Cow Parsley Through A Pinhole Lens

The long bank behind my house is once again covered in cow parsley.  I photograph it most years and try to do something different.  This year I used my pinhole lens, to give a more dreamy quality to the images.

Royston Heath

On Saturday, I joined a few other CCC members for a visit to Royston Heath in search of flowers and butterflies.  The flowers were White Helleborines.  For butterflies, we found Adonis Blues and Brown Argus.  Quite a colourful day.

Triacontahedron

I was in London last weekend to celebrate my birthday.  I had a great meal at Theo Randall's, plus a wander around the posh bits of Town.  It wasn't a photography trip, but I did have my Olympus, 'just in case'.  Just in case turned out to be a sculpture in Berkeley Square.  90" Triacontahedron is one of a series of geometric designs by British-American artist Anthony James.  The glass and steel structure is lit internally by LEDs to give an infinite space.  It is something you can spend a long time playing with. Different angles and reflections can give wholly abstract shots or quirky street images.

A Week in the Lake District

I spent Coronation week (it did seem to last a week) in the Lake District.  The cottage we were renting was in a great location, only a few minutes walk from Bassenthwaite Lake.  The weather was the usual Lake District mixture, but better that the weather down south.  It was mainly a walking holiday.  I crossed another 10 Wainwrights off my list.  Just 30 left to do.  Naturally, I also found a little time for photography.

Only one shot from the top of a hill.  I also took a few phone shots which are posted elsewhere.  I liked how the cloud was sweeping along through the valley behind High Tove.  The walk that day finished at a National Trust Cafe, which had the traditional confiding Robin.

The first night that offered a promising sunset, we headed to the jettys in Keswick.  Sadly, that night there wasn't enough high cloud to allow the sky to properly light.

Another day, another Derwent Water jetty.  This time at Brandlehow and with a much moodier sky.

 

No tour around Derwent Water would be complete without a stop at Ashness Bridge.  There was a brief break in the cloud that nicely lit the bridge.

Finally, Bassenthwaite and the best sunset of the week which, naturally, was on the last night.

Gamsey Wood - Multiple Exposure

Gamsey Wood is a little BCN Wildlife Trust wood between Ramsey and Sawtry.  It is not well known and access is via a farm (which seems wrong as you are doing it). Consequently, it is extremely quiet.  I visited in the afternoon on May Day, when the likes of Brampton and Waresley woods would have been heaving with people.  I didn't see a soul.  The downside is the amount of undergrowth.  There were a few nice patches of bluebells, but in much of the wood they were being choked out by cleavers.

There was enough good patches for what I wanted to do, which was in-camera multiple exposure.  The images below are 8 shot multiples, with slight movement between shots.  For some of the shots I also tilted the camera down a little during exposure.  I know this kind of image doesn't appeal to everyone.  Those who hate them included all three selectors for this years exhibition.  But I like the impressionistic result.