Monday, October 23, 2006

More on Glastonbury and the Isle of Avalon



More and more, I allow my book research to take me geographically, as well as imaginatively, where I'm yearning to go.

Here are a few more shots from last week's trip to Glastonbury in Somerset, England, in search of my biography subject's story.


The white pigeon (i.e, dove) that landed in the Abbey ruin near the alleged grave of King Arthur (one of my subject's obsessions) is an important mystery visitor in the story that is starting to unfold.

The white specks in the landscape photo below are a flock of doves. The picture is taken from the side of the strange steep hill called Glastonbury Tor, an ancient site for both Christian and Druid pilgrims. If anyone knows which species of white pigeon this is, I'd love to know.

17 comments:

billie said...

Oh my gosh, Peggy, these photos are wonderful! It must be thrilling to have these in your head now as you move forward with the book.

It's great that your book and your traveling are weaving together in such useful and exciting ways.

I especially love the pathway photo - it is so compelling. Would make a wonderful cover for a book...

billie

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Billie. I'm having fun with the pictures. Photography is an area where technology seems to have made the process less technical, rather than more so.

billie said...

In your previous travel photography work, did you do the printing and processing?

I did one year of photography school at Randolph Tech and still wish I had a home darkroom. I did for many years, but once children came into the picture I was worried about all those chemicals being around.

There's a little place in Pittsboro where you can rent time in a darkroom used by professional photographers, and I hope I can show my kids the magic of film/print processing before it disappears... it is so satisfying to see the images come up on paper.

(black and white - I never have learned the color process)

billie

Anonymous said...

I didn't do my own processing. I did take a one-hour photography course as a student at Duke and got a D in it. In the darkroom, I ruined a girl's pictures that she shot at the biggest anti-Vietnam march on Washington. I forgot the stir something that needed stirring and the pictures got bubbles on them. It was awful. I think it tested her nonviolent principles

billie said...

LOL!

You are well-suited to digital camera and photoshop - no chemicals to stir!

I get very flustered using Matthew's digital camera. It is similar to my relationship with my laptop - I love it so long as it does what it should do. The digital camera is like a mini-computer in my hands - I manage to change the settings every single time I use it - to the point where it won't shoot.

But it is quite nice when I manage to get the shot!

J.B. Rowell said...

These photos are amazing - I enjoyed them and your comments! I took a photography class once upon a time and borrowed a friend's really nice manual camera - I'll have to think more about the name of that camera . . .
Julia

Anonymous said...

Hi JBR, I think there are pros and cons to the new/old cameras. The digital ones have that delay between clicking and shooting. But then I'm not covering basketball for the sports section.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to see you and hear all about your trip! Glad you're home safe and, no doubt, enlivened!

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Kelley. Enlivened--and then I went to sleep for most of 36 hours. The need for a nap had been building for a while. I've been overworking since last December. But I got up this morning reasonably refreshed. I'm glad it's Friday though. I have nothing scheduled this weekend except for a get-out-the-vote campaign effort Sunday night.

sarah said...

Peggy--- The path photo is absolutely breathtaking. Nothing like an amazing image of some far away place to ignite my wanderlust.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Ms. Quality. It's especially nice to hear that from a Penland visual artist.

jimf said...

Hi Peggy, If you did not know, there is a new exibition at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington that features several of Elisabeth Chant's work and one portrait of her by Henry Caliga.

jimf said...

Hi Peggy, If you did not know, the new exibit at the Cameron Art Museum here in Wilmington just opened that includes several of Elisabeth Chant's works plus a portrait of her by Henry Caliga.
jimf

Anonymous said...

Thanks, JimF. I knew that there was a program at Latimer House but didn't realize this show was staying up. I'll get there to see it.

jimf said...

Hi Peggy, I am a new Docent and will be shadowing the 2-4 guided tour and would be happy to say hello in person if you are there at that time. My wide Katie Freeman is a new writer and would also enjoy meeting you. At this point in time she has been published in a Professional Journal and a local Magazine "Focus on the Coast" but is trying to get into other publications. I have referred her to this site; but any words of encouragement or advice could be sent directly to her email: firstpew@Gmail.com
Hope to meet you on Saturday. Also there is a very good restaurant in CAM for lunch or dinner.
Jim Freeman

jimf said...

Hi Peggy, I am a new Docent and will be shadowing the 2-4 guided tour and would be happy to say hello in person if you are there at that time. My wide Katie Freeman is a new writer and would also enjoy meeting you. At this point in time she has been published in a Professional Journal and a local Magazine "Focus on the Coast" but is trying to get into other publications. I have referred her to this site; but any words of encouragement or advice could be sent directly to her email: firstpew@Gmail.com
Hope to meet you on Saturday. Also there is a very good restaurant in CAM for lunch or dinner.
Jim Freeman

Anonymous said...

I'll send a word to your wife, JimF. I'm not sure when I'm next coming to Wilmington, but will sure look for you if I hit that tour.