#CBWC

Maasai Mara

For this week’s Black & White Photo Challenge, Cee asks for things on the large side, which at once had me thinking of big animals; big skies; big landscapes: Africa. And this further prompted the thought of trying a sepia-vintage look with photos from the Farrells’ aging Africa album. To my eye the results look rather like plates from some 1930s book club imprint of travellers’ tales.

Lewa Downs, Northern Kenya: white rhino

Lewa Downs: Grevy’s zebra with Mount Kenya backdrop

Kilimanjaro revealed one morning on the Mombasa Highway at Kibwezi

Maasai Mara Marsh Pride

Olololo Plateau and Thomson’s Gazelle

Desert Date tree Maasai Mara

Athi Plains Giraffe

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Large subjects

The coast in winter is a special place. When we came to Port Wrinkle beach on a late December morning we found the seascape lived up to its name. From the clifftop at least the incoming tide looked scenically ‘wrinkled’.

But down on the shore it was another story. Those ‘wrinkles’ reared and unravelled with such force they left you breathless. This was Cornwall where for centuries past communities had depended on the sea, and not only for fish, but for smuggling and the harvesting of washed up cargos from wrecked ships. Soon you were wondering how it would be if life and livelihood meant the daily taking on of such seas. Would you have the heart for it?

You know you wouldn’t. But never mind. We were only there to look. And spectators can afford to be thrilled. And so thrilled we were. Bring on the white horses!