Heading North to Yellowstone Park through Montana and Idaho, West to Oregon,
down the coast to California across Death Valley and back through Arizona, Utah and Colorado.
5000 miles with a dog to keep you company... Lucky for Ollie, he was Pete Kelly's dog!

This is a series of landscapes taken in the American West, starting in Kansas City, Missouri.

At the Atkinson Art Gallery in Southport you can see the Annual Open Exhibition of Photography - its a top event! My two favourites - Rikki Oneill's "Cruella" and Dianne Owen's "Red Heart" have really inspired me. Simple and "there". Thanks.

The opening of the 61st Annual Open Photographic Exhibition was held today at the Atkinson art Gallery, Southport. Congratulations to all the young people who entered the competition! It's great to see such talent at this early stage of their photographic careers! One such young photographer, Katie Kolita, was very proud of her three pictures that are on display. You can also see the winner of the Young Photography section here - along with Katie's Guinea Piggyback in more detail!
http://www.idoggy.co.uk/page10/page10.html

http://mariopischeddainmovement.blog.tiscali.it//la_metamorfosi_1862945.shtml

Destandosi un mattino da sogni inquieti, Mario Pischedda si trovo tramutato, nel suo letto, in una pecora domestica...

My New VIDEO posted on YouTube by Mario
(Testing Testing - how to get that vid off YouTube and right in to my Blog)

Mario Pischedda asks "can u make a human mouth only 4 the black cavity?" - Yes it is a pleasure! In return I send him one of my new "Expressionist Horses" pictures. He will post the two picture on his Blog I think. http://mariopischeddainmovement.blog.tiscali.it/

Manchester Pride is the gay and lesbian festival held annually over the August Bank Holiday in Manchester. The atmosphere there was fantastic! Being early at the assembly point of the parade it was a great opportunity to take photos and soak up the carnival atmosphere. The colourful costumes - and the great characters who wore them made for a very happy day! Thanks!

Liverpool BATALA Community Samba Band were playing at Notting Hill Carnival last weekend - surely the highlight of the year! They met up with other Batalians who came from all over the world - "An epic weekend!" Arrived on Saturday -a four and a half hour non stop parade - and then back in Liverpool on Monday for the 800th birthday pageant on Tuesday morning. If thats not enough they played again in Hope St before and after the fireworks Tues evening! Exhausted? Wow - but so happy! heh Patsy! - and thanks to the photographer who took those fab pics at Notting Hill!

Mario wants a Caryatid. His comment? ~ "bellissima, così come io la volevo" ~"beautifulst, therefore as I wanted it"
http://mariopischeddainmovement.blog.tiscali.it//caryatid_1790686.shtml

Tommy McHugh was featured on a recent Channel 5 documentary. "Accidental Genius" and is exhibiting his work at the Neurosupport Centre in Liverpool until the end of August. Since surviving a double aneurysm and major stroke six years ago, Tommy has experienced "creative compulsion" - an overwhelming need to express himself in paint, paper, stone, what ever he can get his hands on. Tommy's web site http://tommymchugh.co.uk. is currently under construction. Neurosupport offers support to people with neurological conditions and brain injury - for more info see http://www.neurosupport.org.uk

The former Yate's Wine Lodge building, opposite Moorfields Station is the venue. The sculptor, Richard Wilson, has cut an egg-shaped section of the building's facade which will rotate on a pivot.( It was not working today!)
http://www.biennial.com/content/NewsSection/News/article_4_17.aspx
http://www.biennial.com/ttpo/

Went out on another rainy day to take photographs of Wall Art aka Grafitti in Liverpool. The web link on this enormous work - by far the greatest in Liverpool - is http://www.myspace.com/stok_tct

A day out taking photographs in Anfield - home of Liverpool Football Club. Coincidentally the arrival of the new player Torres brought out the press, a lot of Spanish fans as well as the Home supporters.

from Mario Pischedda: " u r painter, i wish u transform my zelfportrétt titled "metaphisical break" in a painting...i would like to have my glasses very yellow, in contact with God.." "stupendous in future we can make together an exhibition of new paintings from my photo, i put the ph/oto/s and words and u transform in eternal paintings, together in harmony...sarebbe bellissimo!

The Appleby Horse Fair is held each year by Royal Charter. Horses for auction are traditionally washed in the river and there is a plenty to see all along the main street of the town but it was also apparent that some of the horses being pulled in to the river were being cruelly treated by young boys who will be the future of the event. A horse had died as a result of being pushed under the water. The town was awash with litter and it will take a while to recover the town to its former glory.

Chester on a sunny Thursday afternoon and you don't expect to see a stunning sight like this! Cruise, one of the shops in Bridge Street, Chester was lucky enough to have two spectacular models - an ultra smart, tall - well very, very tall! - and extremely gorgeous girl along with her very French poodle. The epitome of Frenchness and style. Well done! If you're going to do a campaign this is how to do it with style!

A recent visit on Good Friday to the derelict slate mine at Cwmorthin (New Pictures) was the inspiration for a series of new pictures.
quote: Cwmorthin Slate Quarry is a substantial disused underground working found on the shores of Llyn Cwmorthin above the famous slate-mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales. It is one of a number of mines that circle the town, most of which were enormous enterprises in their day. It has a long and complex history beginning in the early 1800's, though being at its most active towards the end of the 1800's. It was last worked (albeit on a very small scale) in the 1980's.: unquote. The Friends of Cwmorthin - http://www.cwmorthin.co.uk/

Abby filer is a contemporary fashion, jewellery designer - maker - Her inspiration comes from the sixties psychedelic design era, and her love of bold geometric pattern and bright colour is a constant theme throughout her designs.
Abby graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in June 2006 with a Bachelor of design and has recently set up her own workshop in Manchester City Centre from which she runs her jewellery business. Well worth a look at her website!

Went to the Southport Photographic Society exhibition at the Atkinson Art Gallery today. The prints were brilliant - colour prints in the main gallery, mono prints in a separate gallery and digital images were being projected in a room at the side. The whole exhibition was well worth seeing and some of the work just totally inspiring. My best gold stars go to Gwen Charnock for her fantastic picture "Junkyard dog" which came first in the digital section, and to Steven Le Prevost - for four wonderful prints -his medal image chosen by Rikki ONeill, - "Walk Dont Walk". Great exhibition - good day out.

Today it was a glorious day in Liverpool - sunny and bright. People were happy and the water from the fountains in Clayton square was glistening.
Carry a camera at all times - this is a phone pic!

A day out to Newborough , Anglesey, to take photos was a wonderful day - the beach is spectacular and the light was good. There were outcrops of greenish coloured rocks which were interesting and I picked up a myriad of shells and stones of beautiful hues. .Even more rewarding, after a really long hike, was coming across a group of wild ponies on Llanddyn Island. Favourite subjects just seem to come along when least expected - - - .

The new website iDoggy.co.uk is ready to go!