"Lest We Forget"

Today is ANZAC Day in Australia, as well as in many Commonwealth countries. Popular to the fields of Flanders where war tranches were fought during WWI, poppies became the symbol of the war veterans.

This poppy shot was taken a while back, in Giverny gardens (France), also known as the Monet gardens, on a bright day.

 

This is in honour of all soldiers who fought for their countries' freedom

Lest we forget is usually added at the end of the Ode of Remembrance at ANZAC services. The ode is originally called "For the Fallen" and was written by English poet Laurence Binyon.

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal,
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation,
And a glory that shines upon her tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labour of the daytime;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known,
As the stars are known to the night.

As the stars will be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

"Lest We Forget" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

Lest we forget...

Note: I've also loaded this photo on my +500px gallery: https://500px.com/photo/106441241/lest-we-forget-by-gilles-royer

"Morning Tea in Canterbury Gardens"

This is taken in Canterbury Gardens, not far from home. For more information on those beautiful gardens, please refer to my previous posts here and here.

"Morning Tea in Canterbury Gardens" by Gilles Royer, (C) 2015

Thanks for your visit!

Discover... Canterbury Gardens (Victoria, Australia) - Part 2

Earlier on, I posted my first article about Canterbury Gardens, Victoria. If you haven't read it yet, have a look at the following link: Discover... Canterbury Gardens (Victoria, Australia).

Today I continue with the series of photos I took. All of them, as usual, also posted on mu +500px gallery (http://500px.com/GRoyer). All of these were taken on the same day, about end of morning, with a strong sun / light. 

I really love those gardens. They are close to home, and offer unlimited opportunities for macro photography, having so many different species of flowers and bushes in a concentrated area. I haven't visited the gardens in autumn, but I will. Wait for the next post!!

So without any further ado, here are the photos. Hope you enjoy.

Please note all photos are copyrighted, so if you want to use or buy them, please drop me a line!

"Another Day at Work" posted on @500px

Here's another shot of the patch of daisies, that is situated near my house. I've taken quite a few photos of those, and posted them on my 500px gallery - they make for very nice spring images. 

This particular one was taken whilst a bee was busy pollenating, already with a nice crop - look closely at her 'ankles' and you'll see she has a nice collection of pollen ready to take back to the hive.

"Another Day at Work" (c) Gilles Royer 2014

Here's the link to my 500px gallery: https://500px.com/photo/89779663

2 new photos in my gallery!

Today, I posted not only one, but 2 photos in my +500px gallery, both taken in the back garden this afternoon - a beautiful sunny spring day here in Melbourne.

First is a shot of a geranium, taken against the bright blue sky, from underneath - quite unconventional composition, but I'm happy with the high key effect, and the pastel tones in the petals

"The Back of a Geranium" (c) Gilles Royer 2014

The link to 500px is here -> https://500px.com/photo/86031959/the-back-of-a-geranium-by-gilles-royer

The second one is one from many shots of bees in the lavender - this one turned out quite sharp, with a nice glow of light reflecting on the shiny black parts of the body

"Afternoon Tea" (c) Gilles Royer 2014

The link to 500px is here -> https://500px.com/photo/86034809/afternoon-tea-by-gilles-royer?from=user_library

Happy spring!

The Story Behind... Let's Have a Drink

Let's Have a Drink - (c) Gilles Royer 2014 - 90mm - f/5 - 1/60 - ISO 200

This photo was taken in my new house, which has a water feature in the front garden, being an urn with water coming up. we had a very hot summer here in Melbourne, Victoria, with a whole week where temperatures reached the 40 degrees. I noticed , at the end of the afternoon on those days, that several bees gathered on the edge of the urn, and went for a drink, just the way they would go and collect pollen from a flower. 

I found this quite interesting, and decided to take a shot of those, armed with my macro lens (the Tamron 90mm). I took quite a lot of shots, varying the angle and trying to get a sharp image, whilst opting for a wide aperture.

I selected this shot for several reasons. First, this was one of the only one where the bee's tongue (or proboscis) was really clear and sharp, and so were the eyes. Second, I quite liked the angle of the image, and the texture provided by the water overflowing from the urn (made of cast iron). The background was blurred enough with an aperture of f/5.

As always, you can find this photo on my 500px portfolio -> http://500px.com/photo/59718228

I hope to see more of these bees around, or other kinds of insects, or even birds. Actually, next to the water feature are a couple of trees, with quite a big spider web in between. The spider has been growing over the last few weeks, so that might be the next photo idea! 

Cheers
Gilles