I want to thank everyone who engaged with me (and other bloggers) on my previous photography post. If you missed it, ‘5 ‘Questionable’ Photos That Give You The Chance To Say Who You Are‘ was slightly different from my first photography post in this series, as it asked you questions based on the photos.
I had fun with it! I hope you did.
This month, I’m showcasing five photographs (all of which feature me), so all were taken by somebody else. I am also highlighting another WordPress gallery block you can use to display your photos.
Feel free to leave a comment or write your own post with your responses. If you decide to create a post, you’re welcome to link back to mine so other bloggers can join the discussion.
1. What is the oldest photo in your photo collection?
2006 must have been the year I started an online photo library. I do recall the event when this photo was taken, which was a staggering 20 years ago! Doesn’t time fly?
The photo was taken at my ‘Sten’ party. What’s a ‘Sten’ party? It’s similar to a stag or hen night, but it’s for both men and women. This was a gathering organised by my work colleagues, a few days before my partner and I had our civil partnership.
Civil partnerships for same-sex couples became law in the UK when the Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force on the 5th December 2005. Elton John and his partner, David Furnish, were among the first to have a Civil Partnership in the UK.
The first couples were able to formally register their partnerships in Northern Ireland on 19 December 2005, followed by the rest of the UK on 21 December 2005.
Do I remember anything from that night apart from having various slogans pinned to my T-shirt? Yes, quite a lot, but far too much to publish here. I could probably produce a mini-series for Netflix about what happened that evening, but that would only mean a second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth season.
2. Are you a tourist or a stay-at-home type of person?
This photo captures the moment a medieval ruin briefly considered becoming a holiday cottage before immediately changing its mind. The stone walls whisper stories of sieges, monks, and mysterious drafts, while I, casually leaning against it, wonder, “Yes, but does it get Wi-Fi?” The contrast is striking: centuries of hardship versus sandals that have clearly never known true suffering. No, I don’t wear sandals like that anymore, and I’ve never worn socks with them!
I love history, but there’s also something heroic about that pose. One foot crossed, arms relaxed, expression calmly confident—like a travel brochure model for Accidental Time Travel Monthly. Can you imagine ‘Time Travel’ holidays? Something for the not-too-distant future, perhaps? You half-expect a guide to announce to the other tourists, “And here we see the rare British Tourist in its natural habitat, pausing to rest after conquering a mildly uneven cobblestone.”
My favourite part of this old building is the doorway beside me, which perfectly frames the scene: step through it, and you’re in the 14th century; step back out, and you’re searching for a café, gift shop and the nearest toilets! It’s a vivid reminder that while history may be ancient and awe-inspiring, it still serves as a perfect backdrop for a relaxed lean and a very modern sense of comfort.
3. What’s your most memorable moment of the 21st century?
With the Winter Olympic Games underway at the time of publishing this post, I am privileged to have attended the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
The Olympic Park entrance looms behind me as the crowd shuffles forward with the quiet determination of people who’ve accepted they will queue, and they will like it. Yes, we British do seem to enjoy queuing a lot!
That smile says, “I’ve beaten the queues, the weather, and possibly public transport.” The Adidas shirt is doing some serious international diplomacy—it’s covered in flags, symbolising unity and global harmony, all before the first race. It’s the kind of outfit that silently reassures everyone nearby that yes, this is a special day and nobody should be grumpy.
Meanwhile, my background extras are showing peak Olympic spectator behaviour: backpacks adjusted for the 400th time, sunglasses on despite the sun’s best efforts being “meh,” and that universal look of someone thinking, “Did I bring the tickets?” It’s a perfect snapshot of optimism, mild chaos, and the unmistakable feeling that something memorable is about to happen.
4. Which television show would you like to appear on?
Those of you who know me well know how much I love science fiction, especially anything related to time travel. So when I had the opportunity to star in an episode of ‘Doctor Who’ with my niece, I jumped at it.
I have no idea where we landed, but luckily, there were no signs of the Weeping Angels, Daleks, or Cybermen. Those of you with a keen eye will notice that half of my left foot is missing, which suggests this is an edited photo, though I had nothing to do with those edits.
This all happened in Cardiff, before the pandemic, when the ‘Doctor Who Experience’ arrived in town. My niece was quite upset by it all, as she scars easily and couldn’t wait to leave, while I was sad to have to say goodbye to the TARDIS.
If you ever hear that familiar whirring noise the TARDIS makes, you might be quite surprised when I step out of the blue police box.
5. Do you believe in aliens?
Talking of aliens, have you ever met any? Well, as you’ll see in the photo above, I have.
This is what happens when roadside art, aliens, and questionable life choices collide. One moment you’re minding your own business at the ‘Arizona Last Stop,’ the next you’re being casually abducted mid-nap by long-armed extraterrestrials with very flexible elbows.
My expression says, “I did not have this on today’s itinerary,” while the aliens look like they’re just checking the seatbelt before take-off. It’s less ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ and more Close Encounters of the Mildly Inconvenient Kind.
Honestly, if aliens are real, this feels exactly like how they’d introduce themselves to me—confusing, slightly rude, and searching me for proof that I’d eaten that last cheese sandwich.
The Cover Block
This month, I am displaying and featuring the ‘Cover’ block. Here’s one of my featured photos in the Cover block.
Doctor Who
The Day the TARDIS Was Stolen
By
Hugh W. Roberts
I’ve always dreamt of writing an episode of Doctor Who, so I came up with a title for the photo I have used.
The WordPress Cover block offers many possibilities. It’s a versatile, visually appealing block that lets users create engaging sections on their pages and posts. It serves as a powerful tool for showcasing images, photos or videos with overlay text, enabling content creators to combine striking visuals with compelling messages.
By using the Cover block, you can add an engaging background image or video that complements your content, while overlaying text to share information, tell a story, or boost your branding. This block is especially useful for creating call-to-action areas, or unique segment dividers that attract attention to key announcements or highlights on your blog.
With options such as text alignment, colour overlays, and the ability to adjust your background image’s focal point, the Cover block enhances your blog’s visual appeal and readability, making it an important component of effective storytelling and design in WordPress.
Click the following link for more information about the Cover block.
How to make a photographer’s day.
Next time you leave a comment on a photography post, instead of saying ‘Great photo,’ describe what about the picture made you think it was great. Was it the subject, the lighting, the scenery, the angle it was taken from, or the emotion it evoked when you saw it?
It only needs to be a few lines, but the people you leave the comment for will appreciate the feedback much more than when all you say, time after time, is that it’s a great photo.
Remember that one genuine, thoughtful comment once in a while is worth thousands of short, non-engaging comments that only prove you visited and that you don’t have the time.
What is the oldest photo in your photo collection, and what is it of? Are you a tourist or a stay-at-home type of person? What’s your most memorable moment of the 21st century? Which television show would you like to appear on? Do you believe in aliens?
The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.
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