Summer Pleasures: Striking Beauties

28 Jul 2017: Ying Yang Branches Isn’t this an extraordinary photograph! The bold simplicity of paper white contrasted against the deep rich brown deposited silver immediately grabs our attention. This has variously been described as leaves of asparagus or pond plants – perhaps Dr Harris could weigh in on the identification from whatever field trip he is on …

Summer Pleasures: Oxford Feels the Heat

21 Jul 2017: I have just returned from Phoenix, Arizona, celebrating my mother’s 95th birthday. The peak temperature there was a blistering 117 F (47 C). But just to bolster the position of climate change deniers, I can report that now back here at Rock House in Baltimore I am enjoying a much more moderate and seasonal 97 …

Summer Pleasures: Ackermann’s Super-Fine

14 Jul 2017: The firm of Ackermann & Co. grew from most unlikely roots. Rudolph Ackermann (1764-1834) was a saddler in Saxony before moving to London in his early twenties. This was the British centre of coach building and Ackermann soon emerged as a fine and inventive craftsman. Possessed of a flair for self promotion, in 1791 he …

Summer Pleasures: The Beauty of Venus

7 Jul 2017: In deference to your anticipated beach reading plans, starting this week we the blogs will switch over to the ‘Summer Pleasures’ format that we follow each year. These will be brief little musings generally on a single Talbot image. Please feel free to suggest one of your favourites for inclusion and if you would like …