Captured By Dani

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

A–Z Animal Photography Challenge 📷🐾

I decided to set myself a little challenge… could I find a photograph I'd taken of an animal for every single letter of the alphabet?

I genuinely thought I'd get halfway through and discover loads of impossible letters, but after a LOT of digging through old photos, I realised I'd photographed far more than I remembered!

Some letters gave me plenty of choices. Others needed a little more creative thinking… and then there was X. 😂

But I did it! 26 letters, 26 animals — Aardvark to Zebra.

A – Aardvark
B – Butterfly
C – Cheetah
D – Duck
E – Elephant
F – Flamingo
G – Giraffe
H – Hippo
I – Iguana
J – Black Jaguar
K – Komodo Dragon
L – Lemur
M – Meerkat
N – Northern White-Cheeked Gibbon
O – Otter
P – Penguin
Q – Quail
R – Red Panda
S – Snake
T – Tiger
U – Unau Sloth
V – Victoria Crowned Pigeon
W – Wolverine
X – X-Ray Tetra
Y – Yak
Z – Zebra

Now I'm wondering whether I've got enough photographs or can find enough animals hiding away to attempt a completely different A–Z... 👀😂📷

Which letter would you have struggled with most?

09/08/2026

A little bit of zoo life… 📸🐘🦦🦒🐧

A few of my favourites from yesterday’s trip to the zoo.

From a tiny elephant sticking close to mum, to an otter showing me ALL of its teeth 😂, some rather gorgeous lemurs, a baby deer, an ostrich with plenty to say and a penguin posing beautifully for the camera.

I came home with rather a lot of photos (because apparently I am completely incapable of taking just a few 🤦‍♀️), but these are some of the ones that made me smile.

I think the baby elephant might just be my favourite… although that otter face is putting up some serious competition! 😂❤️

Which one would you pick? 📸

09/08/2026

Jonathan Miller was one of Britain's true Renaissance figures.
He qualified as a doctor, became a celebrated theatre and opera director, a television presenter, author, comedian, and public intellectual.
Many people first knew him as one of the stars of the hugely influential 1960 comedy r***e Beyond the Fringe, alongside Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Alan Bennett. The show helped redefine British satire and paved the way for programmes such as That Was the Week That Was and, years later, even Monty Python.
Although medicine was his original profession, he became internationally respected for directing theatre and opera, producing acclaimed interpretations for English National Opera and companies around the world.
He also presented numerous BBC documentaries exploring science, psychology, religion and the human mind, making complex subjects accessible to millions.
He died in 2019 at the age of 85 after living with Alzheimer's disease.

📍 Highgate Cemetery, London
🪦 Stories in Stone by Dani
📖 Preserving the stories behind the stones.

06/08/2026

🎶 The sound of summer at Hertfordshire Zoo! 🦁🎷

A visit to Hertfordshire Zoo isn't just about the incredible animals. Every now and then you're treated to some fantastic live entertainment too!

These are a few of my favourite photographs of One Beat Band, who brought so much energy, colour and fun to the day. From the infectious rhythms to the huge smiles, it was impossible not to stop and watch.

As a photographer, I love capturing those genuine moments of joy. A laugh, a smile, a musician completely lost in the music... they're often the photographs that tell the biggest story.

A huge thank you to the band for adding such a brilliant atmosphere to the day. 🎶📸

Have you ever stumbled across live music somewhere you weren't expecting it?

04/08/2026

🚂 All aboard at Haworth Station!

There's something rather special about old railway stations, isn't there?

Whether you're a train enthusiast, a photographer, or simply someone who enjoys a bit of history, Haworth Station is one of those places that instantly takes you back in time. From the beautiful stonework to the traditional signs and architecture, it feels as though you've stepped into another era.

I always find myself imagining the stories these platforms could tell. The excitement of holidays beginning, emotional goodbyes, joyful reunions, and the everyday journeys that became treasured memories.

As a photographer, places like this are a joy. It's not just about the trains – it's the little details, the craftsmanship, and the atmosphere that make somewhere like Haworth so photogenic.

Have you ever visited Haworth or travelled on a heritage railway? I'd love to hear your favourite railway memories! 🚂📸

