Category: Landscape

Autumn in the Severn Valley

I think Autumn is becoming much more of a favourite time of year since I caught the photography bug. I always loved it but, often took it as the prelude to winter which I am not so keen on! But, taking photographs has a habit of making you look, really look around and appreciate the little things just that little bit more.

It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.
Henry David Thoreau

So, on each fine day experienced of late, I have wandered off somewhere along the valley. On a very cold day, I went a secured myself a little place and watched this scene for a couple of hours.

Despite the cold, I was so busy watching the antics of two Dippers that I didn’t notice it very much. Sadly, my photo’s leave a lot to be desired, this is a spot I need to return to earlier in the day.

Together, with a Grey Wagtail they all kept me entertained for some time!

I have also spent some time walking around Dudmaston. Not the Hall because it is closed at this time of year but on the opposite side of the road, there are a number of public footpaths.

Carpets of yellow around every corner but I also love the mix of coniferous and deciduous trees.

Some just look beautiful all on their own

Colour is everywhere even down the tiny fungi which is so easy to miss.

For a photographer there are inevitably frustrations. Down in the Severn Valley Country Park, we saw this little fellow on one of the pools last month.

It was on a cloudy day and I was so hoping to get back with better light. Unfortunately, I got back this week and they have drained the pool to cut back the reeds. Furthermore, as I sat in the hide, the works party showed up so no chance of spotting anything! In fact, I went walking and for the first time in ages I spotted my elusive Green Woodpecker. Steadied myself, took aim and guess what? ……That work party showed up again *deep sigh*.

Thankfully, the scenes were beautiful and are getting more so by the day.

I still spotted a Common Darter dragonfly which was quite hard to see on Autumn foliage and seems quite late for this region. Of course, there are always some birds that are a little more tolerant of human presence too.

Our garden feeders are getting a lot busier as it cools down and with migration in place, no doubt there will be some changes in our bird sightings now. I shall leave you with a final image of the sun going down over the River Severn

As we are now into November, I guess my next post will be winter!

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Misty Mornings in Shropshire

It has been a while since I posted but, the Autumn season offers some fabulous photo opportunities and I have been out making the most of them.
A few mornings have seen me out and about early catching those early morning dews on cobwebs and mist rising off the rivers and pools. This one was taken at Dudmaston

…and then on to Severn Valley Country Park

We also got up really early one morning at a weekend (sorry Andy) to capture the sunrise over Bridgnorth.

With the mist rising off the water on the Severn, I couldn’t resist turning this one into sepia.

Inevitably, as the mornings and evenings turn chillier, the first signs of wood smoke are in the air.

Now and then, the whole landscape takes on an almost surreal quality………

Morning by Paul Laurence Dunbar
The mist has left the greening plain,
The dew-drops shine like fairy rain,
The coquette rose awakes again
Her lovely self adorning.

The Wind is hiding in the trees,
A sighing, soothing, laughing tease,
Until the rose says “Kiss me, please,”
‘Tis morning, ’tis morning.

With staff in hand and careless-free,
The wanderer fares right jauntily,
For towns and houses are, thinks he,
For scorning, for scorning.
My soul is swift upon the wing,
And in its deeps a song I bring;
Come, Love, and we together sing,
“‘Tis morning, ’tis morning.”

Badger Dingle

On a very rainy Sunday, I thought I would put up a few images of a brighter one.

Badger is a small village in Shropshire quite near to us. It was a good opportunity to take some landscape shots which have not featured too highly of late.

The greenery at this time of year is still a little sparse so I think it would be nice to revisit with some leafy canopies too but, for now it was a lovely opportunity to try out those soft water techniques using a slow shutter speed.

I also love to practice breaking the rules by shooting into the sun. This one was probably my favourite out of many. The recycle bin rate of these type of shots is very high for me!

Witley Court ~ The Tumbledown Palace

We paid a return visit to Witley Court. I was kind of hoping to get some working fountain shot but it has been turned off for the winter. But, you can never normally get images with reflections so there is always a bonus. Witley Court is mnaged by the English Heritage Site charity and has had a very sad history over the years. I look at it now and am almost saddened by it’s loss but astounded by the volume of cash it must have taken to have been built and landscaped in the first place. A few shots….


Perseus and Andromeda fountain

Skywatch Friday ~ Bridgnorth Walkabout

I am so bad for forgetting about Friday when it is a Thursday…yes I can see people rolling their eyes and rightly so!!! So my apologies for being a little late..
However, I do have some lovely blue sky images from the weekend from a walkabout locally. Some of you may have seen some pics on my better half’s blog but, we never see the same things ~ the joy of photography is that it is a lot like art…and we all see a different picture!

No sky here but this sign outside a local pub…just because it made me laugh 😀

Followed by some flowers because I can… 🙂

Finally, if there are any funicular railway fans…here you are complete with blue skies and fluffy clouds.

Other skywatch images from around the world can be found here
Happy Skywatch to everyone 🙂

Skywatch Friday ~ Fluffy Clouds

Well, it has been a while since I did a Skywatch Friday. I seem to have been a little busy with my art. However, seeing the bales in the field and looking out at across a gorgeous blue sky with nice fluffy clouds inspired me . So whilst we still have some summer…

I was sorry to hear on Skywatch that Klaus Peter has sadly passed away and dedicate this posting to him.

Other Skywatch posts from around the world can be found here .

Bluebell Wood

To walk through a bluebell wood is a real herald of Spring. The fragrance is astounding! Sadly, I am unable to share the scent but I can share some of my walk……I hope you get the same sense of peacefulness that I experienced.

By chance, on the day of this walk, I heard my first Cuckoo of the year so thought that this poem was a fitting accompaniment.

To the Cuckoo

Hail, beauteous stranger of the grove!
Thou messenger of Spring!
Now Heaven repairs thy rural seat,
And woods thy welcome ring.

What time the daisy decks the green,
Thy certain voice we hear:
Hast thou a star to guide thy path,
Or mark the rolling year?

Delightful visitant! with thee
I hail the time of flowers,
And hear the sound of music sweet
From birds among the bowers.

What time the pea puts on the bloom,
Thou fli’st thy vocal vale,
An annual guest in other lands,
Another Spring to hail.

Sweet bird! thy bower is ever green,
Thy sky is ever clear;
Thou hast no sorrow in thy song,
No Winter in thy year!

O could I fly, I’d fly with thee!
We’d make, with joyful wing,
Our annual visit o’er the globe,
Companions of the Spring.

John Logan