A New Lake to Visit — Weston Turville

On the last visit to my nearest lake, Marston Lake, I met a man who mentioned two others that may well be worth a visit, one at Clayton, and the one I chose to visit first, which was at Weston Turville, which looked very promising as parking close by seemed to be achievable. So on a very warm and sunny Good Friday, I set off in hope. My SatNav however, possibly due to an overload of families heading off for the Bank Holiday weekend, was definitely not being at its most helpful, and the lags meant that on several occasions, it was so slow in informing me of direction changes, I missed several vital turnings, resulting in various diversions to get back on course. It was not however a bad omen.

Initially, so that I had a good idea of the location, I took only one camera, the 7D MkII with the 24-70mm lens so that I could cover the ground speedily to get some idea of the layout, and I travelled a good distance to reach the farthest reach of the lake and to the canal beyond, which was the Wendover arm of the Grand Union Canal, at Halton.

This walk provided me with further signs of the new season, with its fresh young leaves emerging all around, after I had made various detours to reach the lakeside and get an indication of numerous possible vantage points, that might prove useful, I headed back to the car to get a tripod, the Benbo, and the longer lens, the Sigma 60-600mm Sports lens on the EOS R body. With the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, I should also have picked up the 1.4x Converter. Initially, I tried setting two the tripod’s legs in the water, hoping to remain really low, but there was no satisfactory way I could get a convenient height, so erected it on the Bank instead. For quite a while after having spotted a lone Grebe in the distance, he never came particularly close, which was a shame; had I taken along the Converter, it would have been a considerable advantage — next time!

It was good to wind down as for various reasons, the last couple of weeks have been stressful, so much of the time was spent observing and hoping, and my patience was rewarded by the Grebe coming very slightly closer, but the ‘pièce de resistence’ was the Swan making a noisy flapping from the far end of the lake and heading straight towards me! It alerted me, and I managed to twist around and fire off a few shots before he came in to land. I was so pleased, that it rounded off the afternoon, and I immediately packed everything up, and headed very happily back to the car. Once all the kit was safely packed, I headed home, very happy, and I hope what I captured makes anyone viewing the gallery equally as pleased with the end result.

Stockwood Early Spring 2015

I had learned that Spring had erupted in the warmth of the last few days at the Stockwood Discovery Centre Gardens, so I headed there before my planned trip to handover the last quarter’s accounts to my accountant in Ampthill.

It proved to be a fruitful visit as the blossom on the trees had also awakened the first of the season’s pollinators as well. I also heard some promising news on the house front, so was able to arrange a visit to sign the first of the documents at the Solicitors; the ball is now rolling and now one of my next conversations will be with a Removals company to get a quote.

Back to the days pictures, I was taken aback at how so much has appeared in the last few days as on my last visit I was definitely having to search carefully, such was not the case this afternoon I was spoiled for choice.

I was using the 7D MkII with the 90mm Tamron Macro and one reason was so that I could take advantage of its onboard flash to fill in the shadows occasionally when the sun was casting too harsh a light.

A father, also a Canon shooter, was teaching his young son the intricacies of taking shots of flowers and leaves – I mouthed: “Start them young” to the mother as I passed, and she smiled as she acknowledged my comment. Later I met up with Jan who let me into the greenhouse once again, so I took a few shots there in Sauna conditions despite her opening some of the windows. She asked me to lock up when I had finished, but the lock was so well-concealed I had to text her that I could not find it! Fortunately she came back and located it – there’s nothing like a blind photographer! As we walked back to the Fernery, she took a look on the camera screen at some of what I had taken and seemed happy with what I had captured.

Stockwood Exclusive Viewing

Today the weather was decidedly inclement; drizzly and grey, and I was meeting a friend introduced by Priti, wife of another local photographer. I arrived early for the appointment, in order to see what I could find of interest in the new season’s plantings. I knew it was challenging with such a paucity of light, but an advantage sometimes with very flat lighting, is that it can be ideal to bring out the beauty in flowers. Having droplets of rain can also add a certain je ne sais quoi.

I strolled through to the very far end by a circuitous route, taking stock of the possibilities before opening the camera bag to bring out a camera, and drew up outside the long greenhouse housing the succulents and vines, but on the locked door was an explanatory sign as to why it was closed. Nearby there was a plant that took my interest and also there was a bench where I could rest the bag, so I took out my 100mm Macro on the EOS5D body, set it up for an aperture of f/9 at 640 ISO and as I chose the shot I wanted, I was distracted by a small group of visitors, and then, heard a hail from beyond – it was Sue; of bird-feeding fame, one of the leading gardeners, who greeted me warmly and asked was I interested in her opening up for me. I thanked her, welcoming the opportunity, and soon was inside, much warmer, and out of the drizzle! How could I possibly refuse?

