Since Cumbria I have not taken a single photo. Work has been hectic and then I got swine flu. Now just about recovered the snow is melting and the mist has gone. I must be one of the only humans in this area to wish it would return.
Next year I have a couple of ecological projects to do, which I am looking forward to. I am also considering an offer of a book on The North Yorkshire Coast, but Blurb may be a better option.
Happy New Year to all.
12 December - Whohub interview
I was invited to give a Whohub interview about my photography. Check it out here.
04 December - stroll around Elterwater and in Little Langdale
Sunrise over Coniston Water from Blawith Common
Elterwater and The Langdale Pikes
Skelwith Force
We then wandered into Little Langdale before returning along the riverside path. There was significant flood damage to a lot of the paths making walking difficult in places. In fact everywhere we have been the impact of the flooding in the environment is huge. The National Trust and National Park teams will have a huge job ahead of them to clear it up and make the paths safe for next year's tourists. I cannot imagine the impact on some of the farmers.
Reflections in Elterwater
03 December - a day of rest
We stayed in Coniston and looked around The Ruskin Museum and it rained most of the day.
02 December - Fog and snow
Last night we went to see 'New Moon' at Bowness. Unfortunately it snowed and we could not get up the hill out of Skelwith Bridge and so we returned to Ambleside and stayed at The Low Wood Hotel on the banks of Lake Windermere.
Lake Windermere from Low Wood
By the morning the roads were clear, although we nearly collided with a snow plough. We then went to Keswick and Buttermere, with the morning giving dramatic skies and light with snow and fog. The Honister Pass road was closed and we could not get to the Buttermere Lake though.
A wet pine tree at Waterhead, Coniston Water
River Brathay at Brathay
01 December - Ascending the Coppermines Valley to Levers Water
A pleasant walk admiring the waterfalls. We joined a procession of walkers up to the Youth Hostel in the valley and then left most behind as we continued. It was a leisurely walk as we appreciated the scenery and avoided the ice. It had been -7 at lake level the previous night. The Old Man and Wetherlam were covered in cloud and showed their summits only briefly.
The entrance to one of the mines
The engine house
Interesting ice formations at the base of the rocks
Levers Water
30 November - Walking near The Old Man
I felt like an old man as we set off to ascend The Coniston Old Man. At the summit of Brown Pike we abandoned our attempt as it was so windy that my wife was blown over.
Water gushes down to Coniston Water
29 November - Cumbrian rain
Not surprisingly it is raining and has been all day. No photos today so far, however I am going to have to learn to chill out.
It did clear by the evening and we did get out along the eastern shore of Coniston Water.
It did clear by the evening and we did get out along the eastern shore of Coniston Water.
28 November - Arrival in Coniston
A week in The Lakes, leaving the kids with their grandparents.
One cannot avoid taking one of the endless jetties projecting into the lakes. This one is near the public launch site in Coniston itself. It was taken with a 7D and converted to B&W in Photoshop. The moon is almost full.
More images on the mainprize.net website.
28 november - new pricing and more photos
I have added a new pricing structure to the website. There are also loads more photos from 2009 added to the existing galleries. This is due to requests to add more of my colour photos.
Check it out here.
Check it out here.
27 November - Flooding
We are off for the next week to practice swimming with a week in Cumbria. The flooding may hinder us and will certainly limit the walking, however the landscape changes regularly and produces new challenges and variations to record.
22 November - Flamborough
A trip pre-dawn to Flamborough to eye up some shots of the old lighthouse. This is actually an old Beacon light tower, dating from circa 1674, and it is the only known example in England. Doubt has been cast as to whether there was ever a fire lit at the top.
21 November - Filey Coble Landing
I got a couple of shots of the Coble Landing at Filey at high tide - exactly what I wanted.
However the clear star revealing sky was soon consumed by a bank of fog that slowly moved north from Flamborough. This yielded fantastic light off shore, but only fleetingly before it was all dull and miserable.
The first 2 photos are taken with a 5Dii and 17-40 lens. The last is with a 7D and 70-200.
14 November - Take a View
I have been studying the book from the competition Take A View Landscape Photographer of the Year. As in previous years there are some spectacular shots. Many I wish I had taken. However there are some photos that have generated a lot of discussion. There seems to be an increase in HDR's influence and some clear Photoshop manipulations delivering images that would have been impossible otherwise.
07 November 2009 - Cayton Bay
3 shots taken in Cayton Bay this am. High tide and pre-sunrise. Used a Canon 5D mark 2 however this registered an error 30 when 3 shots old. What with the 1D3 fiasco Canon certainly seem to have a quality control issue. I am now thinking of switching systems entirely.
31 October - Fireworks at Filey
The family and I went to the Filey Lions Firework and halloween Party. Lots of fireworks and a huge bonfire were joined by loads of people:
All images are handheld and taken with a Canon 500D and 24-105LIS lens with exposure upto half a second. Due to the crowds and looking after the children I could not use a tripod.
31 October - week in Norfolk
Half-term week was spent in one of my favourite places - Blakeney, on the north Norfolk coast. It was extremely busy wherever we went - perhaps everyone was staying in the UK, rather than travelling abroad, and it was not even all families with children.
