Pendragon Castle

With a bag full of wire wool, it was purely by chance that I stumbled across the derelict ruins of Pendragon Castle one night. It would have been rude not to!

The Four Horse-Chestnuts of the Apocalypse

I know, they aren't Horse Chestnuts. We went for our first walk of British Summer Time on Sunday. While quite blustery, and despite a couple of short showers, we enjoyed some fantastic sunshine, which really helped to reassure that Spring is on its way!

Redcar Wind Farm

Some consider them a blot on the landscape, but I actually quite like the aesthetics of a wind turbine.

Blanket

Apologies for the single photo postings, I can only blame the weather last night for ensuring I stayed in the house and had a little time to run through some older shots. This one is the last of the sunlight, catching the hillside in high Teesdale.

The Road to Hartforth

I just love the winding roads that thread through the countryside on the edges of the Dales. 

Light like a painting.

The only passable landscape shot from a trip to Mallerstangdale a couple of weeks ago. While heavily overcast, the lighting gave a very atmospheric feel to the bleak landscape of this part of the Yorkshire Dales.

That Buttermere Tree

Having a look through some older files last night, and came across this unprocessed version of the Buttermere Tree. I'm starting to get excited about the four day weekend and the prospect of some time in the Lakes.

Richmond Castle by Moonlight

An evening jaunt under some clear skies took me to the Castle In Richmond. Once 11pm had passed, the lights on the keep were turned off, and allowed for some long exposures to draw out the smooth lighting from the moon. The light pollution from town gives a golden glow to the keep, which I quite like, and in a strange way, is reminiscent of the temple at Amritsar.

Long forgot

I don't often get chance to look back over older shots, to see if I have missed any that would be worth a process. However, a second glance at this one caught my eye, purely for the light catching the lower fells. I can't quite remember where, but this was taken in summer in the Lake District

The Forbidden Temple

An exciting evening jaunt with a friend saw us tracking down a Temple, which is seemingly one of the few un-photographed treasures in the country. Barely a photo exists of this building, and then it seems though the last time it was photographed was in the late 70s. I can't say too much about its location, but it is a fantastic building, and the clear North Yorkshire skies did us proud.

Not the right time of year...

This angle of Durham has got Autumn written all over it. Even in summer, when the trees are fully laden with leaves, I think this will make a much more pleasant shot. Nevertheless, as it was only the second time I had visited Durham, and the first time with my camera. I thought it worthwhile to try my hand at this oft-captured scene.

Steetley Pier

I visited Steetley Pier a short while ago, in the dark of night and a thick blanket of fog. On a late afternoon, conditions were slightly more favourable, and I got the chance to try out a few long exposures as I had hoped. Next up will be a sunrise shoot I hope!

Angel at dusk

The return trip from the Border Counties Rally saw a potentially great sunset thwarted by the low cloud that my life seems to be a constant battle against. However, the traces of colour in the sky made for a passable long exposure.

Border Counties Rally 2015

Took a hefty drive up the road on Saturday to catch the Border Counties Rally. Unfortunately, under the close scrutiny of the MSA, the second stage was cancelled due to some quads on the stage. However, the next stage at Elibank, near Innerleithen more than made up for the disappointment of the cancellation. With the sun out, and dry surfaces, the natural amphitheatre of the stage made for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoons rallying.

Quite a special evening.

Throughout the day, my phone kept pinging with Aurora alerts, but as I gazed through the window, the gloomy grey skies did nothing to brighten my spirits. After a discussion that evening, a friend and I decided to throw caution to the wind, after careful scrutiny of the cloud forecast for the North of England. A trip across the A66 did not offer us much encouragement, as the cloud layer was still pretty hefty and showed no signs of abating. We initially landed at Castlerigg Stone Circle, but decided to move on to seek a break in the cloud. Targetting Derwent Water, we made it to the waters edge, with the cloud illuminated strongly by the light pollution from Keswick. As we set about firing some test shots, the cloud appeared to be clearing, and a faint touch of green was visible in the west.

Quickly setting the camera to sequential release, I stood back and watched the cloud slowly dissipate, to reveal an unforgettable display of dancing light and colour in the night sky. While the strongest part of the storm lasted for a mere 20 minutes, it felt like an age, and will be one of those experience that lasts with me for the rest of my life.

Star trails in High Richmond

It appears that every time there is a clear sky at night recently, I invariably spend a couple of hours stood in a cold field. The recent loan of a Samyang 14mm f2.8 has added a bit more oomph to the trails. I've been really enjoying using it!

Oliver Duckett Wire Wool

A wonderfully clear night on Wednesday saw myself and a couple of friends head to the Oliver Duckett folly in Richmond to try a little wire wool illumination. 

Unnamed Waterfalls

While waiting for a Steam Train that never arrived in Mallerstangdale, I happened across a particularly interesting waterfall, which did not seem to have been named on the O/S map. The requisite wet foot syndrome soon followed, as I was using a Samyang 14mm f2.8, which required a closer position to the falls to compose the shot as I had wanted.

Malcolm Wilson Rally 2015

One of my favourite rallies in the UK, yet one that usually goes hand in hand with bad weather. A trip across the Pennines with a couple of friends took us to the Grizedale stages, which can offer some fantastic views in the right conditions, but unfortunately a thick blanket of cloud shrouded the fells.