iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Every time I hear a mention of Tony Blair, this is the image that pops into my head.

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Several days ago, I lost my sunglasses while swimming in the sea. Last night, I discovered that what Neptune taketh, Neptune returneth. Although he keeps one lens, presumably as some kind of tithe or tribute.

A pair of red-framed sunglasses. One lens is missing.

181

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Today in 1839, polymath John Herschel took the first glass plate photograph.

A glass-plate photographic negative showing the mount of a 40-foot telescope. The image shows a latticed structure which appears to be white, against a brown/grey background. Interference or damage has caused discolouration in the lower part of the circular image.

031

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A pound well spent in the charity shop. Percy’s is still shrink wrapped.

Four CDs: Call it Freedom (Dick Gaughan), Band of Joy (Robert Plant) and/or vice-versa, Getaway 4988912 (Reef) and 13 (Blur).

010

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Pip's here for a couple of days. She's in season, which makes things interesting.

A beautiful sprocker in several shades of brown.

020

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Does anyone know anything about this stone, in Cilgwyn, Pembrokeshire? It's on private land which I don't think can be seen from anywhere nearby. It doesn't appear on the OS map I have. It's close to Carn Ingli (where the sun is on the 2nd photo) and has markings (6th photo). #StandingStoneSunday

0164

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I nearly widdled meself the first time I saw this on an episode of Spaced.

130

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Here's something for #TombTuesday - the famous Pentre Ifan dolmen near Newport/Trefdraeth in Pembrokeshire. Photo taken by me at the weekend.

A jaw-dropping dolmen, with a huge capstone barely seeming to touch the several upright stones which support it. Parched grass is in the foreground.

081

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Hubble Telescope - Pembrokeshire version. Manufacturing costs are a closely-guarded, sensitive commercial secret, but are believed to be ‘significantly less’ than the $1.5bn spent by Nasa.

A shoebox with two badly cut holes in it.

140

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Can anyone else see a human skull towards the bottom of this tree trunk? From a mate's social media feed. #pareidolia

A tree with twisted trunk. The word gnarled comes to mind.

280

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Since I first saw Pip in February, the sun has bleached some of her fur blonde. It resembles the hair style of a member of an 80s synth pop band.

A spaniel with dark brown, almost chocolatey fur and what appears to be a blonde syrup on top.

020

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Glad to say that Pip is visiting for a couple of days. She's very excited.

140

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

This driver had parked so as to block the only pavement in the village. The van is less than 20 yards from a free public car park.

030

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Watching the Proms the other night, I wondered how a classically trained musician would interpret the musical score of a rock song. This is the guidance given to Vanessa Haynes when singing 'The Great Gig in the Sky'. I'll be honest, I don't think it conveys the sense of the piece.

A section of a musical score. It gives the female singer instructions to sing 'ah' or 'oo'. Under-fucking-whelming.

010

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Just discovered this elephant hawk moth caterpillar in the garden. It's way more spectacular than it appears in this photo. The RHS says having these in your garden is A Good Thing. So that's nice.

A large, mainly brown caterpillar. It is moving over a gravelled area, looking for somewhere to burrow into the soil.

030

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

This is really good. But you already knew that, didn’t you?

The cover of a CD called The Very Best of Al Green. It’s a photo of Al, smiling and looking relaxed. And cool AF, obviously.

000

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

@drtobydriver.bsky.social Hi Toby. Here's a piece of slipware which had just been found at the Buckspool Down dig as I passed it this morning. I realise it's unlikely to be significant, but this might be the only time I can be first with the news to an archaeologist, so I'm taking my chance!

The palm of a hand with a small piece of pottery in it. I'm informed it's slipware.

110

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Today's charity shop haul - some soul, some bibbly-bobbly, some dad rock and a compilation. Less than a guinea the lot. Spiffing!

Four CDs laid out in a square. They are The Very Best of Al Green, Classics by The Aphex Twin, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of War of the Worlds, and Time Well Spent from Three Barrels. It says here.

