"I Spy Blue Skies"

After arriving in London and seeing the London Eye I was pretty set on taking a ride and getting a high up view of London, but the view from St. Paul's Cathedral definitely changed my mind. Once at the top after climbing many, many stairs, we were able to walk the circumference of the dome and see all of London. I can't say for sure, but I would be willing to bet that St. Paul's Cathedral put the London Eye to shame.

"Confusion By Assumption"

This is the Tower Bridge, not to be confused with the London Bridge. I say this because in April of 1968, the real London Bridge was actually mistakenly bought, shipped, and reassembled in Arizona when Robert P. McCullocht believed he was purchasing the bridge pictured above. This assumption cost him 2,460,000 US dollars.

"Severing Ties" This block and axe was used back in the day to solve many of King Henry VIII's problems. If you got in his way or on his bad side you were set to the London Tower to await your fate.

"Daffodil Fields Forever" This little boy was enjoying himself whiling getting an up close view of one of the many daffodil patches found along the Princess Diana of Wales Memorial Walk. I find the people pictures very awkward to take because you look like a major creeper taking pictures of random people. I'm just glad his mom didn't turn around and see me.

"Long Lost Friend" I think that this is the first squirrel I have seen here while in the United Kingdom. I'm so used to seeing the crazy little things run around campus and pop out of garbage cans with ice cream cones hanging form their mouths. This squirrel looks like it just got done throwing a right hook.

"Night Lights"

Going up to the top of the Eiffel Tower was definitely a highlight of the Paris trip. The view was amazing especially with all of the lights. It was the perfect time to go since we were able to see everything when it was still light out, but by the time we got to the top the sun had set and the city was completely lit up.

"Blurry"

This is actually the same scene as above. I turned the flash off of my camera and slowly moved it while taking the picture. No computer imagining was used to avoid what some may call cheesy effects. I suppose my view of abstract greatly differs from others being I don't believe this picture is abstract at all.

"Freeze" There was a lot of motion in this picture including the traffic, the people on the streets, and me. It was taken while our bus was driving down the street to start another fun-filled and busy day in London.

"Mass of Metal"

The Eiffel Tower looked even more amazing at night when it was all lit up, but I thought the random sparkling was somewhat lame and made it look like a Christmas tree. I can't believe that this structure was made especially for the World's Fair in Paris, and was almost torn down when the fair was done.

"By Candlelight"

These candles were in the St. Sulpice Cathedral in Paris which many are familiar with as the "Rose Line" Cathedral filmed in the Da Vinci Code. I liked how they were so colorful and lit up the dark corner of the cathedral.

"All The Way To The Waves"

This is a very green and bright coastal view of Ireland. The weather was so nice the whole time we were there when it is usually much like the gloominess we experience in England.

"Traded In Your Cross"This church and gravesite was in the heart of Newcastle. I always find it somewhat weird to see church yards filled with gravestones being it's not really like that in the states. The oldest grave I noticed was dated all the way back to 1799, but there might have been even older headstones being I trapped behind the bars and couldn't see that far back.

"Snails See The Benefits"Never did I ever think I would see a squirrel crossing sign in my life. I feel like they are being discriminative and favoring squirrels over other animals such as frogs and snails among many others. As stated in lyrics by my all time favorite band, The Format, "Snails see the benefits, the beauty in every inch." I think that everyone should live life more like a snail and less like a squirrel, so why are the British so keen on saving a bad example.

"Tune Out"
This is my buddy Hannah when we were playing at the park after a walk on the beach a couple weeks ago. She was tuned out to the world like any other kid, and was just running around a lot while rocking her purple wellies like no other.

"Oh You've Got Flaws"

This nature scene was taken it a wooded area after reaching the summit of the never ending hill while on our class hike. It took us about 45 minutes to reach this heavenly place that was adorned with a tower, a house we were not allowed to take pictures of, a lot of trees, and a pack of shy and fast moving peacocks.

"It's The Clouds That Fool The Sun To Set"

This was the only time the weather in Ireland looked a little gloomy, but it actually held out for us and didn't rain. I really like how the tree is silhouetted in the night from the setting sun. It gives the scene a bit of an eerie feel.

"Away From This Scene"

I had a fun time messing with the effects for this picture. Sometimes I feel that signs telling you not to do something in turn make you want to do that thing. This is why I kept the pole and sign pretty bright to stick out amongst the background. The pole is surrounded by dark objects such as the leaves and barbed wire to symbolize the death the sign is warning about.

"One Step Closer"

These peacocks were on the property of the house we were not allowed to take pictures off. They were very hard to get near and every step was a risk since they kept running away once they noticed I was getting too close. I was also pretty disappointed being they never showed off their bright feathers.

