Waresley Wood

I recently made my first trip to Waresley Wood in a couple of years. Last spring, Waresley, like many other local woods, had been closed due to heavy flooding. This year, thanks to the last couple of months being very dry, it's open. Waresley is usually a very good local wood to visit for bluebells. But not this year. I didn't see as many as I expected. A thick cover of Dog's Mercury was swamping the bluebells in many places. Luckily Waresley has a good offering of other spring flowers. Including Wood Violets, Wood Anemones, Primroses and Celandines. I also found, what I am pretty sure is, a False Oxlip (a Primrose Cowslip hybrid). The flowers on a true Oxlip should droop more.

A Fenman's Cottage

Following a change of plans last weekend, I found myself at Wicken Fen, without my longest lens. Seeking things to shoot, I looked around one of the old cottages, that has been restored to look like an Edwardian Fenman's cottage. I greatly enjoyed the details in each room, but my favourite was the tool shed.

 

Lent Bumps

Saturday 15th of March was the final day of the Lent Bumps. It was a very sunny (but surprising cold) day, so it seemed rude not to go and watch. Watching the Bumps involves a lot of waiting between races, interspersed with brief periods of manic activity. I managed to catch a couple of bumps (don't ask me who bumped who). In between, I tried to grab some portraits. I always enjoy the little ritual of the successful crews adorning themselves with greenery. As it was the final day, a couple of the very successful crews were also able to parade their comically over-sized college flags.

Leaves and Light

I know that not everyone likes green. But whenever I visit the glasshouses at the Botanic gardens, I am drawn to the variety of shapes and textures found in the leaves. This was a very sunny day, so I chose to concentrate on the light and shadows showing through the bigger leaves. A handy hole in one leaf, allowed me to focus on a leaf behind.

 

Anglesey Abbey Interiors

I had a rare day off yesterday. I decided to visit Anglesey Abbey, in the mistaken belief that on a Friday, at the end of the snowdrop season, it wouldn't be that busy. It was heaving. Most people were in the gardens, so I took shelter in the house. The formal rooms on the ground floor weren't that interesting to me, but I did like the basement kitchens. I love a detail and there were lots to focus on.

 

Brick Lane

It has been some time since I last did any street photography. So, last Saturday, with the weather forecast promising a sunny afternoon, I headed to Brick Lane. I was limited to a fixed 50mm equivalent lens.This forced me to get closer than I typically shoot. But Brick Lane on a Saturday afternoon is rife with photographers and posers, so it's an easier location than many. The promised sun took a while to develop, but the afternoon finished with some lovely light. One spot in particular caught the low afternoon sun and drew people to it.

 

Hoare Frost At Wicken Fen

I took these pictures on visit to Wicken Fen, on a frosty morning in January.