As we enter the back end of February we really haven't had a winter. I know there have been some biting, icy winds and dank days but the snow hasn't arrived other than on very high ground.
Whilst not a wimp, yours truly is not a big fan of driving in it but on the plus side, it does make for great landscape images.
This week has been very Spring like with temperatures reaching the high teens in some parts of the country but as pancake day approaches, will the white winter wonderland fall 'just as flat'? Maybe it will arrive late in April as it did a few years back and herald a colder Easter?
We will see.
It is always interesting seeing how other photographers go about their work and I recently had a great day out with Vicki Proctor shooting images above the Duddon Valley. The weather was actually grim but we set about shooting less traditional landscape photographs in the old quarry above Ulpha and by the tarn on Stickle Pike.
Trying hard not to drop the X Pro1 and tumble in....
Contrasts. Thats what makes the world of photography inviting. There are no rules and I found myself shooting images that I wouldn't normally do. Natural patterns and shapes in the landscape have always attracted me but this time I went much closer. Not quite macro but I tried a few different techniques to get the most from the day. As well as her normal landscape work, Vicki has a Fine Art background, so seeing her approach was good to observe.
We never stop learning.
An iPhone shot. These reeds looked like tarantula legs or matches and were all around the edges of the tarn
Beautiful rock formations above the Duddon Valley taken with the Fuji mirrorless X Pro 1.
Over the past few weeks, I have delivered a series of workshops and I have to mention four Intrepid's, Judith, John, Mark and Helen who braved the elements on a very damp day by Wast Water. They didn't let the weather detract them and as they said, 'Learnt a lot and had a great, fantastic day'. Always a pleasure to make new friends too.
Helen, Judith, John and Mark. Never daunted for one minute and a pleasure to be with.
I later returned to spend a day with Steve Makin and again the landscape didn't disappoint. It is the contrasts in weather, the effects that it presents to us that really appeal to me. Those moody light and shade images that are presented to us never fail to disappoint. Fortunately, we managed to dodge the deluge that arrived just as we finished
Steve assessing the scene in a 'strange' light as contrasts bathed Wast Water that day.
It is always a pleasure to be asked to discuss your work and I enjoy being selected by photographic societies to talk to them. The 'season' is now fully underway.
I recently had the pleasure of being welcomed by the Blackburn PS at BAE Systems Canberra Club, at Wharton in Lancashire.
I am pleased to report that it was standing room only and their reception and response to my lame attempt at humour went down well. I look forward to seeing them all in the future on a return visit.
The rest of this month is a mixture of commercial shoots and processing with much of the days revolving around me working here at this desk.
As soon as that snow arrives I will be out like a shot!