"That's The Way We Get By"

This is the Center for Science in Newcastle upon-Tyne. It was a very bright between the colorfully painted building and flashing "Life" everywhere. There was a huge DNA sculpture nearby and I thought this place was pretty interesting since I am a Biochemistry major.

"I Placed You On A Window Sill"

These flowers were adored the gate to the new Percy family gravesite. For those who don't know, the Percy family is the family that has held the title of Duke of Northumberland, and they own and reside in the castle we are staying in. It took us quite a bit of time to walk this far along our nature hike so I'd say that this site is pretty secluded.

"Breaking Through""Yellow" by Cold Play was filmed at this beach in good old Ireland. This a shot I just couldn't pass up with the sun's rays coming through the clouds like so.

"Gan Aiféala"

This Celtic cross was in a random country monastery and similar structures are seen everywhere around Ireland, especially as the headstones on graves. I really like how they are engraved with so much design and how the circle is incorporated into the cross region. It would make a good tattoo.

"Never Did Win Those Spelling Bees"
It's true...I never did win a spelling bee, but I never even actually made it to the spelling bee. Back in the day I was an amazing speller up until 2nd grade around Christmas time when I spelled my first spelling word wrong. The word was "present" and after that the disappointment lead me into a downward spiral. For those confused as to what this has to do with the above picture taken in Ireland, "roadworks" is spelled wrong.

"Sounds Like A Good Time"

These surfers were pretty lame, but I was jealous of them because I've always wanted to learn how to surf. We spent a lot of time enjoying the warm weather on the beach in Ireland and watching them try to surf, but they were horrible and kept bailing out on waves. They pretty much just floated around in the freezing cold water...sounds like a good time.

"When It Snows, How It Storms"

I can across this gravestone on my walk through the Howick Hall Gardens with my homestay Gma Susan to see the newly blooming Snowdrops. Earl Grey, the tea guy, used to own and live on this property. I hope my grave is covered with bright blooming flowers when I'm buried.

"Can You Feel The Love Tonight"

I'm so glad we have a president who makes our country and the people hated everywhere around the world. This mural in Belfast, Ireland pays tribute to our great president by crowning him "America's Greatest Failure." We were definitely feeling the love.

"Diddily Dee Ireland"

This car was hanging upside down in the Dublin Hardrock Cafe. Dublin is very overrated and I'd have to say this is the most interesting thing I saw in the whole city.

"Water Works"This view is only a small portion of a huge fountain in the Alnwick Gardens. It's quite a fun place to go and even has a restaurant in a tree house. There's even a Harry Potter Herbology poison garden where the plants are actually poisonous.

"What's The Point In Going Around When It's A Straight Line"

Apparently there are many of these so called beehive huts across Europe, and they form a perfectly straight line. Now that takes some major skill. I wish they would have let me stay it this hut instead of the hostel for a more historically cultural experience.

"Dead End"

Ireland has some major cliffage along its many coastlines. This cliff in particular is where I had a romantic Valentine's Day lunch with my fellow roommate Furry consisting of an apple turnover, and my two new obsessions, a blueberry muffin and banana, from the local grocery store. It was pretty windy and the cliff could have broke off and crumbled, but that's just a risk you have to take for a great photography picture.

"Abandon Ship"

This was taken on my walk along the beach with my host Gma and her neighbor family. The boats looked so sad and abandon on the shore of the North Sea. I wanted to save them from their deserted state and go for a sail, but getting the boats back into the water proved to be the minor setback.

"Sand Castle"It must be pretty rough having the North Sea in your back yard. Probably as rough of a life as it is living in a castle with a five mile drive to the sea. I feel oh so bad for our group and everyone who lives along the coastline of England.

"One More Sad Song"I miss my guitar. It would really be nice to have here on those days when the castle just seems so boring and going out to the pubs doesn't sound great either. Luckily Mary started the knitting club and my boredom is now under control...for now.

"Oh Sand Time..."

This is my new little buddy Hannah who is my host Gma's neighbor. She was running around the beach, digging in the sand, and throwing it everywhere. We had a great time at the North Sea.

"What A Mess You've Made"
This tree looks sad and alone with no bright leaves to cover it. It makes me remember the good old days when my friends and I would spend our days climbing and sitting in trees just chilling up in the sky and moving with the branches in the wind.

"Dark Corridors"All of these medieval places we visit have a somewhat eerie feel to them and it definitely doesn't help when it is dark out. The lights don't even help since there are not many of them so they pretty much add to the eeriness by creating shadows. Well this creepy place was the courtyard of the Durham Cathedral where many great people such as Harry Potter have walked.

"Why?"

Lindsey and I were both quite confused why this girl was walking her horse down the street and not riding it atleast. She was also taking her dog for a walk too who kept running off way ahead so I guess you could say she was killing two birds with one stone.

