For the last couple of months I’ve spent a lot of time walking along the nearby Grand Union Canal and from time to time along the River Thames too. I’ve been absorbing the beauty of the natural world – the steady flow of the canal, the faster rush of the tidal river; the vibrant greens of the vegetation, the striking pinks and purples and yellows of the flowers; the daily life of the swans and ducks and moorhens, as they bring new generations into the world. I’ve taken a lot of photos, and thought I’d share a few with you. Starting with a place where nature meets art: reflections.

When the sun shines, the surface of the water responds, mirroring the objects and scenes above and alongside. And as it ripples and flows it distorts those images. And if you zoom in with your camera you find images that could be straight out of an abstract or impressionist painting. The place that really brought that home to me in late May was where a brief offshoot of the canal rejoins the main body of water. It’s overgrown and is home to an array of wildlife. And once the camera does its tricks, it’s a work of art…

A couple more from May.

Into June.

This one’s here because it sets the scene for the next three.

Again, the scene setter. From where the canal runs by the Glaxo SmithKline complex.

Moving into July, and starting with an excursion along the Thames, from Kew Bridge to Twickenham Bridge. Photos are from the riverside just beyond Kew Gardens.

Alien slime.

Back to the canal.

Just in case you are wondering, these photos are exactly as I took them. No enhancements. The weirdness comes from zooming in. Or maybe not weirdness – just the beauty and art of nature.