Above the Pyrenees is a set of 5 pictures taken in July 2014 whilst on a flight. The Pyrenees are a mountain range that straddle the border between France and Spain, the Principality of Andorra also exist within the mountain range. The area I was over when taking the pictures is known as the Natural Park of Posets-Maladeta which is in the Huesca, Aragon region of Northern Spain.
The pictures were taken on Thursday 17th July 2014 using a Polaroid is2132 bridge camera. They can be seen below and on ClickASnap where they are full size, resolution and un-watermarked.
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Rugby League isn't just a hobby for me; it's a deep-rooted passion, particularly when it comes to my beloved Halifax Panthers. For years, they were known as Halifax RLFC, a club steeped in history with a legacy that includes four league championships and five Challenge Cup victories. While our glory days of consistent Super League presence are a little further back – we've been a mainstay of the Championship since our relegation in 2003 – the fire of fandom still burns bright.
A New Perspective: From Spectator to Aerial Documentarian
My journey into a unique creative project began with a pivotal moment in the sport: the Super League's decision to deny Toronto Wolfpack re-entry. This move opened up a fascinating bidding process, creating an opportunity for Championship clubs to ascend to the Super League and for League One clubs to vie for a spot in the Championship. This reshuffling ignited a new curiosity in me, specifically about the grounds of the League One clubs.
What started as a simple interest quickly evolved into an ambitious idea: creating short aerial videos of each club's stadium. My initial plan was to focus solely on the League One grounds. However, I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the process. It was a refreshing departure from my usual creative endeavors, offering a new perspective and a technical challenge I truly enjoyed.
Expanding the Vision: A Full League Showcase
That enjoyment led to an expansion of my project. I realized the potential to create a comprehensive visual record of the sport's infrastructure. Consequently, I extended my aerial tours to include all the Championship clubs and, ultimately, every Super League club's home stadium. The result is a unique collection that not only showcases the diverse venues of Rugby League but also offers a bird's-eye view of the heartlands of this incredible sport. It's been a truly rewarding experience, allowing me to combine my passion for Rugby League with a newfound love for aerial videography.
League 1.
Beyond the familiar Super League and Championship, a vibrant, albeit often overlooked, tier of professional rugby league exists: League 1. This dynamic competition currently comprises ten ambitious clubs, each vying for promotion and a slice of the sport's higher echelons. Far from a static entity, League 1 is a hotbed of potential expansion, with an intriguing array of prospective teams eyeing future admission, hinting at a truly international flavour for the competition.
The whispers of expansion are particularly exciting. Imagine the return of the Toronto Wolfpack, a club that previously disrupted the rugby league landscape with their transatlantic ambitions, bringing a renewed North American presence. Joining them could be the Ottawa Aces, whose 2022 confirmation marked a significant step in the sport's Canadian footprint. The allure of the Big Apple beckons with the potential inclusion of a New York City team, promising to tap into a vast, untapped market. Further afield, the prospect of teams from Belgrade and Valencia speaks to rugby league's burgeoning global appeal, hinting at a truly pan-European competition. Domestically, the sport's grassroots are stirring, with potential new clubs from Bristol and Liverpool signalling a desire to re-establish strongholds in key English cities.
For the upcoming 2021 season, the battle for promotion will be fiercely contested by a diverse group of clubs, each with their own unique history and aspirations. From the Cumbrian strongholds, the Barrow Raiders and Workington Town will bring their traditional rivalry and passionate support. The Midlands will be represented by the Coventry Bears, a club steadily building its presence in a less traditional rugby league heartland. Yorkshire's rich heritage will be on display with the likes of Doncaster RLFC, Hunslet Hawks, and Keighley Cougars, all boasting proud histories and determined to climb the ladder. London's enduring commitment to the sport will be championed by the London Skolars, while the ambition of the North Wales Crusaders highlights the sport's growing footprint across the Celtic nations. Finally, the Rochdale Hornets and West Wales Raiders complete the line-up, each bringing their own brand of resilient rugby to the challenging League 1 arena.
League 1, therefore, is more than just a third tier; it's a melting pot of established clubs, ambitious newcomers, and fascinating international prospects, all contributing to the rich tapestry of professional rugby league. The future of the competition, with its potential for significant expansion and increased geographical diversity, promises to be an incredibly compelling narrative for fans of the sport.
Championship.
The Betfred Championship isn't just a rugby league competition; it's arguably the most competitive and unpredictable league in the entire British rugby system. Imagine a battlefield where the margins are so fine that a strong opening to the season could be the very thing that propels a team towards promotion to Super League, or conversely, condemn them to relegation. This isn't hyperbole; it's the thrilling, high-stakes reality of the Championship. The 2021 season, in particular, was a testament to this cutthroat environment. Fourteen formidable clubs lined up, each with aspirations of glory or the desperate need to secure their survival. The roster was packed with storied names and ambitious challengers: Batley Bulldogs, Bradford Bulls, Dewsbury Rams, Featherstone Rovers, Halifax Panthers, London Broncos, Newcastle Thunder, Oldham RLFC, Sheffield Eagles, Swinton Lions, Toulouse Olympique, Whitehaven RLFC, Widnes Vikings, and York City Knights.
