Sunny BrogLake

          The Lake at Brogborough again sees some action, as Sunshine and Wind favours the Sailors. The overall activity this year seems to have resulted in a level of calm, possibly allowing Time to savour the opportunity to enjoy the moments for longer.
          I had made the decision to use my Lumix camera on this occasion, which also offered the opportunity to work without the camera being mounted on a tripod. I am trying to weigh up the freedom from the fixed viewpoint against the response speed between the two very different cameras (my Canon which with its far weightier body and lenses, always mounted on a sturdy tripod, versus the featherweight Lumix with its zoom lens permanently attached to the body.) The major difference, beyond the obvious weight variance, is the burst rate – my Canon is faster! But, when the light is bright as on this occasion, the freedom from the tripod is welcome.
          I did not have long to wait before Sam, with his Kite Sail had taken advantage of the wind, to take to the air! But this was ‘a blink, and you missed it’ moment, rather than sustained flight! Later a pair of Geese flew over, and were able to display their ability to easily maintain grace when in flight, though their effort expended at Takeoff was more energetic! Almost immediately after spotting the pair of Geese, the sky celebrated by displaying a rainbow against the darkening sky. Turning my gaze away from the Lake at that point allowed me to catch a group chatting, before I brought my eye back to what was happening on the Lake.
          A few more were now making their way back onto the water, and once again in the lulls between obvious activity, I was again taking opportunities to capture Clouds; one of my endless fascination at their various forms, as anyone visiting my blog will probably already have noted!
          As numbers on the Lake dwindled, I realised that the time had come for me to head back, I am sorry that it has taken so long for these shots to appear on the blog, but as I have occasionally said before; Life has supervened!

BrogLake Windsurfers Return

          Brogborough Lake has lacked the life of past seasons due to the Corona Virus situation, so to visit in sunshine and wind, was an opportunity not to be missed. As I approached the lake’s Windsurfers Car Park, I did wonder whether it was even open, however, as I turned right in the entrance, I was relieved to find there was a fair number of cars, and numerous people; some already in their wetsuits and, as I parked up by the trees ahead of me, I caught a quick glimpse of one sailor on the Lake!

          I had worried unnecessarily. I felt as relaxed as all those who were chatting in small groups by many of the cars. Instead of hastily getting my camera ready, I locked the car and headed for the water’s edge to see just how much activity was on the water — less than five I surmised, so now I did return and remove the soft cover of the camera, and turned the dial from its high ISO set from l the grassy area, and then went down to the water’s edge to be as low as possible to make the sails look taller in the next shots I envisaged taking.

           Right on cue, one Surfer headed straight towards me and was so close I clipped the very top of his mast. That was so keen for someone to head for me, he just had to make the Headline picture! In my haste to try to make up for my recent issues with getting these images up in good time, I seem eminently capable of making other mistakes as well. I spotted one too late to resolve, please forgive me.

Gt Barford Trip & Chopper

          Always a good sign when the sun is up early, so a quick shot of my breakfast toast seemed appropriate, as I had just been checking the camera settings and the sun fell on my toast, and later decided it was available to make up the numbers of images to fill discreet pages in the gallery.
          My destination by the long bridge over the meandering River Gt. Ouse was fortuitous, as I had certainly not expected to be later featuring a small private helicopter to be landing so close to where I was! But, I am getting ahead of myself, I had set off initially to capture the Spring blossom and the landscape adjacent to the river. The cloudless sky with its rich blue can often be less interesting than either towering Cumulus clouds or fast-scudding small puffy ones, but it proved to be the ideal backdrop for a tree bare of its natural leaves, but with a mass of clinging ivy to its trunk.
          The weir was in full flow and the bright sun was again fortuitous in giving crisp texture to the frothy water cascading beneath the walkway that was such a contrast to the calm water surface before the drop, that barely disturbed the reflection of the Red Emergency Lifebelt on the far side. The shadows cast by the sun accentuated the various shapes of the railing; the ridges to aid good grip when operating the lock gates, and the string of green buoys to capture hazardous floating branches and the like. It was pure serendipity that a lone gull should fly into frame to add extra interest. And as if to add further interest to the bland blue sky another gull flew in to draw attention away from the flat top of the Cedar! Perhaps the gulls arrival drew a group of passers-by to ascertain whether the gulls meant this spot was a good one for human Anglers?
          Close by a currently, very stark tree set back from the river bank by a narrow green sward stood a tower that I presumed might be a test for climbers with a viewing platform at its top. The trees by the bridge were typically stark for this early season and made even more so by the cloudless sky! And a man was exercising his dog by playing Fetch and throwing a stick into the river. Then as if on cue, a boating couple paddled slowly by and seemed to acknowledge my recording their efforts! As did a braver man who stood upright on his far steadier wide paddleboard.
          My further observations of this stretch of the river captured the stark wreck of an abandoned blue, decidedly Off road vehicle and further on an even sadder sight of a seriously damaged memorial stone to some loved, passed parents at presumably their favoured spot for watching the Wood and River Life from a roofed bench.
          At this early season of the year, when the sun is shining, it brings out the textures with its harsh light, of tilled fields and stark, leafless trees and gnarled bark. And then as it looked as if I had finally run out of subjects of interest for my camera, I hear the light sound of a small helicopter approaching to land! What a splendid way to finish my day’s shooting. I hope it gives as much pleasure to those who follow my blog; all the action took place correctly chronologically, with only early mention of the helicopter providing a teaser, being out of place timewise!

Short Nearby Spring Walk

          It is a difficult time to be out and about with a camera with dull weather prevailing, but I have tried to get out as much as possible, taking the Lumix camera along to capture images that appeal whilst walking in the nearby wood.
          There is a wind, and every so often there are signs of the clouds thinning and brightening; on this occasion as I crossed the road and headed for the path that skirts the fields and follows the course of the stream, I was able to capture the blues, golds and whites of some early Spring flowers in the gardens that front the road out of the village, heading towards the Forest Centre. After the last house, I enter the path that skirts the School and Parish Church, Catkins hang like golden jewels, swaying gently in the light breeze. Some leaves that once were dark blue-green are now fringed in deep red. Others are striped in green and shades of varying, rich red shades. I also spot a cluster of what appear to be Pigeon feathers, suggesting a fight of some sort, and then disappointingly, a thoughtlessly discarded group of empty Vodka bottles!
          Further along the path, I capture the subtle, early stages of fresh buds and leaves before a square concrete column topped with a central golden cluster of lichen and as I leave the cover of the path, in the middle distance a flock of birds searching the field for grubs and seeds.