030

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

At low tide, there are mudflats. This morning's sunrise made them look less like a field of sludge are more like an appealing bit of seaside.

Exposed mud and seaweed, with the sea beyond and a cloudy sky above.

Exposed mud and seaweed, with the sea beyond and a cloudy sky above. A low castellated wall is in the foreground.

Exposed mud and seaweed, with a cloudy sky above. On the distant horizon, Mordor's unblinking eye surveys the scene.

Exposed mud and seaweed, with the sea beyond and a cloudy sky above. A wall with trees on top fills the top left of the screen.

1112

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Emptying the washing machine, I discovered this item lying on the seal. Any idea what it is? #Insect #bug #blueskyinsects

001

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Do you mean she's a miserable pleader?

100

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Do you think Onnen looks pleased that she'll be going home today?

A fox red Labrador looking directly into camera. She is either terrified, or doe-eyed with love. I can't tell which.

140

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Found this on the beach. It's either a giant crab, or the remains of that creature which attached itself to John Hurt's face in that film about an alien. I can't remember what it was called.

The upturned remains of a giant crab (hopefully) amongst stones and pebbles.

150

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Onnen enjoying an evening walk. She’s going home tomorrow - it’s just been a short stay this time.

A fox red Labrador stands on a grassy path in dappled sunlight.

150

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Onnen was intrigued by whatever was over this wall. Which was nothing, unless you count the big blue wobbly thing that mermaids live in.

A small fox red Lab stands on her hind legs, front paws resting on a low wall, allowing her to survey the scene beyond. On her side of the wall is some grass, parched in places, and some small trees.

082

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Onnen is back, visiting for a few days.

A beautiful, but slightly naughty fox red Labrador sitting on a rug, looking into camera and seeming to be happy.

130

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

If you were walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path this morning, have previously visited Walnut Canyon National Monument, and you lost your hat with a badge on it, I may have some good news for you.

A badge attached to the top of a light grey broad-brimmed hat. The badge says 'Walnut Canyon National Monument'.

042

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

A lovely shot of some leaves, most of which are crisply in focus. Nestling among them is an indistinct brown and orange shape which is probably a meadow brown. #WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear

051

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

On this day in 1976, Viking 1 took everyone's favourite example of #pareidolia, the 'Face on Mars'.

A photograph of a geographic feature on the surface of Mars. It is often perceived as resembling a human face, one side of which is in shadow.

000

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I was up and about early, so I had a wander down to the bay to see the sunrise.

The sun just above the low, flat horizon early in the morning. In the foreground is the shore, beyond it the sea.

A stretch of foreshore at the bottom of the photo, with some sea beyond. The sky is red-pink.

A tree growing on the shore, with beach and sea beyond.

0102

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

I was up there a couple of weeks ago. The climb was surprisingly easy, helped in my case by being able to easily hear Super Furry Animals soundchecking down below.

Remains of a ruined castle on a hilltop. They partially obscure the wonderful views over the valley and hills beyond.

160

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

There’s one of these in the house. What is it, and should I be concerned?

Something that looks like a small dragonfly clinging to a grubby, off-white wall.

320

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Went down to the harbour last night. The sunset was okay, I suppose, if you like that kind of thing.

A foreshore, some sea, low hills and and a vague orange smear low in the sky.

The sun still peeping through some trees. A tarmac path goes off into the distance.

Nearly gone...the sun hovers on the horizon, with the clouds above it and the sea below appearing orange.

Trees in the foreground frame the just-happened sunset.

2102

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

A clump of these beauties caught my eye while I was out cycling last year and I had to stop to take a few photos.

If you're going to tell me this is not, in fact, chicory, I'll be sadder, but possibly wiser.

040

Mark Stevens @mark-stevens.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Any birders able to help ID these? I think they may be mandarin females or juveniles. Seen on Llangollen canal this week. #birds #wildlife #birdidentification