02/08/2026

The Lost Pet Cemetery of Hanstead House
Throughout this series, I've shared the stories of Hanstead House, Sir David Yule, Ambassador College and the remarkable people who now rest within its quiet burial ground.
But there's one final story...
One that began as a search and ended as a mystery.
While researching the Yule family, I kept coming across references to something I never expected to find.
A pet cemetery.
Not somewhere nearby...
Not in a village churchyard...
But within the grounds of Hanstead House itself.
The Yule family were well known for their love of animals. Historical records tell us they kept an extraordinary collection of pets and exotic animals, including penguins, wallabies, a seal and many other creatures—something almost unimaginable today.
Their affection for animals wasn't simply a passing interest.
It became part of the family's story.
When Sir David's daughter, Gladys Yule, died in 1957, her ashes were scattered in the family's pet cemetery at Hanstead House—a remarkable final resting place that reflected just how much the family cherished their animals.
That simple fact tells us something rather special.
This wasn't just somewhere pets happened to be buried.
It was a place that held deep personal meaning for the Yule family.
So today, I set out with my camera to see if I could find it.
For over an hour and a half I searched the grounds, following old maps, woodland edges and every clue I could find.
I found nothing.
After speaking with local people, it seems the cemetery lies on private land that is no longer accessible. Those who visited many years ago recall the animal headstones having been vandalised and moved around, and today it appears that nature has reclaimed what remains.
It's a sad ending to what must once have been a very special place.
Yet somehow, I don't think the story ends there.
Although the cemetery itself may now be hidden forever, its history survives through the people who remember it, the records that mention it, and the curiosity it continues to inspire.
As I wandered around Hanstead, I realised that history isn't always found.
Sometimes it's simply remembered.
I arrived hoping to photograph an old house.
Instead, I discovered the story of Sir David Yule, a hidden mausoleum, Ambassador College, remarkable individuals whose stories deserved to be told.....and a forgotten pet cemetery that has quietly slipped from view.
Not every adventure ends with a photograph.
Sometimes the greatest discovery is understanding why there isn't one.
Thank you for following me on this journey through one of Hertfordshire's most fascinating hidden corners. I hope you've enjoyed discovering these stories as much as I've enjoyed researching and sharing them.
After speaking with local people and comparing old information, it appears the former pet cemetery now lies on private land and is no longer accessible. Out of respect for the current owners, I won't be sharing its believed location.
Who knows...
The next forgotten story may be waiting just around the corner.
📷 Captured by Dani

02/08/2026

Stories in Stone – Barbara Joyce Silcox
As I continued exploring the small burial ground at Hanstead House, I found another beautifully simple headstone.
Barbara Joyce Silcox
Sometimes, history gives us pages and pages about a person's life.
Other times...
It gives us just enough to make us wonder.
As I began researching Barbara, I discovered that she was part of the Ambassador College community. Her husband, Howard Silcox, was Head of the Grounds Crew, helping to care for the beautiful estate that students, staff and visitors enjoyed every day.
As I wandered around Hanstead House with my camera, one thing became very clear.
The ponds.
The sweeping lawns.
The mature trees.
The peaceful pathways.
These didn't simply happen by chance.
They were cared for by people who took enormous pride in maintaining the estate.
Perhaps that's why Ambassador College became recognised for the beauty of its grounds. It wasn't just the buildings that made Hanstead special, but the dedication of the people who quietly worked behind the scenes.
Barbara passed away in 1969 and was laid to rest here beside several of her friends and colleagues from Ambassador College.
Her headstone carries a verse from Psalm 37:
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him."
It's a simple inscription, but somehow it feels perfectly suited to this peaceful corner of Hanstead House.
Standing there today, surrounded by birdsong and gently swaying trees, it was easy to understand why this place was chosen.
One thing I've learnt while researching Hanstead House is that history isn't only made by the people whose names appear in books.
It's also shaped by the families who supported one another.
The people who quietly worked behind the scenes.
The husbands and wives who built a community together.
Barbara may not have left behind newspaper headlines or lengthy biographies, but her place within this remarkable little burial ground reminds us that every life contributes to the story of a place.
As I looked around, I found myself thinking that without people like Barbara and Howard, Hanstead House simply wouldn't have been the place so many former students still remember with such affection.
Sometimes the quietest lives leave the gentlest footprints.
And those footprints deserve to be remembered too.
Have you ever visited a place where the people working quietly behind the scenes helped make it so special?
📷 Captured by Dani
📖 Follow me for the next chapter...

02/08/2026

Stories in Stone – Veryle Lee Hunting
As I continued exploring the small burial ground at Hanstead House, I came to another simple headstone.
Veryle Lee Hunting
At first glance, there seemed to be very little information about her. Just a name, dates, and a peaceful resting place beneath the trees.
But as I began researching, I discovered that Veryle was part of one of Ambassador College's best-known families.
She was the first wife of Charles F. Hunting, one of the college's senior members of staff.
Charles wore many hats during his time at Ambassador College. He served as College Bursar, was an ordained minister, lectured in several subjects including Church History and International Relations, managed The Plain Truth magazine in the UK, and was also Director of the Ambassador Club. Former students remembered him as someone who played an important role in daily college life.
Behind many people who dedicate themselves to a community is someone quietly supporting them, often away from the spotlight.
Although history tells us much more about Charles than it does about Veryle, her resting place here reminds us that every community is made up not only of those who stand at the front, but also of those who share the journey beside them.
Veryle passed away in January 1974 at the age of just 52.
She was laid to rest here at Hanstead House, alongside other members of the Ambassador College community.
Standing beside her grave today, surrounded by birdsong and mature trees, it was impossible not to reflect on how peaceful this corner of the estate feels.
It's also a reminder that history isn't always found in famous names.
Sometimes it's found in the quieter stories.
The husbands and wives.
The friends.
The families.
The people who helped build a community simply by being part of it.
Although much about Veryle's life has been lost to time, her grave remains as a gentle reminder that every person leaves their own mark on the lives of others.
Perhaps that's why I enjoy photographing places like this so much.
Each stone represents a life.
Each name represents a story.
And sometimes, simply taking the time to remember someone means their story continues a little longer.
Have you ever discovered a grave that made you curious enough to learn more about the person behind the name?
📷 Captured by Dani