March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb
Old English saying
With a slow start to the spring this year it’s felt at times as if March was coming in more like a polar bear than a lion! We had sharp winds, frosts and even some snow as far south as London, although nothing like what they had further north. And even when the weather started to warm up, sunshine was in short supply.
Looking back at last March, my end of month round-up was filled with flowers and blossoms. This year I’ve struggled a little to find much photography inspiration. Our outings weren’t so much to parks and open spaces but rather to exhibitions and indoor events. Still, even they did provide the occasional photo opportunity, of course. We particularly liked the Beyond the Streets exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, which explored the influence of graffiti and street art on music and culture. And as always there were visits to coffee shops, meals out and cinema visits to enjoy too.
In the garden, our vincas have amazingly stayed in flower all winter despite it being cold enough to have completely killed some other less hardy plants! And the camellia (‘Ruby Wedding’) that I bought for Chris to mark our 40th wedding anniversary in 2021 flowered for the first time. Otherwise it was only in the last week or so of the month that we saw real signs of spring. Trees started to blossom bravely, although the rain and wind brought petals falling almost as soon as they emerged. Magnolias, one of my favourites, started to flower but I somehow managed to miss out on photographing any on the rare sunny days.
Despite all the above, as the month progressed there were some hints of spring to come. Roll on April!
Technical notes
Most of these photos were taken with my phone. However the camellia, sunset blossom, parakeet and colourful tulips were taken with my Panasonic Lumix bridge camera.
All were edited in Photoshop Elements / Color Efex Pro / Silver Efex Pro, or a combination of these. Given the weather much of the time it’s perhaps not surprising that there is a higher proportion of monochrome images. Similarly, there are a higher proportion of more creative edits, trying to get more impact out of rather ‘flat’ shots.
As always I am linking my selection to Ju-Lyn’s and Brian’s Changing Seasons challenge.
Statue of Nelson Mandela, South Bank, London 2023-03-02 
Mock-up of a 1970s record shop at an exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, London 2023-03-06 
Plane tree bark in the rain, Ealing 2023-03-08 
Camellia ‘Ruby Wedding’, Ealing 2023-03-13 
At Granary Square, Kings Cross, London 2023-03-16 
Borough Market, London 2023-03-17 
‘Together Forever on Wheels’, Spitalfields Market, London 2023-03-19 
In a coffee shop, Ealing 2023-03-20 
Lammas Park on a rare sunny day, Ealing 2023-03-21 
Magnolia stylised, Ealing 2023-03-22 
Street tree blossom at sunset, Ealing 2023-03-24 
Street tree blossom, Ealing 2023-03-27 
Parakeet eating blossom, Ealing 2023-03-28 
Tulip (from a vase), Ealing 2023-03-28 
In Golden Square, London 2023-03-30 
Piccadilly Circus station, London 2023-03-30 
Vase of tulips, Ealing 2023-03-31
31 Comments
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grandmisadventures
It seems like Tennessee just can’t quite decide if it is ready for spring or not. We have gone from hot and sunny to the next day having snow and ice. I saw this meme that said winter right now is like an angry partner who just when you think the fight is over comes back in the room yelling ‘and one more thing…’ . Truth in jest 😀
Sarah Wilkie
Oh that’s spot on, exactly how winter behaves 🤣
Sue
Love that one of the woman on the stairs!
Sarah Wilkie
That one seems to be the most popular this month – and to think I nearly didn’t include it!
Sue
Well, we can’t always know what ticks the boxes!
wetanddustyroads
It seems to me, even with a stormy month, you still have a great collection of photos (with colour)! The tree bark is surprisingly colourful and I love the tree branches with the blue sky in Lammas Park … oh, and the lovely tulips! See, no favourite here!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much 🙂 Yes, the colours of the plane tree bark are amazing! Funnily enough, it needs the rain to bring them out, they’re much duller in dry weather.
leightontravels
The March weather sounds abysmal, hopefully April with make up for it with some warmth and sunshine between the usual showers. The parakeet eating a blossom, what a shot, Sarah. It is a brilliantly captured moment. The camellia is a gorgeous flower and a very thoughtful wedding anniversary gift. I hope that some day we’ll have a garden of our own to fill with such gorgeous blossoms. I like the almost sketch-like quality of your creative edit of the magnolia shot.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Leighton 🙂 We have had sunshine yesterday and today (albeit a bit chilly) so maybe things are on the up! I’m glad to liked the parakeet shot. They (and the local wood pigeons) love the blossoms in that tree in particular and we get a great view of them each year as it’s right opposite our house.
