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dansnaturepictures · 2 years

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10th September 2022-Blog 1 of 2: Boat trip with Wild New Forest along the Beaulieu River and to Newtown harbour on the Isle of Wight

We went on this trip today from Buckler’s Hard, my second of the year after a shorter one along the river in June which was one of my highlights of the year so far. Today it was a brilliant four hours of wildlife watching and taking in stunning scenery, led so well by Marcus Ward with his expert knowledge and the skipper who were both so welcoming again. We met a great group of fellow people on the trip too including one person we knew and had many top conversations, enjoying hot beverages and cakes in the sun kissed harbour as the sun emerged which was so relaxing.

The New Forest looked splendid in the morning as we arrived, and it was nice to see bits of purple heather by my favourite part of it Pig Bush on the way home, with lovely sky scenes throughout. The picturesque river and rolling scenery of the Isle of Wight were such stunning views to take in today, very green and pleasant scenes with the sun making the water sparkly finely. It was exhilarating to cross the Solent speedily, interesting to take in views of places like Buckler’s Hard, Portsmouth with the Spinnaker Tower visible, Lepe and Hurst Castle and just so nice to be out in the open air for a huge chunk of the day. Newtown harbour was a great nature reserve to explore today one we had not heard of before, a vast bit of wild land at the north of the lovely island where we went on holiday every year for a period of time elsewhere on the island and explored it a lot in my childhood I’d not been to the Isle of Wight since 2013 but obviously see a lot of it from the Hampshire coast. I took the second, fifth which I believe shows Lepe, sixth and ninth pictures in this photoset of views on the trip.

We saw so much amazing wildlife on the trip, with a bird of prey fest. It was fantastic to see an Osprey sat on a distant tree along the river which I took the third picture in this photoset of and the second photo is the same shot me turning it into a landscape too. What a year I have had for them it was a pleasure to see one of this bird species I adore for a third time this year. It’s given me some of my best moments of 2022 and this just before they migrate added to it well. I was pleased to see Osprey nests on the Isle of Wight too. Then in the harbour we were treated to astonishing views of male and female Peregrines. I took the seventh picture in this photoset of the male. Seeing the male sat on a boat’s mast at one point where I took the photo, we got to make out their charm and beautiful markings. We saw both fly too and saw the female in flight with a Sparrowhawk behind it which was spectacular. It was so nice to see these Peregrines here after the top views I got of two in Winchester on Thursday what a week and year I have had for this species. It’s always so rustic and evocative of wild places for me to see one at coastal marshes. Kestrel and Buzzard completed a five star raptor trip. There was such a unique mix of birds including some of my favourites I wouldn’t often see together seen today personified by a beautiful Gannet flying by seen from the Isle of Wight another of my birds of the year.

Loads of Sandwich Terns and Swallows were wonderful to see on the trip, hearing and seeing the terns so well with one sat on a buoy, many seen intimately flying, one seen with a fish and them seen diving. Such great moments with a key bird here we saw them well on my last of these boat trips which I love seeing. It was great to make out the vintage colour of the Swallows. A fair few Curlews they were great to see flying I took the first picture in this photoset of one, Bar-tailed Godwits, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper were other highlights for birds on the trip. It was nice to see Miguel the Alexandrine parrot at the boat yard at Buckler’s Hard a pretty bird.

There were also definitive moments of my year in terms of mammals today, as hoped as they are seen a lot on these trips we saw Grey Seal and Common (Harbour) Seals. A Grey Seal we saw on the river was resting, you could see its head and back end poking out of the water. At one point it stretched which was exceptional to witness. I took the fourth picture in this photoset of this beautiful animal. Then in the harbour one Common Seal and two Grey Seals greeted us, getting some amazing views of these precious creatures as the bright light of the sun came through. I took the eighth picture in this photoset of I believe a Common Seal. Two of my favourite mammals that I’ve had top years for this was a brilliant experience to add I do love seeing them on boat trips. Dock seen at Needs Ore I believe and horseweed at the boat yard were nice plants seen today. It was lovely to be shown some valuable eel grass so key to the habitat and its wildlife in Newtown harbour. What a marvellous trip I would definitely recommend these trips.

There was a poignant and quite moving moment in the middle of the Solent on the way back, as we paused around a Union Flag which I took the tenth picture in this photoset of raised on the boat and listened to the proclamation of His Majesty King Charles III on the radio. A lovely moment to remember and reflect on Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s extraordinary reign and life, and see in the new era with some singing the national anthem on the boat as it came on the radio too.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: Five of my favourite birds the Buzzard, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Gannet and Little Egret great views of a fair few of the latter too it really was so notable to see them all in one day for me, two of my favourite mammals the Grey Seal and Common Seal, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Carrion Crow, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail and Pied Wagtail which it was great to see, Starling I believe, Swallow, Curlew, Redshank, lots of lovely Oystercatchers, Lapwing, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Common Sandpiper, Grey Heron, Sandwich Tern, Black-headed Gull including an intimate view of one as we had the hot drink and cake in the nice sunlight, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull seen well with all three gulls together at one point, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Little Grebe, wasp frequently and nice views of Grey Mullet in the river at the start as we got last time.