Every single fixture in this league carries immense weight. The difference between a promotion playoff spot and the drop zone can often be just a handful of points, or even a single try. This intense pressure cooker environment forces teams to perform at their absolute peak week in and week out, leading to enthralling contests, unexpected upsets, and dramatic season finales. It’s a league where grit, determination, and tactical prowess are just as crucial as individual brilliance, making it a compelling watch for any rugby league enthusiast.
Super League.
The Super League stands as the pinnacle of professional rugby league in the United Kingdom, holding the prestigious position of being the second-highest-ranked competition globally. Its intensity and passionate fanbase make it a captivating spectacle for sports enthusiasts.
Following the unfortunate withdrawal of the Toronto Wolfpack, the Leigh Centurions earned their promotion to the Super League, ensuring a robust 12-club competition for the 2021 season. These twelve formidable teams battle it out annually for ultimate glory, each boasting a rich history and dedicated supporters.
The line up of clubs that make up this elite league includes:
Castleford Tigers: Known for their fiercely loyal fanbase and attacking flair.
Catalans Dragons: The sole French representative, bringing a unique international flavor and a powerful, physical game.
Huddersfield Giants: A club with a long history in the sport, always a tough opponent.
Hull FC: One half of the passionate Hull derby, renowned for their strong forward pack.
Hull Kingston Rovers: The other half of the Hull rivalry, often characterized by their tenacious defence.
Leeds Rhinos: One of the most successful clubs in Super League history, boasting multiple titles and a reputation for exciting rugby.
Salford Red Devils: A resilient team known for their attacking ambition and never-say-die attitude.
St Helens RFC: Widely regarded as one of the most dominant forces in modern rugby league, with a consistent record of success.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: A club with a strong community presence and a history of passionate performances.
Warrington Wolves: Often contenders for major honours, playing an expansive and entertaining brand of rugby.
Wigan Warriors: Another titan of the sport, with a storied past and a reputation for developing top-tier talent.
Each season delivers thrilling matches, fierce rivalries, and incredible displays of skill and athleticism as these clubs vie for the coveted Super League trophy.
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Part of a series of paintings by Vincent Van Gogh created in June 1888, when he took a trip to the area from Arles where he was then living. He was there for a week long trip to recover from health problems he had suffered from at the time.
There's something uniquely captivating about postcards. They are not just pieces of paper; they are miniature time capsules, carrying images and messages across distances, often hinting at stories far beyond their printed surface. Today, I wanted to share a particularly evocative postcard from my collection, depicting a scene that might be familiar to art lovers: "Fishing Boats on the Beach at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer."
As a collector, I'm always drawn to the stories behind the images, and this one certainly has a rich one. This vibrant scene of fishing boats resting on the shore, with the sea stretching out to the horizon, immediately brings to mind the unmistakable brushwork of Vincent van Gogh. And indeed, a quick delve into its history confirms its origin.
The painting, also known by the longer title "Fishing Boats on the Beach at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer," captures a moment in time from Van Gogh's stay in the south of France. What makes this piece, and this postcard reproduction, even more fascinating are Van Gogh's own words about its creation.
He famously described his experience to his brother, Theo, shedding light on his artistic process and his deep connection to the subjects he chose:
"I made the drawing of the boats when I left very early in the morning, and I am now working on a painting based on it, a size 30 canvas with more sea and sky on the right. It was before the boats hastened out, I had watched them every morning, but as they leave very early I didn't have time to paint them."
This quote offers such an intimate glimpse into the artist's world. Imagine Van Gogh, an early riser, observing these boats day after day, their silhouettes against the dawn sky, the rhythm of the fishermen preparing for their journeys. He was so keen to capture this fleeting moment, this daily ritual, that he sketched them before they even had a chance to set sail. The painting, then, became a more considered, developed interpretation of those initial, hurried observations.
Looking at this postcard, you can almost feel the morning light, hear the gentle lapping of the waves, and sense the quiet anticipation before the day's work truly begins. It's a testament to Van Gogh's ability to imbue everyday scenes with profound emotion and vivid life.
This little piece of art, tucked away in my collection, serves as a beautiful reminder of an artist's dedication, the allure of the sea, and the simple beauty of a fishing village waking up. It's moments like these, discovering the narrative behind a simple image, that truly make collecting postcards such a rewarding hobby.
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Whilst sorting through my large postcard collection I have decided to digitise them all and share occasionally in addition to my own pictures.
The pictures in this post are unposted and undated but I am told they are from between the wars from the 1920's - 30's. Clicking any of the images should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.
Aspremont is a small village in south-east France, 10km north of Nice with a population of approx. 2190. I have searched for the tower in the background beyond the apartment blocks and I believe it is the tower of the Church of Saint-Jacques le Mejeur.
Jaffa (Yafo Hebrew, Yafa Arabic) is a port city in Tel-Aviv, Israel. The picture on the postcard which is unposted so not dated shows the coastline from what is the modern day Tel-Aviv Promenade.
Meggen is a mining community of approx. 2900 residents in Lennestadt, Western Germany.
The Taj Mahal, the most famous picture of the postcards featured. The "Crown of Peace" is a mausoleum close to the Yamuna River, Agra, Indian. Built between 1632 -53 as a tomb by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal.
A late addition to the postcards I uploaded on the 23rd May 2020, is the following one, I missed when writing the post.
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