Abroad

PROMES solar furnace - The Four Solaire d'Odeillo, originally uploaded by Dave Walsh Photography. The Four Solaire d'Odeillo giant solar furnace, at the PROMES laboratory at the CNRS facility at Odeillo, France. By focussing intense sunlight through a system mirrors, the Four Solaire can generate the power of 10,000 suns (1000 kilowatts) and reached temperatures of over 3000 degrees Celcius. Most of the research work here concerns the conversion, storage and transportation of energy. <!--<!--PROMES and THEMIS - Images by Dave Walsh

Dolly and Monkey, originally uploaded by Dave Walsh Photography. Dolly and Monkey - vintage hairdressing dummy and cuddly toy. She seems full of herself. Monkey is unimpressed, and maybe a little worse for wear.

Bringing Light, originally uploaded by Dave Walsh Photography. Sunlight falls on electrical transmission cables in a valley near the village of Py, in the Eastern Pyrenees, France, 2nd January 2011.

The Frozen River Slaney, originally uploaded by Dave Walsh Photography. A cot. or salmon fishing boat on the frozen river Slaney, Wexford, Christmas Day, 2010

X Marks the Spot , originally uploaded by Dave Walsh Photography. X Marks the Spot: Long exposure of he Atlantic coast of Connemara, Co. Galway, in the West of Ireland. November 2010. Prints available

A Light Comes On, originally uploaded by Dave Walsh Photography. Prints available. A light appears on on Inishturk South, near Clifden, Co Galway. View of Turbot Island and Inishturk South, on the Atlantic coast of Ireland, Connemara.

Croagh Patrick Mountain, Mayo, originally uploaded by Dave Walsh Photography. Croagh Patrick Mountain, Mayo, in the West of Ireland. An important site of pilgrimage, on "Reek Sunday", the last Sunday in July every year, over 15,000 pilgrims climb it. Croagh Patrick is 764 metres (2,507 ft) high, and in the background you can see Clare Island.

Rose-ringed parakeet, Amsterdam, originally uploaded by Dave Walsh Photography. Rose-ringed Parakeets on a snowy winter's day on Heemstedestraat, suburban Amsterdam. The birds are year round residents, having built up from a feral populations in the 1970s.

Discarded water bottle and seagull on a frozen canal, Amsterdam, originally uploaded by Dave Walsh Photography. A seagull stands on the frozen Schinkel canal/river in Amsterdam, beside a discarded plastic Spa bottled water container.

Walrus at Poole-Pynten, originally uploaded by Dave Walsh Photography. Walrus, Odobenus rosmarus, taking it easy on a Sunday afternoon at Poole-Pynten, Prins Karls Forland island, Svalbard.