Part 2 of today’s posts will be up soon.

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thepermanentrainpress · 2 years

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RACING DAYS: SUMMER MOVIE CLUB

Summer Movie Club – Racing Days Release Date: June 3rd, 2022

Track Listing:

1. Summer Movie Club 2. Rearview 3. Horribles Parade 4. Chameleon 5. Buzzkill Bill 6. Jackals 7. Momentary Floods 8. Malt Shoppe Meltdown 9. Friends Come Back 10. Bible Study Hand 11. I Used to Be Your Cowboy 12. The Midnight Bird 13. Post-Credits Scene

Racing Days’ Summer Movie Club is cinematic and catchy indie-synth pop. Quintessential summertime scenery with faint lingers of sadness. A creative and dynamic expression of life’s ups and downs.

Boston-based Racing Days, also known as Brian Engles, created Summer Movie Club to grapple with family loss, dualling identities, the pressure we place on ourselves, and self-acceptance. After the passing of his sister Molly, Engles struggled to find motivation for music. But after he bought a new MIDI keyboard, which had track limitations, a new spark of inspiration was born for Racing Days.

He started to create music again, finding strength in his memories about Molly, who always believed in his music. He hopes Summer Movie Club can comfort those who feel they’ve lost themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lead track off the album, “Summer Movie Club,” slips into deep electro beats and bass. Decals of piano and strings sounds interweaving with Engle’s processed, indie vocals. Engles intended the “Summer Movie Club” to be an idea: a series of films, a popular clique, or an unattainable dream version of yourself. Cool comfort and concern crashes into one another in a narrative that feels both familiar and mysterious: “The buck moon blaze / The morning haze / The cherry stains / The clothesline sway.”

“Rearview” drifts in the periphery with revving reverb. Diverging needs and separation on the vivid horizon. “Just say you'll never let me go one time / And I won't check the rearview my whole life.” Engles’ vocals gliding over light echoing notes and steady percussion. The introspection of a life quickly lived: “I can't even keep up with your photos / Every night you tear up the globe / Nobody better ask what you're running from.”

Racing Days finds a motivation march in “Horribles Parade.” Deep electric guitar rings out like bells, as steely bass hammers in. “Cause when you wake up in a rabbit hole / Going down's only way get through / And even when the music's left you, babe / You gotta find some way to groove.” Callback instrumentals trudge through trenches on the road to inner strength.

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“Buzzkill Bill” begins with magnetic intergalactic sounds. Sonic reverb adding an ice-cold tone to grungy sounds. A heavy and haunting foundation balancing the pressures of the world “Buzzkill Bill's slinging free advice again / So we can all end up just like him / I make this music 'cause I can't make friends / I'm bad on paper, I'm ignorant.”

My favourite song off the album, “Jackals” is stark and sinister. Los Angeles scenes highlighted by razor sharp melodies, crisp rap, and hollow drums. Dark experiences occasionally softened by pain and piano. “Big shots they did me bad / A-list abuse a blast / I got an Arclight past / She still owe me for gas / When I was stuck out on Olympic running late for class / 'Cause out here baby all your big dreams they will never last.”

The disappointment of unsuccessful romance roams in “Friends Come Back.” Light, bouncy synths fold into dynamic buzzing bass. Sporadic clapping beats tangle with piano harmonies and runs in the soundscape.

“Bible Study Hand” mixes classical rock strings and cursive vocals. Echoes of electric synths are delicately placed. A wholesome and warm introduction with the charm of innocent meetings and discouraged desires: “And can't we tell the man upstairs / To go out for a break / And can't we see just how this feels / Even for today.”

Understated, wavy synths and bass float through “The Midnight Bird.” Joined by quick, percussive taps, lyrics etch the bitter sting of absence and the fortitude needed to withstand: “You don't have to explain / You don't have to make sense of pain / When the midnight bird sings.”

Racing Days’ Summer Movie Club is fresh, stylish, and sincere. Its earnest and clever lyrics sort through the biggest challenges and contrasts in life. Maintaining healthy focus and friendliness, Racing Days creates a comforting, luminous experience.

Written by: Jenna Keeble

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norasfilmjourney · 2 years

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Hey, so I've watched 4 2022 releases recently, so I'm gonna do a "new release roundup" summarising my thoughts on each film I watched; The Gray Man, Prey, Decision to Leave, & Nope. Obviously, spoilers for all the above, but I've seperated them and included a picture so you know when each review starts if you wish to read a specific one. The "Nope" review also counts as a user's canon review.

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Film #1, The Gray Man.

