In Camera...Liverpool Hosts Disney Magic

The Liverpool waterfront was graced with the cruise ship Disney Magic last Friday as the ship paid a day long visit to the city.

The Mersey ferry 'Snowdrop', paintwork designed by Peter Blake, as the 'Dazzle Ship' is dwarfed by the Disney Magic

Later the same evening the Disney Magic departed from Liverpool, passing Antony Gormley's Iron Men on Crosby beach as she sailed out into the Irish Sea.

In Camera...Liverpool Waterfront

The time of the full moon a couple of weeks ago was a chance to photograph the Liverpool Waterfront in all its glory. Unfortunately cloud in the eastern sky obscured the moon somewhat but the skyline of Liverpool still looks impressive.

In Camera...Cruise Ship sailing by

The Caribbean Princess edges out of the Mersey past New Brighton and the Iron Men on Crosby beach

This has been a good summer for cruise ships on the River Mersey as they sail in and out of Liverpool and these pictures feature the Caribbean Princess, one of the larger vessels to visit the city, as she left the port on the evening of Sunday 28th August 2016.

The Caribbean Princess sails out of the Mersey on her way to Belfast.

In Camera...Queen Elizabeth Returns to The Mersey

Just after 06.00 on Saturday 2nd July Cunard's Queen Elizabeth sailed into the Mersey to commemorate 100 years of the Cunard Building on Liverpool's historic waterfront. It was a fine bright morning, the low early morning sun dodging in and out of clouds driven by a strong west north westerly wind.

I captured several images as the vessel sailed past Crosby beach framed by Antony Gormley's Iron Men.

In Camera...Three Queens Event, Liverpool

C175-13 The Red Arrows pass over the Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth

This past weekend was a hectic one with Cunard's Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria gathering in the River Mersey to salute the 175th Anniversary of the Cunard Line in front of the Cunard Building on the Liverpool Waterfront. A highlight of the event was when the Red Arrows flew over the line up of the three Queens in front Liverpool's Three Graces.

The celebrations started early on Sunday morning when the Queen Mary 2 slipped into Liverpool on a damp grey morning, sailing past the Iron Men on Crosby beach at 06.30 am.

C175-01 The Queen Mary 2 approaches Crosby beach, her foghorn greeting startles the sea birds.

C175-02 A salute from the Iron Men on a grey, damp morning.

C175-25 Later in the day the weather improved and the Liverpool Waterfront looked splendid when graced with the presence of the Queen Mary 2

C175-27 The Mersey Ferries "Dazzle Ship" is dwarfed by a Queen.

C175-29 Mersey Ferries salute the Queen Mary 2.

C175-33 Queen Mary 2 and the Liverpool waterfront

C175-34 Queen Mary 2 in Liverpool

C175-03 Queen Mary 2 sails out of the Mersey on Monday morning to meet up with the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria

The next morning, Monday 25th May started off grey and cool as the Queen Mary 2 slipped her moorings and headed out of the river to meet up with the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria off Crosby beach

C175-04 Queen Mary 2 turns and positions herself for the parade.

C175-05 The Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria approach Crosby beach

C175-06 Queen Elizabeth sails past the Iron Men on Crosby beach

C175-07 Queen Victoria passing Crosby beach

C175-08 The Three Queens start to move into position

C175-09 The Three Queens prepare for their parade down river

C175-14 Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth in Liverpool

C175-15 The Three Queens and The Three Graces, Liverpool

C175-16 Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth on the Mersey.

C175-18 Cunard's Queen Victoria anchors mid river.

C175-20 Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria grace the Liverpool Waterfront.

C175-22 Queen Elizabeth and the Liverpool Waterfront

C175-23 A Mersey Ferry alongside the Queen Victoria 

C175-35 The Queen Victoria noses out into the Mersey

C175-36 Queen Victoria passing Crosby beach

C175-37 An Iron Man bids farewell to the Queen Victoria

C175-38 Farewell to The Queens. Queen Victoria sails into the sunset.

All images on this blog will be available from www.rondaviesphoto.com and Liverpool Pictures, Albert Dock, Liverpool.

In Camera...Mersey River Festival

Last weekend saw the International Mersey River Festival event held along Liverpool's waterfront and in the Albert and Canning Dock area. The weather was kind over the weekend, and crowds thronged the docks viewing the ships and entertainment.

A big attraction was the new "Dazzle Ship", the Liverpool Pilot Ship "Edmund Gardner" repainted in a style similar to the way ships were painted during WW1, as part of the Liverpool Biennial.

The deck of the tall ship "Mercedes" played host local mezzo soprano Danielle Thomas.

The aerial antics of Wakeboarders in Salthouse Dock.