Happy new year

Wishing you fabulous celebrations and a great start to 2015!
We'll be taking a break for January. See you back here for more diptychs in February x

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Merry Christmas

May your day be merry and bright....

We hope that you have a lovely Christmas with family and friends xx

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Only a few more days....

Just a few more sleeps till Christmas, is your house decorated? presents wrapped? menu organised?

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Ready for Christmas?

Reindeer ornaments and wrapped gifts under the tree - sure signs that Christmas is just around the corner..

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right

The festive season

 We  have a rule in our house that we don't put up Christmas decorations in the house until the beginning of December, even though the shops begin the sale of trees, tinsel & baubles as early as October. 

Well, December is here so Two Takes will be full of festive cheer for the next few weeks.  We begin with a reminder to focus on love, peace & joy {in what can sometimes be a very busy  &  stressful time of the year}.

When do you put up your decorations? Do you enjoy the festive season?

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Rustic fences

There is something about fences in the countryside, they are so tactile and great for photographing with their wonderful textures and grain.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right

Contrasting fences

A wrought iron fence outside a semi detached dwelling in an inner city suburb of Sydney contrasted with a wooden fence in the English countryside.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Fences

A fence along the coast and a fence in suburbia both contain quintessential colours of the sand

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Shark nets

Like a fence in the ocean, these shark nets make people feel safer as they swim. These nets are located on some of Sydney's harbour beaches.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right.

A month of fences

Fences are always such fun to photograph, have you joined the fence Friday group on flickr? We will spend November showing you the fences we have photographed, why don't you join us with your favourite fence shots?

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Town and country

On the left we have my son Harry in the countryside next to a blackberry hedge and on the right we have Leanne's photograph of a stranger feeding the birds at Central Station in Sydney.

Buses & Ferries

There are so many different ways of getting around in a city and buses and ferries are the stereotypical modes of transport seen in London and Sydney. Here is a red ferry approaching Circular Quay in Sydney and red double decker buses lining the streets in London.

Leanne's is on the left  and Justine's is on the right

On the water between London and Sydney

Have you been to the Tower of London? it is a must on your to do list if you visit London and this is just a glimpse of it. Also on the water are the seagulls with their perfect view of life.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right.

A quick snack

Spots for a quick snack in Sydney and London..

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the left

London and Sydney

As you may have noticed on Two takes, we do like our windows. The famous Blue's point hotel built in the art deco style on the left and windows from the housing complex of Dolphin Square in London built between 1935 and 1937.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right.

On the street

Street photography captures people and places within the public domain. It's always interesting to observe people and try to take a photo at just the right moment.  Today's diptych is two moments, one in Sydney and one in London.

In the midst of the hustle and bustle around Central station in Sydney a couple dressed in red notice the camera and pose. 

In the West End of London a model poses for a photographer as people wander by. 

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

London and Sydney

Below on the left we have the train tracks exiting from Victoria station in London heading towards the old power station. On the right we also have another method of transport in Sydney, the ferry, heading towards the city.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right

London/Sydney

When we first started this blog, we imagined that there would be quite a few London/Sydney diptychs. Up until now there hasn't been any. However, Justine has recently spent a few weeks in England, so for the next 2 months you'll be seeing a pairing of London in summer & Sydney in Winter.

Beginning with famous bridges.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right

Looking through the window

The window on the left is in a heritage listed property in Sydney and the windows on the right are from a derelict space in the city, both offer a glimpse into another world.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right

Windows with colour

Windows in colourful walls grab our attention. I love the bold colours and the trees in front of these interesting houses in the inner  suburbs of Sydney.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right

Window boxes

Styles of windows add to the framing of a photograph. Both these windows create a sense of order and repetition with the frames.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right.

Window light

 Beautiful morning light streaming through the windows makes lovely patterns of shadow & light.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Windows

This month we are looking at windows. Windows are a perfect tool for framing a shot. An open window allows the mind to explore into the unknown with a glimpse into another world.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right.

Books

Full of words, hours of  enjoyment. Surrounded by books from the library and on the bedside table.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right.

Words

Street art is such a wonderful art form, wonderful splashes of colour and words. I love the burst of technicolour paired with the green.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right.

Love

Love locks and love hearts, powerful symbols of romantic love...

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right.

Words

July is all about words, words are everywhere when you look for them. They are perfect for photography and especially when they have that wonderful vintage touch.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right.