Watched July 22nd 2022.

Don't let the pretty colours fool you, this film is not even remotely vibrant. It's one of the most boring movies I have ever seen. If you tried to come up with a more generic blockbuster plot you probably couldn't. It's like a marvel film posing as a big budget spy thriller.

The fights here are baffling. How did the Russos think it was a good idea to have a cut every quarter second and have the film be filled to the brim with smoke for like every single fight? The editing is so bad it becomes hard to tell what's actually happening.

This is about like 30 minutes too long because half the dialogue is jokes that don't land and theres a completely unnecessary final few minutes.

It also decides to go down the route of instead of making the CIA seem to be a bad organization, telling us that all the bad people are just "bad apples." It's boring, it's generic, it's questionable politically, and it's unfunny. What more is there to dislike, really? 2/10

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Film #2, Prey

Watched August 6th 2022.

This movie fucking slaps. Incredibly brutal film, unrelenting in it's action and viscerality. Even past the (wild) Predator sequences - which were extremely impressive, scary, and fun IMO - we get the sequences of the colonizing people mistreating (to say the least) the natives. It's a weird but really good choice to not have the Predator be the only threat to the Comanche's way of life in this film. I also appreciate that this could've been a really preach-y, liberal "girl power" movie but instead treated the somewhat feminist themes with subtlety and care.

Past that, this film is gorgeous. It takes it's time getting into the action with a fairly slow beginning that prepares us for the (affective) emotional beats that come later. Its cinematography is insane - mostly due to the scenery, but even in the night scenes the fire is vibrant and it's still easy to tell what's going. The visual effects are insane, barely noticable.

I watched this with the Comanche dub, which while good, was unfortunately rather noticable. I would still recommend watching it like that as that's how the director intended. Despite this, the acting felt at least servicable, and at times very good.

I think overall this might be my favourite of the year. The best time I had, other than perhaps Everything Everywhere All At Once - but while that film has noticable problems that are hard for me to ignore, and was likely somewhat carried by my viewing conditions being the best they could possibly be - this film does not past some very minor gripes. Feeling a strong 9/10. Blockbuster of the year?

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Film #3, Decision to Leave

Watched August 27th 2022.

Of the 3 Park films I have seen, this is the work most tailored to his fans, I feel. More than Oldboy and The Handmaiden, this has his specific flare; plenty of weird eroticism, the slightly but not too disturbing moments, and the stylized violence thats still rooted in a sort of realism. If you're an enjoyer of his other work you'll like it, if not, give it a cautious shot. Luckily for me, I am.

I found this to be very interesting from a thematic perspective; it seems to be mostly exploring investigation as an act of love. To imply the obsession, the loss of sleep - and the rest that comes with it - to be an act of desire. Normally, we don't take desire as being love, necessarily - but the desiree's enjoyment of it, the mutual desire, causes one to view it this way. It provides a pretty compelling dynamic, and something to think about, and it starts to hit pretty hard after the credits roll. Unfortunately, it's forgotten subtlety at all in doing this. Not only is there a line pretty much saying the films thesis, but it says it multiple times.

From a more technical perspective; I found the editing to be some of the best I've seen in ages, it's hypnotizing. The cinematography was gorgeous. The acting delivered, and has honestly convinced me to see more of Park Hae-il's work.

The worst part was not entirely the film's part. I found myself to be rather uncomprehensive and zoned-out between the flash forward and the 2nd husband's murder. Although I do think the film contributed to it, because I believe there is quite a bit of unnecessary, bloating content here, causing it to become a bit of a lull and overlong. I can't blame it in it's entirety however, as I've done better with films that are more packed for sure. 9/10, I'd say, but could either drop to an 8 or rise to a 10 depending on how it sits in.

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Film #4, Nope

Watched August 28th, 2022.

I am quite unsure what to get out of this on a thematic level? Quite clearly it intends to comment on a lot of things. My main takeaway was it's entwining of cinema history, race, and spectacle. Multiple times throughout this film it makes a point of the first actor being a black horse jockey - it entwins cinema history with the first actor, race with well their race, and the inherent spectacle of viewing the first filmed human. But I don't think it's a coincidence it then proceeds to make the first notice of the alien through a horse's actions and make it's main trigger to be spectacle.

It also seems to focus on understanding. The primary goal with the monster is to understand it's motives. Between the chimpanzee and Jupe there becomes an understanding that they're okay. It's a mystery film, it inherently wants us to attempt to understand what is going on here. More obviously, at the start of the film our main character and his sister are fairly at odds, and again, they grow to be closer (and therefore, more understanding) by the end of the movie.