Ju-Lyn
Just spoke with my London family and they are done with the flu – not sure if it’s because of the tentative weather, but it certainly has been a grudging nudge towards milder weather.
Your March gallery brought back many good memories for me:
– I well remember “Together Forever on Wheels” at Spitalfield Market; it is one of our favourite culinary haunts when we visit and this is quirky sculpture never fails to bring a smile!
– how did you manage to capture such quiet at Canary Square? (Did I ever mention I love B&Ws and the sense of other worldliness they impart?)
– Borough Market O Borough Market! I am mentally eating through the circuit of our favourite stalls … I wonder how many survived the pandemic)
I love your stylised blooms – very art. And that plane tree bark – spectacular!
So very much appreciate your sharing your March with us at The Changing Seasons.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you for the detailed comments Ju-Lyn 😀 We saw some sun yesterday and more promised today, although there’s still a sharp wind! Hopefully I’ll have some sunnier photos to share in my April round-up ☀
By the way, that photo of the woman is in Granary Square, Kings Cross – maybe you’re thinking of Canary Wharf in Docklands? It was taken on a dull chilly day when few people were lingering to sit on those steps, hence the appearance of quiet!
Ju-Lyn
Ah yes! Not the same place, but certainly a similar vibe!
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Mike and Kellye Hefner
Despite the gray days and cold weather, you have captured some fabulous shots, Sarah. They’re all so great I can’t even pick a favorite.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you so much Kellye 😊
Amy
Beautiful collections, Sarah! I, too, love the image of the woman sitting on the stairs.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Amy 🙂 That one seems to be popular and yet I nearly didn’t include it as although I was happy with the composition the quality wasn’t as good as I’d have liked (zoomed-in and cropped phone shot)
thehungrytravellers.blog
My favourite is the tube station shot, very atmospheric. From everything we’re hearing we’ve “missed out” on a particularly miserable March.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, you’ve chosen a good time to be away for sure. The wettest March since 1981, they said yesterday, and April hasn’t started much better, although we’re promised sunshine this afternoon and maybe during the week as well ☀
Suzanne
Wow, the parakeet image looks like a 3D one. Perhaps the colour projects forward from the subdued white blossom. I enjoyed the random shots of people especially the man at his computer. I do enjoy B&W photography as I think I’ve mentioned on a few occasions.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Suzanne 😊 I see what you mean about the parakeet – I think you’re right, the more subdued tones of the blossom help to create that effect, along with the shallow depth of field. Glad you liked the B&W shots too 🙂
Heyjude
Love that parakeet!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Jude! They always come to that tree when it blossoms and I look out for the chance to photograph them each year. I was hanging on for brighter weather but when it didn’t come I took a few shots anyway!
bushboy
Trying to write a comment with lots of WOWs still going through my head. Too many to list a favourites, wonderful street photography (I do envy as I am crap at that) especially the woman on the steps and man in the cafe – the poster above him is just right. The Plane Tree bark is ever so good.
Thanks for joining in The Changing Seasons Sarah 🙂 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Brian 😊 I’m glad you like the street photos. The two you mention took some editing afterwards as the quality on my phone wasn’t great. The rain does bring out the colours of our plane tree trunks beautifully but I’d still rather it stopped!
gaiainaction
A lovely collection Sarah, love the b&w photos too, very effective.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much 🙂
gaiainaction
So welcome Sarah, it’s so nice to follow your travels…
Anne Sandler
Great photos Sarah. I especially liked the woman sitting on the stairs and the subway shots.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne 🙂 That woman caught my eye but I only had my phone and she was at some distance so the shot wasn’t great quality once I’d cropped to the composition I wanted. I had to play around a bit to get it to look reasonable, so I’m glad you feel my efforts paid off!