"Inches and Falling"

This is a building in the market square of Alnwick, England. It's a good example of parallel lines leading the eye in a picture. I like how the bricks of the building and the wood pannels around the windows look really ancient.

"Slanted Steps"

These stairs were pretty interesting to walk up being they all for some reason sloped into the inside. As you walked up it was almost like you were being drawn into the middle. These awkward steps were inside Durham Castle which is actually where the university students live.

"Past The Pavement" I don't know why, but I just really like pictures that lead your eye from the front of the picture to the back whether it be a straight line or a winding path like so. This picture makes you wonder what's beyond the path, whether it be more pavement or something more.

"Up, Up, and Away..."

This is the York Minster. The outside architecture was amazing although it constantly has to be restored from all of the weathering that is breaking it down, but this is no surprise since it was built in the 16th century.

"3.2.1."

I just don't understand this: 3 forks, 2 knives, and 1 spoon. Realistically a person only needs one of each, but for this 'classy' occasion in the York Minster, a 3:2:1 ratio was obviously a necessity.

"March On..."This man deserves a spot in my blog because he is walking the streets of York alone, yet still oozing of self confidence. He knows who he is and what he beliefs in and I support that. He probably doesn't even notice the snickering to his right or the discrete pointing from all directions, not that these actions could bring him down in the slightest.

"Pretty Bird, Pretty Bird"
Pigeons, like sheep, are everywhere in this country, and we definitely saw a lot of them in York. This picture is posted in dedication to the pigeon I shot one time with a bee-bee gun in a silo...good times.

"So Far Removed"

This picture was taken at a park in York while aimlessly wandering the streets until it was time for our departure. I really liked the silhouette of the trees and how the colors of the sky were fading into each other.

"The Lies That Tangle"

I took this picture with my back against the tree and the camera pointed straight up, but it actually looks like I was up in the tree pointed the camera down. I obviously messed around with the colors a bit making the tree look somewhat evil. To me the tree represents lies and how they tangle one down, trapping them more and more with every new lie told.

"Dashes To Dashes"I enhanced the white in this photo to emphasize the dashed lines on the road and the vehicle driving in between them. I also like how the arrow in the road sign points to the vehicle. Here's another one of my leading the eye pictures.

"Time Will Tell"I really like how one whole side of the clock is shadowed and the other is completely bright with the clock at the center of the picture. Like this trip or any other occurrences in life, only time will tell how they will end and where you will be left.

"Footprints"

This was also taken inside the York Minster during our tour. Places like this amaze me to think of all of the people throughout the ages who have stood there before me and walked through the Minster corridors inside. It's like everywhere you go there are invisible footprints left behind from all of the centuries that have passed.

Landscape: "On A Hill" I was inspired to take this picture because I thought it was a good view of Edinburgh below and the Firth of Forth in the distance.

Architecture: "Tick Tock, You're Not A Clock"I liked the look of the bridge and how it famed the bottom of the picture. I also thought this building stuck out amongst the others around it with the clock towering into the sky.
The title came from lyrics of my favorite band.

(Edinburgh, Scotland)

Object: "Unfinished Business" This sculpture is known as a disappointment to Scotland because it was never finished, yet this reference is what made it catch my eye. Therefore I thoguht it was worthy
of a place on my blog.

Person: "Snapshot"

I liked this man's concentration while taking pictures of his travel compainions with his classy camera, and also the eerie backdrop.

Wildlife: "Ohh Sheep Time"

Lindsey and I went on a mission to find the sheep we heard so much about down along the Aln River. We trudged through the soggy grass while carefully watching our steps, but they were not too keen on getting their pictures taken and kept trotting away.

Night: "Car Light, Car Bright"

A lonely night view of Alnwick where the car lights illuminate the streets more than the street lights do. I like how the double yellow line on the road leads your eye from the
corner of the picture to where all of the action is taking place.

Experimental: "Alley Way Drop"This scene was amazing in real life. From the front of the alley it looked like the end dropped off, and one was left with a scenic rooftop view of Edinburgh. I 'experimented' with the
color a bit to draw the viewer's eye to the backend of the alley.

Motion: "Stop Looking At Me Swan"

I was excited to see some swans on the Aln River while on my mission to find the sheep. It was a win-win situation, and I was able to catch them in motion on their own search for food.
The title of course came from Billy Madison, one of my favorite movies.

Low Camera Angle: "The Lion Jumped Over The Moon"

A picture of the statue made for a past Duke to thank him for not raising taxes. I love the irony of this story because in the end the Duke actually raised taxes since he thought the people should be able to afford it if they are wasting money on statues. I also liked how the moon was in the sky even though it was nearly 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

High Camera Angle: "Grassy Rooftops" From our great view above, I was suprised to see some rooftops with real growing grass on top of them. It obviously rains enough in this part of the world that there wouldn't be
much upkeep, but it is something I have never seen before.