Another Wainwright off the list for me! A brisk walk up, past some lovely rhododendrons, and up the fell for views across to the Lion and the Lamb, Wetherlam and my favourite Langdales. I'm always a little nervous of taking my main camera out on a potentially rainy day but it was worth it on this occasion and we avoided most of the showers. The top of Steel Fell had a good - if less interesting - view across to Thirlmere but it was the journey back towards Grasmere that had the most amazing weather coming in across from the South. The d850 is so perfect in these lighting situations and so I was so glad to have it for this brooding fell that offered to some lovely moody angles! I couldn't believe how painterly the rain looked in the expanse of sky above the Lion and the Lamb.
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Prize Draw! The results are in! Did you win? Thanks to everyone who took part, especially in the 'Help Me Choose' voting - the most popular cards are now available on my card shop if you want to see if your favourite made the list. I'll be in touch with Kirsty who won theSpring Competition and Jean who won the chocolate bar! Thanks again to all who entered!
Over a series of coffees at Verey's Bookshop in Pooley Bridge, Sarah Newby and I thrashed out what she was looking for in a website and put together something that looks great and is going to be a fantastic resource for her customers. Most people don't need complicated coding and intimidating jargon, when I assist with web design it's really helping people do it themselves by doing it with them! Sarah and I talked through what she needed, she provided the content for the site and I designed and created the pages including the membership areas before handing it over to her. Sarah has such an amazing passion for her people and her profession and it was such a pleasure to go on the website journey with her! Check out here site here.   Which of these should be cards? I love to send and receive cards in the post, and I've loved having some of my photos on Hospice at Home cards (you can pick some of those up in the Carlisle and North Lakeland shops!) I'm in the process of adding six greetings cards to my shop but I'm great difficulty choosing and so I'm calling on you all to help me! The vote is now closed and the winner of the chocolate bar will be announced soon! You can still vote for your favourites or leave me a comment but I'm afraid the chance for chocolate is now gone!!  It's time for our Spring competition! We are giving one of our Sitting Vouchers with a beautiful piece of Wall Art. The Sitting Voucher is for a full portrait sitting at an outdoor location or at the studio. The Wall Art is an impressive 42x15" Frame with five 6x7" Prints as you can see in the pictures taken in my spare room! The winners will be drawn on Monday the 8th of April 2024. The Competition is now closed and was drawn - you can see the results here!The small print - no purchase necessary and the winners will be selected at random. The prize is as described on this post and can't be exchanged. The photo session is to take place in Cumbria so please only enter if you are able to attend or can pass on to someone who can. The frame will need to be collected in person or local delivery as it's too long to post! One entry per person. Winners will be notified once the competition is drawn on the 8th of April 2024. Please contact us for more information.  A couple of years ago, Liz Newport of Buzy Lizzie Garden Design, introduced me to the work of Piet Oudolf and the idea of multi-seasonal gardening. It's something I'm slowly trying to achieve in my own garden and am so eager to capture in others. Having shot some of Liz' gardens in winter, I know how effective the structural shapes and differing colour palette of the colder months can be. With this in mind, last month I headed to Holehird Gardens near Windermere for my first trip of 2024. I'd had the pleasure of a guided walk around the gardens in Spring 2023 and revisited with some areas in mind. I honed in on a few plants and here are the results! MAGNOLIA Stellata - I love magnolia blooms but this was the first time photographing their catkins. What a stunning winter display. MORINA Afghanica - When I saw the architectural structure of this plant, I thought I recognised it as the Chelsea favourite from a couple of years ago, Phlomis. I'd shot a couple of Phlomis in a beautiful Bea Ray designed garden in summer-time and thought I'd correctly identified this plant. When I came to look at the designation on the helpful signs at Holehird I was surprised to see that it was a completely different family (though both Asterids) and not what I was expecting. Another example of how interesting it can be to leave your plants as winter homes for wildlife and a visual feast for you! The position of the Morina at Holehird is especially lovely with either the waters of Windermere or the winding paths of the gardens behind. ASTILBE - Holehird is home to the National Collection of Astilbes. I've yet to visit when they are in full bloom but I can't say how much I loved watching their forms sway in the wind with a great depth and breadth of russet tones. ORNAMENTAL GRASSES - On my way out as the light was properly beginning to disappear, I spent a moment looking out towards Windermere through these beauties. I couldn't find a black label for all of them but there's definitely some Miscanthus sinensis 'Yaku-jima' in the mix there!
 A tiny January wander up Gowbarrow. Not a proper summit for me this time (and not quite as dramatic as Hartsop above How the other day!) but what a treat to see the snow-topped fells - stunning!
Over a number of years, it's been my pleasure to work alongside the team at Meals on Wheels Cumbria to highlight what they offer for the community. From helping them with their website to capturing photographs and film, it's always great to celebrate and promote the work that they do. If you are looking for a hot meal and a little extra contact during the week for yourself or a family member, do get in touch with them at mealsonwheelscumbria.org. Whilst I can't provide smell-o-vision (the food looked and smelt amazing!!) you can hear from the team, volunteers and customers themselves on the film we made at the end of 2023:
I do love an up-hill wander - not because I love exercise (I really don't) but because I love fresh-air, being in nature and seeing the amazing views that are other-wise out of reach from ground-level. I know not everyone can live around here or is in a position to walk up the fells themselves, so here are a couple of my shots from a recent trip up Hartsop above How with my fell-buddy and Mum, Ruth. Wainwright say 'there is no better place for appraising the ruggedness of the eastern crags' and he's not wrong! I'm notching up my Wainwright fells but there's still a long way to go yet! In autumn 2023, I popped across to a beautiful listed Cumbria building in Penruddock that's been restored into stunning holiday accommodation Old United Reformed Church. Like the post from a couple of months ago, this property has tons of style and a fantastic atmosphere. From the wooden panelling, front door with inscribed handle, pews and tall ceilings to the remnants of it's past life as a chapel that decorate the rooms, there's history and character written all over it! It's a pleasure to work with local businesses to help capture what makes them special. Photos tell a story and these ones tell of many happy holidays for many people! There's a tiny bit of the footage from the shoot above and a selection of my favourite photos below. Do visit the Old URC's website at: www.theoldurc.com if you are looking for accommodation (or inspiration!) in Cumbria and get in touch if you have a property you'd like to photograph. |
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