While neither of these are particularly something on their own, I think it becomes rather interesting when combined. Throughout history, cinema (especially the western - which this film often seemingly jokes about it) has had a tendency towards the "exotic" peoples, one that turns cultural identities into spectacle, rather than attempting to understand. One that gets horror, thrills, humor, or spectacle out of the unknown. Of course, the subjects have rejected it. The first that comes to mind is the ethnographic classic Nanook of the North I believe, this has had an influence on these peoples' lives that they did not desire. But because they were unknown and percieved as exotic, they became a humorous spectacle for a completely foreign audience, rather than a culture to be understood.

The film starts with a bible quote that summarises it rather well; "I will cast abominable filth upon you, make you vile, and make you a spectacle." We have casted filth upon the unknown. We have made them exotic, an "other", something which many are afraid of. We have made them something special in our culture, something not to be understood but to be gazed upon and talked about.

Past themes, I think this is just a pretty fun movie. It felt a little bloated at times, like it stretched scenes unnecessarily, but this didn't stop me from enjoying it as a whole. There was moments of anti-horror, stuff that should have been scary but intentionally wasn't, such as the alien fake-out near the start, or when something is creeping up behind the guy from the store and it just turns out to be his co-worker. I think this film does that as a whole, it desires to be a big summer blockbuster with a premise that would work much better as a horror film, and was executed as a horror film for quite some time near the start. While I don't think this is a good decision, it does make the film a pretty good time to watch with friends/family with the volume cranked. There's most notably there's the scene of Jupe and his crowd being eaten - which is a twist I wasn't expecting and viscerally terrifying, moreso than anything I've sene in a previous summer blockbuster.

It didn't connect with me as a whole and I don't imagine it'll be very memorable - but it's about as interesting thematically as you can expect from such a big money-bags release. That, along with it being fun, and honestly pretty impressive and cool technically - seriously that alien design that looks like an angel straight out of Evangelion is so cool - and some funny moments made me like it as a good experience quite a bit. Also, it has an Akira homage, so it can't get any lower than an 7/10.

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virtualgallerybyie · 2 years

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Forefront Post 7 - Catisfaction (2022)

Catisfaction is a short Animated film made in Portugal, Directed and Produced by Andre Almeida. The film was released on 8th July 2022. This is a tale about relationships and the enduring effects they have on our lives. Catisfaction follows a tired pet owner as he slouches into his favourite chair and drifts off to a world of huge cats and flying scooters.

Innovative and Influential

What I find innovative about this film is that the artist used an image as a starting point to develop a film around it and has pushed that really far. The story was created from scratch without using a prewritten script, starting with the simple notion of a person on a Vespa, arms wide open. After developing this initial idea, the director started to develop scenarios that included the Man and the Cat. He created each scene purely from his ideas and without any constraints. Almeida was free to direct this movie in any way because there was no narrative or plot that is why there is no limit to the imagination on the story and the design of the characters.

Another thing that I find quite innovative about this film is the blend of realism and surrealism. The visuals in this film looks quite realistic yet everything is so surreal. The enviroment design is super realistic, The purring, bug-eyed cat waiting at the door for its owner in the opening shot is one of the scene's most attention-grabbing details. The aesthetic accelerates, though, when we reach the world of dreams, the character designs for the Man and the Cat are both excellent. His realistic movements as he swings from monkey bars at a playground stand in stark contrast to the infantile simplicity of his face, and his elastic, seemingly transparent skin is both unsettling and mesmerising. Whereas the cat’s character looks very realistic having so much detail in her body and furr, yet her eyes look quite unrealistic and bizarre.

The dream-like scenery and illogical elements such as a flying vespa that looks like a fly, and the ladder that goes all the way up till heavens gives a very surreal feel to the film. The play around with the sizing of the characters in different scenes looks very impressive, All of these things makes Catisfaction a really unusual and amusing film to watch.

How I can relate it to my Practice

I have always been interested in this kind of bizarre animations that makes the audience wonder about the weird stuff going on and allows them to be a part of your imagination. I made a series of short 2d animations in my bachelors thesis, in which I tried to criticize a particular social problem, in a satirical way using bizzarre and exaggerated animations. So I would like to work on this further and see how far I can take my imagination.

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Also, I find it quite an interesting idea to develop a storyline from a visual. Maybe I can do this in my future practice to see how I can build storylines based on visuals and what are the possible storylines that one can draw from a visual, I think practising this would help my story building skills.

Billington, A. (2022). Watch: Strange Animated Short Film ‘Catisfaction’ with a Giant Cat | FirstShowing.net. [online] Available at: https://www.firstshowing.net/2022/watch-strange-animated-short-film-catisfaction-with-a-giant-cat/.

Munday, R. (2022). Catisfaction - an animated short film by André Almeida. [online] Available at: https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2022/07/08/catisfaction/ [Accessed 26 Aug. 2022].

