenge took up a chunk of time and I had to attend to other matters and I still have to get out and use that bus pass for the rest of the week, now! But I will try my best.

Now passed the 3,000 Favourites received mark - I pinch myself and wonder at my luck and good fortune to have so many wonderful people liking my pictures enough to choose for such. Thank you!