Silbury Hill is a prehistoric artificial chalk mound. The hill is the tallest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe.
Composed mainly of chalk and clay excavated from the surrounding area, the mound stands 39.3 metres (129 ft) high and covers about 2 hectares (5 acres). The hill was constructed in several stages between c. 2400~2300 BCE and displays immense technical skill and prolonged control over labour and resources.
As a Photographer, it is difficult to capture the immense scale of this mound and the backbreaking labour involved in its construction. The people involved had no access to sophisticated tools as we have today. The excavation of the earth and chalk would have been undertaken with deer antlers , used as picks and other animal bones as shovels.
Sarsen Stones at the Avebury Stone Circle, Wiltshire, England.
Overcast, dark morning, so I popped up to Avebury to makes some images of the Standing Stones when the sky had form and textures.
This stones were erected here 6,000 years ago, before those at Stonehenge. Shear manpower was used to transport them from the top of the Marlborough Downs down to the site at Avebury. Our Neolithic ancestors had to make do with Deer Antlers as picks and their version of rope, made from the hides of animals cured and platted together. Many of the stones weigh over 16 tonnes each
Through the Nave to the Altar, Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire, England. Purchased the Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/21 ZE back in 2009 brand new. Sold it in 2019 and regretted the decision. Bought this replacement from mpb Photographic in the UK "As New" for ~ $604 US.
It came complete with all the original packaging, including Lens Hood, for $604 US. This is the Test Image that I took to check it out. Very, very pleased with my purchase. Three Exposures from a Tripod with Mirror Lock Up have been blended.
This is Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire England. The original Salisbury Cathedral was completed at Old Sarum in 1092 under Osmund, the first Bishop of Salisbury. In 1220 the foundations were laid for the Cathedral at the site it is today. The major construction work was completed in 1258 i.e. it took 38 years to build,
Avebury henge and stone circles are one of the greatest marvels of prehistoric Britain. Built and much altered during the Neolithic period, roughly between 2850 BC and 2200 BC, the henge survives as a huge circular bank and ditch, encircling an area that includes part of Avebury village. Within the henge is the largest stone circle in Britain - originally of about 100 stones - which in turn encloses two smaller stone circles.
Canon EOS 5D with Zeiss Distagon* 2.8/21 ZE lens @ ISO 50, f/5.6 and
Apologies but this was NOT shot with the lens shown. I used a Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L Mark II lens which is a Tilt & Shift lens. Cannot work out how to change the Zeiss entry.<br />
<br />
Oblique lighting through the stained glass windows casts an array of colurs on the wall of the Cloisters at Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucestershire, England.
Christ on the Cross above the spectacular Scissor Arches at the top end of the Nave in Wells Cathedral, Somerset, England. In the Nave the eye is drawn to the unique "scissor arches". The simple yet stunning design, often mistaken as modern, was a medieval solution (1338 - 1348) to sinking foundations.
Better viewed Full Size. This was shot from Roundway Down, Wiltshire, England. You are looking at what remains of the ancient hill fort know as Oliver's Castle. One can still see remains of a moat on the eastern side. It originally would have had a high wooden pallisade with a fighting platform running round the inside.
Better viewed Full Screen
Roundway Down was the scene of a decisive victory for the Royalists over the Parlamentarians in the First English Civil War. The battle took place on 13th July 1643, The defeat was even more remarkable since the Royalist cavalry had ridden all the way from Oxford and defeated the Rounheads who were fully deployed in battle positions on Roundway Down. It was a rout and 600 cavalry and men were swept over the steep escarpment to their deaths. It was subsequently named Bloody Ditch b
Better viewed Full Size<br />
<br />
This is shot from Tan Hill, just off the Wansdyke Path, Wiltshire, England. The view is of classic downland, a significant part of rural Wiltshire. It is great walking county and unlike North America, there is a network of Public Footpaths that insure access to some beautiful walks, It is against the law for farmers to block or obstruct these Footpaths.
Beautiful altar covering in the run up to Easter. This is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, and one of the leading examples of Early English architecture. The main body of the cathedral was completed in only 38 years, from 1220 to 1258.
This is the stained glass window high up in the eastern wall inside Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, England. This is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, and one of the leading examples of Early English architecture. The main body of the cathedral was completed in only 38 years, from 1220 to 1258.
Single RAW Frame shot at 100mm, ISO 400, f/9, 1/2sec and +1 EV. Conversion and PP in DxO Optics Pro 9 ELITE to Nik.s Color EFEX Pro 4 software.
Better viewed Full Size<br />
<br />
This is the west window at the bottom of the nave inside Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, England. Single RAW Frame with full Post Processing in LR6 and then to Nik's Color EFEX Pro 4 software. Shot at 100mm, f/9, 1/13sec, ISO 400 and at +1EV. This is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, and one of the leading examples of Early English architecture. The main body of the cathedral was completed in only 38 years, from 1220 to 1258.
bajanexile