It was always peaceful pre-dawn and around sunrise though, with the ubiquitous dog walkers appearing around sunrise.
I did not just concentrate on coastal shots but also wanted to record the autumn.
Photos will be added to my Flickr site with favourites added to Mainprize.net later.
It was always peaceful pre-dawn and around sunrise though, with the ubiquitous dog walkers appearing around sunrise.
I did not just concentrate on coastal shots but also wanted to record the autumn.
The hues were still stunning, especially on the only damp day we had, when the moisture brought out the colours.
22 October - Now on Flickr
I am now on Flickr. Check it out as there are more images than on the website.
14 October - Website is back. New travel galleries.
I got the website back in its usual place a couple of days ago and have added photos from Borneo in 2002 as a new Borneo gallery. These are my B&W images from a 2 week trip to see orang utans.
This gallery compliments the Iceland 2002 gallery and I will be adding further travel galleries in the next couple of weeks.
10 October 2009 - the return
Having had a few months away from the blog I am now back. Entries will be less often, as I am now taking far fewer photos and have moved almost entirely into black and white landscapes. A new website is imminent with a new address to boot.
I am into the minimalist aesthetic and am experimenting with long exposure times.
Currently the images are on the website (temporary address).
I am into the minimalist aesthetic and am experimenting with long exposure times.
Currently the images are on the website (temporary address).
02 August - Muston moths
Minimum temp 12.0 Centigrade
Number of moth species 40
Total number of moths 89
This is a lifer for me, a micromoth called
Agapeta hamana. It is fairly common throughout most of Britain, where it lives on waste ground and other places where the foodplant, thistle (Carduus spp.) is found.
It flies from June through August, mainly at dusk or at night, but it can easily be disturbed during the day
New for the year was a blood-vein, a rosy rustic, a magpie and a lesser yellow underwing.
Rosy rustic (Hydaecia micacea)
This is a common moth in August to September, occuring throughout Britain in gardens, fields, hedges and open woods. It is usually this colour but can vary.
Dipleurina lacustrata
Large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba)
The commonest moth at the moment, these photos show the variation in the species.
Number of moth species 40
Total number of moths 89
This is a lifer for me, a micromoth calledAgapeta hamana. It is fairly common throughout most of Britain, where it lives on waste ground and other places where the foodplant, thistle (Carduus spp.) is found.
It flies from June through August, mainly at dusk or at night, but it can easily be disturbed during the day
New for the year was a blood-vein, a rosy rustic, a magpie and a lesser yellow underwing.
Rosy rustic (Hydaecia micacea)
Dipleurina lacustrata
This micromoth is found between June and July in open country.
Acleris forsskaleana
Another micomoth which is common in July and August is this striking one. It is only 15mm.
Another micomoth which is common in July and August is this striking one. It is only 15mm.
Large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba)
The commonest moth at the moment, these photos show the variation in the species.
02 August - End of Muston scarecrow festival
It's finished!
This was meant to be humpty dumpty but some thief took the star off the wall on the first day - how sad some humans (?) are! Two youths were caught vandalising another exhibit - playing football with the head of one of the calves off the green. Luckily they were frightened off by one of the farmers and the calf was reassembled so no-one could tell.
This was meant to be humpty dumpty but some thief took the star off the wall on the first day - how sad some humans (?) are! Two youths were caught vandalising another exhibit - playing football with the head of one of the calves off the green. Luckily they were frightened off by one of the farmers and the calf was reassembled so no-one could tell.
Just this evening we witnessed some children 'playing' with the above display. Their parents stood and watched. Parents should teach their children to respect others property - what hope have they in life if they are not taught standards now?
01 August - Field near Burton Fleming
One of my current projects is to photograph the local farmland, so in between showers I was to be found in this field listening to a quail singing it 'wet my lips' song. As usual it didn't show itself though.
31 july - Muston moths
Red twin-spot carpet (Xanthorrhoe spadicearia)Moth species count 19
Total moth count 59
The rain has prevented good moth trapping recently and with the scarecrow festival on at the moment I am also reluctant to leave the moth trap on, so this is the first time I have run it this week.
There was nothing new but there has been an increase in broad-bordered yellow underwings and common rustics.
There was nothing new but there has been an increase in broad-bordered yellow underwings and common rustics.
Udea prunalis
Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina)
This is a moth that is very variable in colour, but its pattern is very distinctive. It fles between mid-July and mid-September and occurs anywhere, but particularly in woodlands.
Acleris forsskaleana
Lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing (Noctua janthe)This resident moth flies between July and September and is found everywhere.
28 July - Muston Scarecrow Festival
Two heads are better than one
Walked around some of Muston with the kids last night and looked at the scarecrows. So far I have seen people just avoid being knocked down by cars, trespassing on peoples property, looking into house windows and 
wandering onto drives and into gardens, as well as wandering around in the rain. However on the whole most appear to be enjoying the increase in the use of straw and the decrease in plaster of Paris and papier mache this year.Here is my favourite entitled 'The evolution of the scarecrow' (note the sticks, straw and old clothes).
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