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#Major Study #Forefront post

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windwheeler-aster · 2 years

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today...

rosaria’s birthday hangout 2022

summary: you know that your girlfriend doesn’t enjoy celebrating her birthday. but that doesn’t stop you from scheduling a sweet picnic date for her, now does it?

masterlist | rosaria’s letter

pairings: rosaria x reader

reader info: gender neutral pronouns (they/them), reader is not traveler)

word count: 704 words

genre: romance, birthday celebration

format: one shot

warnings: established relationship, alcohol consumption and mention

a/n: ah, rosaria, my love💖 so pretty, can’t wait for her updated skin💖

You knew that Rosaria doesn’t like celebrating her birthday. She had told you countless times that she found it pointless to celebrate. The most she ever wanted was a nice meal on her birthday, but that was too simple for you. Ever the romantic, you wanted to put some extra effort into her birthday.

You sat near Cape Oath’s edge, overlooking the beautiful view you had picked. The crystal blue waters were mesmerising to gaze at from above. The long grass blew gently in one direction, not disturbing the picnic you set up luckily. The incoming breeze only added to the beautiful scenery. You knew, or more so hoped, that Rosaria would like this.

As you peered over the edge one more time, mesmerised, you heard a familiar snicker.

“A picnic on Cape Oath’s edge?” Rosaria laughed.”I can’t tell if you’re trying to get rid of me or seduce me.”

You moved away from the edge and looked over your shoulder. Rosaria was still climbing up the hill. She didn’t sound like she was struggling at all, and she gave no sign that she wanted help. Still, you rose from the blanket and hurried over to her, a bouquet of cecilias clutched in one hand.

Rosaria looked up in time as you came bounding towards her. She yelped as you tackle her into a hug, but a laugh follows soon after. Rosaria tries to look down at your face, ready to scold you for being dangerous, but is instead met with flowers.

“Here! I got these for you,” You explained, carefully putting them into her hands, “I thought they’d look pretty in your hair.”

Rosaria looked down at the white bouquet, trying to hide the smile growing on her face. “How sweet.”

“That’s not all! I even prepared a picnic for the two of us,” You led her over to the blanket. “After you, madame.”

She snorted. “Breaking out the fancy talk for me? Oh, babe, you shouldn’t have.”

You sat next to her, purposefully bumping shoulders with her. “Shut up,” you whispered.

Carefully, you unpacked the meals stowed away in your basket. It took you most of the morning to prepare it all, and even longer to find all the ingredients for each dish. But it was all worth it.

Rosaria eyed each plate you took out as she set aside the cecilias. Some chicken-mushroom skewers, a few pieces of fisherman’s toast, and a bottle of Dandelion wine. Rosaria’s breath hitched as you pulled out the last dish.

“Is that beef bourguignon?”

You chuckled, as you began to make a plate for her. “You told me it was your favourite thing to eat, so I wanted to make it.”

You handed Rosaria her plate, the beef bourguignon taking up most of it. As Rosaria took her first bite, you poured wine for her. You filled the glass halfway, which only prompted her to mumble “a little more” as she chewed. You stopped a little shy of three quarters of the glass and handed it to your girlfriend with a smile.

“Thank you,” She murmured into the glass.

“It’s the least I could do for your birthday,” You poured yourself a glass and raised it up.

Rosaria clinked her glass against yours before pulling you in for a kiss.

You melted against her as you felt Rosaria smile. Her kisses were always sweet, but the wine on her lips only added to it. Already, she was making you feel giddy and lighter than air.

Rosaria broke away with a cheeky smile on her face as you leaned on her. Out of pity, or love perhaps, she kissed your head and chuckled.

“Did you like your birthday gifts?” You asked, the nervousness in your tone obvious.

“A picnic by a cliff’s edge with my partner?” Rosaria’s hand slipped under your chin to turn your gaze up to her. “Of course I did, love. Thank you for doing all of this.”

With her hand still on your chin, Rosaria pulled you upwards to meet her lips again. A brief kiss this time, but you made sure to follow it up with more feverish kisses.

“Anytime, love,” you breathed out, in between kisses, “Anything for you.”

thank you for reading 💖 all forms of interaction to my posts are appreciated 💖

#wheeler's works #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin one shots #rosaria x reader #romance #birthday celebration

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seatosomert · 3 years

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The World Is Waiting for you...

Lockdown has finally lifted in the UK. As of the 19th July, all restrictions on movement within England and Social distancing rules were relaxed and instead became 'Advisory and Optional'.

It's a reprieve after a long 15 months of very impactive restrictions upon our freedom of movement.

I'm not going to go into whether or not i think the lockdown measures were enough, or too much. This is an artistic and adventure blog.

Yet, I will say that it feels great to be able to move around again without restriction.

I live in West Yorkshire and I'm pretty central for travelling by train, Aeroplane and car to get anywhere in the UK or overseas.

I have no desire right now to travel overseas, until the rest of the world has chance to reach a level playing field on the vaccine front.

So, for the remainder of this year and possibly 2022 also, I have set the goal of exploring the UK and discovering the many places I have probably taken for granted.

