Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve

For me, there's something I really like about a good reed bed, rustling and whispering in the breeze, especially kissed by a dark golden light of early morning or late afternoon. Add the sensuous deep azure of a polarised river and sky and I'm getting even more interested!

Windsor Esplanade here, this rather wondrous and fine terrace is a most distinctive landmark when viewing Cardiff and the Bay from Penarth Head - up on the hill.

Nice detail in LARGE

Another good day here. All other times I'd walked from the immediate vicinity of Cardiff Bay itself, were to the east, as far as on the actual Barrage itself. But for the first time, I walked the opposite direction, past Techniquest, round old locks (a couple of remnants of dereliction going on too) and under the enigmatic St David's Hotel. This is big building in my sunset Blip of three days ago, with what looks like a giant sail on its roof.

Beyond that are sympathetically landscaped gravel paths and boardwalks over what is now known as Cardiff Bay Wetlands, which is a recognised bird reserve. I saw and snapped some cormorants and swans which are always lovely to see. One can walk out quite far into the Bay with views over Penarth Marina. All very nice and pleasant.

I liked the symmetry here. And how my Nikkor 16-85mm VR with polariser managed to get the entire terrace in and originally I took it to be a black and white. But after yesterday's mono fisheye (thanks to all for it getting up into the first page in the spotlights) I felt I just had to retain those golds and deep blues.