I HAVE a slight unease at the rather heavy “Photoshoperry” involved and an even stronger feeling of concern as I think I can hear the distant echo of “I’m on top of the world” with our first picture, above.

Despite this, there is no doubting that the image has real impact and drama. It’s a picture of Richard Fletcher on McCaffes Knob (I’m saying nothing) as he treks the Appalachian Trail with his girlfriend. Splendid picture taken by one of the group.

  • Below is a great action shot from “Swim for Leon” at Hinksey Park Pool by Mark Hemsworth.

Witney Gazette:

The expression, the colours, the freeze-framed action are great. The icing on the cake, for me, is that the way he’s caught the swimmer (Peter Harbour) reminds me of that “Here’s Johnny” moment as Jack Nicholson smashes through the bathroom door in The Shining, and that's a good thing.

  • Now I’ve always said “welcome every new experience with open arms”, but of all the varied possibilities that that may throw open, I never guessed I’d find myself saying I couldn’t wait to see Jon Lewis’ Bottom. In this instance, however, I certainly was.

Witney Gazette:

It was Bottom played by Ed Blagrove in A Midsummer Night's Dream at Castle Unlocked, above.

A startling picture indeed (I’m here all week).

  • Is it the new poster boys for the Assisted Suicide Campaign? No, it's The Festival Players Matthew Springnett and Joel Daffurn performing Macbeth at Cogges Manor Farm, below.

Witney Gazette:

It would seem that if you really "get in the zone" you should be able to take a sword full in the chest while still seeing the funny side. Picture by Mark Hemsworth.

  • Seeing a Llama in a neckerchief show jumping should always be pretty funny, and looking at this from Eynsham Carnival, below, it is indeed clearly hilarious.

Witney Gazette:

Thanks very much to James Morgan for supplying us the photographic evidence. Great shot.

  • This one, below, sums up beautifully what going to a festival in the UK is all about... that is mainly getting rained on while laughing hysterically with your mate.

Witney Gazette:

Presumably filling your garish water bottle with hard liquor and wearing a plastic bag helps you laugh longer and harder. Great picture by Jon Lewis at Cornbury Festival.

Magdalen College School pupils were performing an Arthurian Legend Play called “Idylls Of The King” at the Playhouse.

When I met them on the Ashmolean steps, despite being armed with huge swords, King Arthur expressed concern at my suggestion that we got them fighting, as he didn’t want to spoil the end for theatre goers.

Witney Gazette:

Luckily he thought better of it and we got the shot, above. Alex Cowan (left) is King Arthur and Dan Blick is Lancelot.

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