I've been to our first National park, the Peak District on several Occasions now. It reminds me of a mini Lake District in some ways. Beautiful rolling hills and rocky outcrops and crags, littered with streams and water falls here and there offer walking, hiking and in somme cases, climbing within an area easily accessible by car, bike or on foot.

I've previously explored Kinder Scout, Bleaklow Hill and Mam Tor so far and I am still expanding this catalogue.

Of these places I have visited, my favourite so far is Mam Tor and the Great Ridge.

Mam Tor is only 517m (1619ft) elevation, yet the walk up from the National Trust car park at the foot of the hill is a short but steep and energetic walk up to the top.

The 360 degree panoramic views from the top out towards Edale Valley and in the opposite direction, the lovely little town of Castleton are amazing.

So a few days ago, after a pretty busy day, my Wife and i decided to jump in the car one hot sunny evening and head there to take in a sunset and get some head clearing hiking done.

We packed a small bag each with some food, water and a brew kit for a proper cup of tea, and braved the M1 motorway rush hour traffic.

In just 1 hour and 20 minutes were were there. It was about 6.30 pm and the 30 degree heat of the day had dropped to a slightly more sensible 25 degrees, so we headed up Mam Tor to find a spot to eat and get set up with my camera and tripod in order to grab some shots of the sunset.

Mam Tor was the busiest I'd seen it. Small groups and couples alike and fell runners adorned the hillside and The Great Ridge. The air was almost still, which is unusual as every other time I have been there has always been a breeze and at times, strong winds.

It was incredibly peaceful despite the 50+ people who were on the hill, apparently awaiting the sunset as they poised with mobile phones and one or two 'Proper', cameras in hand.

I'd taken the Fujifilm with me on this occasion, with some Cokin graduated ND filters and a tripod. I travelled fairly light and took just one lens, the awesome 18-55mm XF lens. The best kit lens I have ever used of any brand by far.

We hiked up Mam Tor and further on along the ridge to Back Tor, where i fired off a few shots towards Kinder Scout and Jcobs Ladder. We then grabbed a quick bite to eat and enjoyed the view and warm sunlight bathing our skin.

I'd already checked the sunset times and i wanted to be back on the summit of Mam Tor for 30 mins before sunset to catch the amazing light from the last 30 mins of golden hour.

We overshot on time having temporarily lost ourselves in the gorgeous sun, scenery and our chatting about how much we loved this area and that it may well be our favourite spot in the UK so far.

Sunset was at 2103hrs that day and it was 2010hrs, so i left the camera on the tripod, threw my back pack on and popped the camera and tripod, with filter system attached over my shoulder and marched on up the hill on a speed march of sorts.

25-30 minutes later I'd reached the summit of Mam Tor again and i was able to set up the camera in seconds and got on with shooting the most of the shots you see here.

if anyone is interested, my wife shot the images of me working the scene on her Google Pixel 4 mobile phone.

After around 20-30 minutes of shooting the sun disappeared behind some low cloud on the horizon just above Jacob's Ladder, so we never got to see the anticipated light show i expected.

I still managed to get some shots I am pleased with however.

We then headed back off down the hill and back to the car, where en-route i grabbed another couple of shots from the ascent ridge that leads up from the road behind the National Trust Car park. I was drawn to the winding road that meandered through the valley landscape, which i said to my wife, reminded me of a panned out driving scene from a Top Gear episode.

A short time later we were back at the car where i rustled up an Adventure Foods pasta bolognese (which was very tasty i might add) and a freshly made cup of tea for the both of us.

We arrived home just after 11pm and we'd had a great time.

The last thing i want to say is that when i thought of the idea to pop to Mam Tor that evening, I almost talked myself out of it. I was telling myself that the traffic would be too busy, that we'd arrive back really late when we had an early start the next morning, asking myself also, could i be arsed carrying all my camera gear and food, water etc? The fact is, it was a great evening that was not only a great creative opportunity, but also deeply satisfying and mentally healing.

Don't let your head sabotage what the heart wants to do. Just get out there and do it.

Don't just think that you'd like to do this and that and then keep putting it off. Just keep it simple and get on with it.

Thanks for clicking onto this post and i hope you found it of interest and most of all, I hope it inspires you to be a bit more spontaneous, because we all have that little voice in our heads that tries to talk us out of these little mini adventures. Remember...The World is waiting for you.

Please like if you do and share with your mates and fellow photogs and adventurers.

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dansnaturepictures · 2 years

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03/01/2022-Blog 1 of 2: Riverside Park and Woolston

There has been a Black Redstart at a building site around Woolston sewage works lately which we decided to go and try to see today, we didn’t see it. We called into nearby Riverside Park on the way a walk there a key part of our week off in January last year. Soon upon arrival here it was great to spot the charming Black Swans that are frequent sights here. We got some lovely intimate sights of five of these birds, seeing their delicious looking plumage and hearing their exotic call seeing some at a jetty area where there is always a feeding frenzy with Mute Swans, Black-headed Gulls and Feral Pigeons. It was interesting seeing both species of swans having pecks at each other, including the Black Swan having a go at the larger mute. I always enjoy seeing these birds here and it was a fun time today. I took the third picture in this photoset of a Black Swan, fifth and sixth of them with Mute Swan in shot too, ninth of a Black Swan and fourth of a Mute Swan.

