I felt lucky to witness this truly vibrant sunset at the Rickmansworth Aquadrome, just at a time when I felt like going for a wonder with the camera.

Technical details: Tamron 28-75mm lens, photos shot in raw with minor colour / white balance / vignetting edits before conversion.

Eight centuries old and rich in both architectural and spiritual splendour, Wells Cathedral provided a beautiful setting for testing out the Sony a900.

Some photos have detailed captions - click on or hover over to read.

Technical details: Tamron 28-75mm lens, all unedited  and  straight  from the camera.

Despite news warnings of further flooding, we decided to continue with our travel plans to Draycott, a small village near Cheddar, Somerset. Following a day of expected heavy rain, Sunday morning gave a chance to capture some of the unusual scenery.

Technical details: Tamron 28-75mm lens, all unedited  and  straight  from the camera.

Photos taken during a family Diwali dinner.

Technical details:
Last Photo: Sony 18-55mm lens, slightly cropped.
Others: Minolta 70-210mm lens; all unedited  and  straight  from the camera.

Today we are treated to a delightful guest write-up by our dear friend Bal - with whom we had the pleasure of staying and spending time with on this fabulous Autumn weekend.

"The serene county of Gloucestershire is well known for the beauty it nurtures and what better way to appreciate this beauty than a walk in the Forest of Dean? Perfected by the most crisp and sunny autumn day this was indeed a day we will cherish for years.

Friends add humour, fascination and beauty to life. They keep us humble when we get too self-righteous and make us smile when we take ourselves too seriously. Good friends are there to help us when life throws one of its little curves at us and things look worse that they really are. What wise words... it had been many months since we had all spent some quality time together and so much had happened in this time... being able to enjoy a lovely autumn walk whilst catching up was truly one of life’s near perfect moments.

We had all good intentions to leave home at the crack of dawn this lovely Sunday however, sleep engulfed us and we left much later than we planned (the 2am sleeping on the night before is unlikely to have helped). Nevertheless, we were packed and ready in no time... and an hour later we were walking along the forest’s sculpture trail. The trail has along its path, various sculptures, as the name suggests, some more appealing than others. The giant chair is the most obvious and gives a spectacular view of the forest canopy. The autumn colours were breathtaking as the sun reflected the auburns, yellows and reds along the path. The most exciting part of the sculpture trail is that it keeps you searching for its well hidden little secrets – the giant chair, the deer, the rail track and the boats, just to mention a few.

Several hours later and with shoes covered in mud we hesitantly headed back, having explored only half the trail. This is one of life’s greatest realities – we are bound by time and all we can do is make the most of what we have. We left the other part of the trail with the promise to come back... a promise we shall endeavour to keep. "

Technical details: Olympus ZD 12-60mm lens; all unedited  and  straight  from the camera.

Discussion, contemplation, introspection and meditation - a magical weekend away with great company. Today's challenge for like-minded spiritual aspirants: to maintain focus on the glass of water while taking a walk in the quaint village of Oakridge Lynch, in the same way an enlightened soul lives in the worldly sansaarik life around them. A massive thanks to Ajay who organised the trip and to our Guru Param Pujya Bhaishree, whose blessings were (and are) continuously with us, inspiring us and guiding us.

Technical details: Sony 35mm f1.8 lens (except last photo taken using 18-55mm); all unedited  and  straight  from the camera.