Beach in B&W

We both love taking photos of water, so early morning rowers and surfers were the subject of this black and white diptych. Beautiful light and silhouettes.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Everyday objects in black and white

Everyday objects can be transformed when processed in black and white.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right.

QVB

The Queen Victoria building in Sydney, known as the QVB, was completed in 1898, and restored beautifully in the 1980's. Magnificent architectural features include glorious stained glass windows, arches, balustrades, intricate floor tiles and this original 19th century staircase.

I love the beautiful curves.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right

Living in black and white

Streets and walkways look so different in black and white don't you think?  They take on a timeless feel as shadows, lines, and repetition become more apparent.

 Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right

Black and White

Black and white will be our theme throughout June and we thought that zebras with their beautiful black and white stripes would be the perfect way to kick off our month of B&W diptychs.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Cockatoo Island

Cockatoo Island was used as a dock for shipbuilding and repairs from the 1930's to the 1990's. It is wonderful to walk around these deserted places now and take in all the wonderful colours and textures.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right.

Cockatoo Island

Red always catches the eye of a photographer....

the shiny, red cylindrical shapes  that are part of an art installation and the weathered red of the fire hose.

Justine's is on the left and leanne's is on the right

Cockatoo Island

The island is host to a series of events throughout the year including the Biennale of Sydney. Art instillations take over the island, here "a series of functional, inert sculptural elements - ladders, weights and pulleys - appear upon a stage, made lively by groups of performers'.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right.

Cockatoo Island

Cockatoo Island is a heritage listed island in the middle of beautiful Sydney harbour. Initially a site for convicts and later becoming a major ship building and dock facility,  the island is full of character. More recently it has been opened to the public and holds a variety of  creative events.
Last month we visited for the Biennale of Sydney and decided that Cockatoo Island would be a perfect subject for our May diptychs.

Beautiful sandstone buildings on a beautiful autumn day.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right

Surf and turf

In Sydney you can ride a skateboard or ride a wave

Leanne's is on the right and Justine's is on the left.

Colourful Sydney

Colourful board shorts, Hawaiian shirts and street art at Sydney's Bondi beach.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right

Sunlight In Sydney

I absolutely love the sunlight in Sydney, after years of cold grey English skies each time I see that beautiful sunlight I have to capture it. I love how it can appear early morning in a coffee shop or as the sun goes down.

Justine's is on the left, Leanne's is on the right

The Harbour Bridge

Our theme for the Sundays in April will be out and about in Sydney. Places that we've visited together & on our own. Some instantly recognisable and others a little more obscure.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is probably one of the most recognisable bridges in the world. It is the world's largest (but not the longest) steel arch bridge with the top standing 134 metres above the harbour. Beautiful from any angle.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right.

Tea

I usually prefer coffee,  but I received this beautiful red teapot for Christmas so have been enjoying a cup or two of tea each day. I'm working my way through a range of teas that was also part of the gift. Lovely.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Lunch time

what do you like to eat for lunch? we love fresh vegetables in a roll and in a salad, our five a day.

Justine's is on the left, Leanne's is on the right

Savoury

I really like an antipasto platter- cheese, olives, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and more. We did this a bit over summer, savoured with a nice glass of wine.
 And don't you love the way that Justine has captured this artichoke?

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right.

A rainbow of colours good enough to eat

Who can resist smarties or m&ms? all those wonderful colours and eating off colourful plates and bowls adds to the enjoyment of food don't you think? what is your favourite colour to eat?

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Fruit

Food will be our theme through March- we'll be sharing some of the things that we've been eating and photographing lately.
Cherries, mangoes and grapes.  I love summer fruit; fresh, juicy and colourful.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right

Summer as the sun goes down

Picnics are packed away as the sun sets on the water and summer light makes for magical silhouettes.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right.

Summer evenings

There's nothing better than an evening stroll along the beach, stopping to notice the detail, a feather or a shell, then perhaps some fish and chips for dinner. And the light is beautiful. 

Leanne's on the left and Justine's on the right

Summer sports

Paddle boards and canoes are a requirement for life on the water during summer in Sydney.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right.

Seagulls

 Our February theme will be Summer on the water. Summer has been sunny and warm in Sydney and we have both had a chance to spend quite a bit of time by the sea.
Seagulls are a common sight at the beach, flying low over the water or just waiting nearby for someone to drop their fish & chips.

Justine's is on the left and Leanne's is on the right

Urban with a pop of red

The urban jungle has some splashes of colour in it. Pops of red that catch the eye amongst the concrete.

Leanne's is on the left and Justine's is on the right.