On a small walk along the River Itchen here which looked full and feisty with wind creating some interesting little waves I took the first, second, seventh and eighth pictures in this photoset of views here, we saw a decent few more species and got the bonus of seeing a Fox on grass the other side of the river and skulking into foliage. A smashing moment with this adorable mammal, a third species for my mammal year list so far and one of my favourites. Considering I only saw my first of 2021 less than a month ago at Pennington in December it felt really good seeing this one a memorable moment today. It was nice to see some mistletoe in trees here, some nice orange in trees mixing well with bits of reedbed in scenery and some pretty clouds. I have noticed a lot of empty bird nests in trees lately after I saw someone mention them on social media which has been nice.

It was the nice gentleman we spoke to on Saturday at the Titchfield Canal path who we’d seen out before who first told us about the Black Redstart, we may well try again for it but it was nice to be at this spot and realise how close it is to a walk we do at Weston Shore. It was nice to see some sow-thistle I believe, horseweed, dock and in flower ragwort around here. I haven’t done a wildlife sightings summary for the Woolston part of our bank holiday Monday as I don’t recall seeing too many birds other than some gulls, Herring which it was nice to hear the evocative seaside call of too and possible Great Black-backed Gull. It was nice to see into the sea and see an unexpected reedbed here too. I took the tenth and final picture in this photoset of a view from here. With the set up of the day with doing two posts as I had a lot to describe and the amount of pictures I took at each location, its the rare occasion that every photo I took at Riverside Park and Woolston is in this photoset. I did take a couple before leaving in the back garden of some bits of buds and the yellow flowers in a hanging basket that are still going very strong in the back garden which I tweeted on Dans_Pictures tonight.

Wildlife Sightings Summary for Riverside Park: My first Fox of the year, Black Swan, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Little Grebes and Cormorants sat on a structure two birds I’ve started the year well for, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Starling heard and seen well and two nice Pied Wagtails well.

My next post about two other places we visited today shall be up shortly.

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dansnaturepictures · 2 years

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17/02/2022-Birds, blossom and flowers at Lakeside and home

I took the first picture in this photoset of a sunny view out the back this morning I liked seeing the shadows of the prominent tree in a neighbouring garden which I like looking at and photographing. Interestingly its the first photo taken with my regular lens since Saturday, circumstances creating a notable gap. I saw a lot of birds nicely from home today including the Feral Pigeon which looked dazzling in the sunlight in the second picture in this photoset.

On a walk around Lakeside taking in much of the site which felt great at lunch time it was lovely to see blossom and catkins continuing to add splashes of colour to the landscape, with the bare branches of winter still looking atmospheric especially with moody sky scenes ahead of the impending storm and bursts of sunshine too so there were some beautiful views this lunch time. I took photos of them, the third, fifth, eighth and ninth in this photoset are of views today with the lakes looking nice today too.

Chaffinch and Long-tailed Tit made nice sights in wet woodland seen from the northern path.

Also along this path I was delighted to see the lilac glow of a clump of crocuses the other side of the steam railway track. These elegant late winter/early spring flowers looked excellent and I really enjoyed taking the sight in. I took the fourth picture in this photoset of them my big lens the one I had with me today was useful for this shot reaching over the railway line to get. I noticed them a week before I noticed any at Lakeside last year a flower I learnt from a patch of these by the steam railway station here at that time as I hadn’t noticed them before and were something of a revelation of that time of the year for me so it was lovely to see them this year. We have some crocuses on the balcony at home about to come out too.

In a strong bit of sunshine as I walked west of Concorde lake I very much enjoyed seeing Mallards with the male’s iridescent heads glowing I took the sixth picture in this photoset of one and a Robin quite closely that sang so well which I got the seventh picture in this photoset of a real feel good natural moment. I saw so many Moorhens again today and Coots well too. As I passed the southern fenced off nature reserve area I scanned beach lake with my binoculars and things did feel murmur of spring on the horizon like as I saw 38 Greylag Geese and a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the lake, both species that are mostly around here in the breeding season. The geese have flown past the house a lot lately.

Two Green Woodpeckers by the bowl was an exciting sight, as was a Snipe dashing through the sky by the allotments to bring the very pleasant walk to an end.

