Gavin Johnson's photos

Fun fact: It's believed that there are now more giant redwwod trees in the UK than there are in their native range in California. Thanks to the Victorian era passion for collecting (stealing?) plant specimens from all over the world and bringing them back to Britain, there may be as many as half a million redwoods in the UK. Beacuse they are only 150 years old or less, most are mere saplings compared with their Californian cousins, and will take a few more centuries to get to a great height. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68518623)

HWW! The shot was taken underneath a viaduct in Stroud, Gloucestershire, where the railway crosses the Stroudwater Canal and the river Frome. I haven't seen this construction before, where there is an arch at the top and bottom of the structure. I'm sure there are load-bearing reasons for it. The arches make for a pleasing symmetry and perspective, I think.

A photo from this weekend's walk in the woods. It's definitely a bracket fungus; I think it's Turkey Tail

We had a day without rain for the first time in a long while, so I was able to get out and admire some of the wild (or at least self-seeded) Snowdrops in the area. I haven't figured out how to get these to display as a 'picture in picture' group like some people do.

We had a day without rain for the first time in a long while, so I was able to get out and admire some of the wild (or at least self-seeded) Snowdrops in the area. I haven't figured out how to get these to display as a 'picture in picture' group like some people do.

We had a day without rain for the first time in a long while, so I was able to get out and admire some of the wild (or at least self-seeded) Snowdrops in the area. I haven't figured out how to get these to display as a 'picture in picture' group like some people do.

Nature reclaiming an old iron fence in the woods.

In 2024 our local Starlings had a good year and raised about 40 young between them. I'd been photographing them in the morning, and had left the patio doors open and my camera on the table. I heard a thump and a commotion outside, and saw that a Sparrowhawk had taken one of the juvenile Starlings. I was able to grab my camera and sit quietly for half an hour getting a long sequence of shots of the Sparrowhawk finishing its meal without disturbing it. Those eyes...

In 2024 our local Starlings had a good year and raised about 40 young between them. I'd been photographing them in the morning, and had left the patio doors open and my camera on the table. I heard a thump and a commotion outside, and saw that a Sparrowhawk had taken one of the juvenile Starlings. I was able to grab my camera and sit quietly for half an hour getting a long sequence of shots of the Sparrowhawk finishing its meal without disturbing it.

In 2024 our local Starlings had a good year and raised about 40 young between them. I'd been photographing them in the morning, and had left the patio doors open and my camera on the table. I heard a thump and a commotion outside, and saw that a Sparrowhawk had taken one of the juvenile Starlings. I was able to grab my camera and sit quietly for half an hour getting a long sequence of shots of the Sparrowhawk finishing its meal without disturbing it. Apologies to anyone who finds this image distressing.

Another old holiday photo, this time from Sri Lanka (Colombo, I think). A group of children buying goodies from the local sweet shop.

A local lady having a nap on a bench with a fine pirate statue. Campeche, Mexico.

A photo from an old holiday. A group of girls in their Sunday best very kindly agreed to pose for a quick snap.

An old pear tree espalier in a walled orchard at Rousham House in Oxfordshire.

A Wren posing briefly (they don't seem to stand still for long!) on my garden fence. The detail on the bird is nice, but the fence definitely looks like it needs a fresh coat of paint!

I loved this old sign outside a shop in Sri Lanka, particularly the archaic "Smokers' Requisities."

A much younger Fly Agaric - in hindsight I should have moved the blades of grass to make a neater shot!

An old Fly Agaric from a low angle. The red and white colours were still clear on top, but I liked the look of the raised gills.