March is a vicious month in my opinion. I have had everything today, torrential downpours, snow, sleet, glorious sunshine, bitingly cold wind, stupendous cloudscapes and all that blows away with the cavorting of a particular female. With the tail wind ruffling her feathers, this female Alcedo Atthis brightened my day. Fitting that this was a […]
Pleasant pheasants
In between the interminable periods of waiting for Kingfisher activity last week I kept my eye in for other opportunities. I have noticed before, on other holidays, how glorious pheasants look as they strut their stuff along the banks of the Bure. They look so different to the farmed pheasants let out to be shot […]
Teased, tormented, transfixed. A surfeit of Alcedo Atthis
What a week this has been for Alcedo Atthis. Many readers will know of my predilection with these small, skittish and utterly charming birds. One of my theories in getting close enough to photograph them is to use a boat especially on waters where the birds are used to boats. The River Bure must at […]
I should have been out before sunrise today
I study the weather charts intensely to try and select optimum conditions for making my Edgelands work. This week has had some perfect conditions but circumstance or me being a bit dull or under the weather has meant missed opportunities. Friday presented perfect lavender grey clouds that render perfectly in Kodak Portra emulsion but I […]
I walked for over 5 hours this morning
I have been preoccupied of late with getting my second attempt at funding for my extended Edgelands project into the system plus a financial year end and getting to grips with society group protocols at the RPS. We were warned of a weather bomb heading our way and yesterday on my morning constitutional I noticed […]
I heard the news ….. Oh Boy
Last night there was a snippet of news on the BBC about Constable’s painting, ‘The Mill Stream’ having undergone restoration and conservation work. I was very lucky to have worked with Emma Roodhouse, Curator of Art at Ipswich and Colchester Museum Service as part of an internship between my second and third years at University. […]
Black and White request
Following a request about my recent post, I have recreated Maggi Hambling in Black and White. I’d say the ‘Jury’s out’ The eyes still have it.
Biblical weather affects graduation ceremony. Photographers in the dark (and dry)
Yesterday was Trafalgar Day, Mrs O’s birthday, dry rot discovery day (historical) and graduation day for the 2011 intake to UCS. I opted out of the ceremony, it is not my thing and means little to me in terms of the experience of being at university. Mrs O was at work anyway and it was […]
Ribblehead viaduct, and a Fat Rascal = a Grand day Out
It has been a long time. As a child I took it for granted that days out or ‘a run in the car’ were the norm and visits to the Lakes, the Trough of Bowland and the Yorkshire moors were commonplace along with egg and cress sandwiches, soggy tomato and sliced tinned ham sandwiches and […]
Monument?
Over the long weekend in Harrogate, I took off to explore the Valley Gardens and the thick woodland towards the upper reaches of this jewel of a green lung right in the middle of the town. Mrs O was not at her best and had decided to stay indoors knitting. She does not like scary […]