I had a little session with my macro lens on the balcony and in the front garden when home at lunch time to take pictures of a few shots I had in mind, the lovely little yellow flower in the tenth and final picture I took today in this photoset one of them. I also enjoyed seeing some moss in a hanging basket I have long since admired which I took and tweeted a photo of on Dans_Pictures tonight and some vegetation on the ground in the garden. I got intimate views of a Collared Dove from the balcony and took a photo of one in the tree opposite the house which was nice. There was dramatic sky scenery throughout the afternoon too.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: One of my favourite birds the Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Starling, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw well, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greylag Geese, Snipe, Mallard, Moorhen and Coot.

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dansnaturepictures · 4 years

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In continuation of my previous post, here’s the photos on my 2021 landscape and other outdoors calendar from September-December and my 5 reserve photos for this calendar (captioned below in order of appearance in photoset)

September: Kyance Cove, Cornwall, taken in September 2019

Another of my strongest Cornwall photos from last summer I feel, this one was in the tweet with four of my favourite landscape pictures of 2019 in my end of year tweets in December. This for me sums up everything that holiday was about, taken on the day we saw the Brown Booby there a very rare bird (one of the first three ever recorded in the UK in fact) showing that beautiful cliff and beach scenery and that devine shade of blue in the sea with the sun shining. I really liked this photo quality wise and it was always a good bet to make the calendar.

October: Botallack in Cornwall, from September 2019

By contrast this photo taken on our opening day of the Cornwall 2019 holiday in BBC ‘Poldark’ country was rather one of the more unsung photos from that week. It also had perhaps the most interesting journey onto my calendar recently. It was a surprise one that I provisionally qualified earlier on it was at a stage I was pre-qualifying a lot and I sort of did it without too much emotion in the moment or excitement that I’d normally get and did it quite quickly one evening but because I found it to be stronger and stronger than I first thought perhaps. When I was conducting a league thing with just one place on the calendar left and six from 2019 and six from 2020 on by that point by pitting photos against each other and doing a leaderboard I had three strong candidates emerge so in the very final stages of choosing had another think about this one. I initially compared it with the lesser two of those three from the league and displaced this one taking it off the calendar and making it one of my reserve photos for it.

But before I revealed the calendar lineup that day on the first May bank holiday I had another photo, the first one the the reserves now mentioned below which I had pre-qualified early on too and felt didn’t really show enough quality among the other 12 photos I now had in place. So I got it next to the reserve photos and compared it and it just did not look better than this photo which was similar in a way and spectacularly I found myself re-instating this Botallack photo which I felt was stronger and then became a better fit for this calendar as October on it I felt.

An exciting few moments that day, but I am glad this photo is here as its such a memorable one and really showcases what a nice day it was with rain on the way there but the sun subtly poking through and providing an interesting light show over the sea a bit as we opened the trip away and it also showed the nice former mining buildings etc which makes this part of the country look so distinctive I would find.

November: Sunset at Slimbridge WWT from January 2020

This one would just not go away during the aspects of picking that involved comparing photos even though I had many sunset ones on the calendar as I said in the last post. It is a unique and what I feel is a strong sunset picture. A fantastic moment on the eve of my birthday this year and after a brilliant day of birding in this famous and special reserve. Joining my pictures of Bewick’s Swan and Woodpigeon on my 2021 wildlife pictures calendar also at this reserve it highlights just how strong those two days in winter for wildlife and landscape at Slimbridge were for quantity and quality of photos I took on that trip.

December: Whitefield Moor/Holmhill Bog taken December 2019

This photo was taken on my last wildlife/photography trip of 2019 so just a week or so before the Slimbridge one and it was a special day for birds for me as I saw my first Hen Harrier of 2019 to take my year list to the magical 200 for birders figure which my year list ended on. It was also the day that clouds and the sun lowering still quite early in the day made the sky look spectacular throughout the whole walk that Sunday afternoon and it was a real pleasure to witness this scene. One I found a photo I was so proud to take and its one of those I could go years without taking a photo like that again with the way the trees are in shot too. An obvious choice for this calendar too really and to close it.

So my reserves for this calendar in order of appearance in this photoset (the last 5 photos) are; Lymington in July 2019, another one at Pig Bush, New Forest in February 2020, another at Cape Cornwall in September 2019, Warkworth Castle in Northumberland in June 2019 and another at Milkham in the New Forest in March this year.

That brings to an end a very full 12 months of calendar decisions really, it was a challenging one to pick with from June onwards both “shortlists” for my calendars at around 150 photos and more at given times so higher than usual for most of the time with the amount of photos I’m taking and producing per trip going up and up and up. But it was a joy for me to spend hours using different techniques to either pick pictures to go on the calendar or eliminate ones from the race to and was especially such a fun activity in lockdown times when the judging for this always ramps up anyway. Now its time to make the calendars in August/September and have them ready to be my Christmas present once more. All photos that I’ve been taking from early May until now and from here on in in 2020 shall get their chances in my 2022 calendar races with the shortlists for that well under way now. Thanks for all your support for my calendar reveals and photos in general.

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