We chatted as she inspected some of the exhibits for insect nasties and doing a bit of dead-heading also pointing out possible subjects as we chatted, and I explained my choice of venue, and that I was meeting someone. When my phone alarm sounded, I told her I had better hurry up with the last few shots and make my way to the restaurant. I bade her farewell to lock up and continue her rounds, and once back in the dry of the restaurant, I spent the last few minutes before the allotted time, looking through the shots – ‘chimping’! Helen soon arrived and we chatted for some time over her Americano and my tea, and in that time she met no fewer than three separate groups of people she knew. Just before we left, Sue knocked on the window, and it turned out – they knew each other! The last couple we met as we all headed for the entrance, turned out to be an Alan and Pauline, Alan is in the Building Trade, which was indeed fortuitous, as I am likely to need help in that direction as make the house more saleable – handy indeed. Altogether, a very productive afternoon undampened by the gloomy weather!

Stockwood Discovers Signs of Spring

I knew that the sun was not due out till the afternoon, and that I might well have my desk clear by then, so I followed up on my emails and telephoning and by half past two I was able to grab my cameras and lenses and pay a visit to the Stockwood Discovery Centre. I had spoken to one of the gardeners, Jan, and she had mentioned that the hellebore were out. I spotted some other attractive leaved plants, and later walked through to the lawn and was amazed at how many squirrels were gambolling around on the ground and over the several park benches.

I decided that I would put out some small piles of peanuts on the stones in the centre, but managed to catch my hand and sprayed almost the entire contents of my container into the air! Any animals or birds were due a bonanza, and completely unintentionally. I then walked away to see whether my beneficence was to be rewarded by attracting the squirrels, however only one came to the feast, and there was no way that one was going to broadcast the news to others, and for a long while it was alone. I took a few shots then strolled off and in flew a pair of magpies, and also a couple of crows, so I turned my lens on them, before retreating again.

Later I wandered slowly to the exit, and managed to find a couple of smaller birds before spotting the magpies again in the central area, and one was now scavenging amongst the bark paths for suitable nest-building material. Altogether a very satisfactory afternoon in cool spring sunshine.

Catching Up with Developments at Foresters

The start of the day was forecast as being misty, with a slight chance of brightening in the afternoon, but it was a week since I had visited the Jarvis and Toureen Mangan development just off High Street Harpenden, so after a check with a colleague living at the far side of the town, I gathered my kit and set forth.

After only a short while, the sun shyly appeared with a milky appearance, so maybe all those working here were righteous! So that was indeed a pleasant surprise, and it soon mean that many of the tradesmen out in the sun began shedding outer garments and the guard rails became coat hangers!

The structures were taking shape, and areas previously used for storage were now being excavated, and the spoil being removed by the lorry load. Also with the basement floor nearing completion, this meant that this could now become a secure area from the worst of the weather.

I have tried to convey several of the different activities taking place, so the chronology is not strictly correct, but to gain a complete idea of what was taking place it meant choosing different viewpoints. One person cannot be in more than one place at a time, so if a task was being repeated, I would return later to capture the missing angles, so a more complete story emerges. The other aspect was this meant the lighting was vastly different, and in photographic terms this meant shooting at 200 ISO outside to 4000 ISO in the basement area, and shutter speeds outside might vary for trying to show movement using slower speeds at one moment and stopping motion at others. This was challenging, and I have to own up, I did make mistakes as a result!

As I left the site, I then found that not only had the sun come out, but so had the crocuses. Spring may soon arrive!

Sunday Spring Colour

Spring finally arrives in central England, so Sunday brought more people out into the country. I took the opportunity to visit Wilstone Reservoir for a change, parking close to Wilstone Cemetery, but the wildlife had been up early and avoided human contact!

I then went to Grantchester and Linton to enjoy some quiet time with my elder daughter at Linton C of E Primary school where she teaches, to help her tidy the classroom for the onslaught when the children return after the Easter break. Here is a small gallery of the colour I found that day.

Easter Sunday, Caddington-2010

After so many grey days and drizzle, Easter Sunday seemed like the first day of Spring – not bad when nearly a week after the official British Summer Time! I had hoped to have mown the lawn on the Saturday, but circumstances conspired against that happening, so after watching Sebastian Vettel win the Malaysian Grand Prix, and Lewis Hamilton come from twentieth to sixth, I was in the mood to mow the lawns back and front. Moss hardly constitutes a lawn, I suppose there must be some grass, but what I kept emptying into the bin did not suggest there was much! I also added Budleia branches from earlier trimming.

With the sun being blown from behind clouds every so often, I took out my new 100mm Macro with its Image Stabilisation for its first serious outing and added the 1.4x converter to give me greater length and took a walk through Caddington village to see what I could capture of the first tentative signs of Spring, it was rewarding, not the least because of those I met as much as the shots I took.

I am hoping that tomorrow has some sun to give me another chance.

A Quick Visit to Stockwood Park

Spring has yet to come, but it has not prevented the efforts of those behind the scenes from preparing Stockwood Discovery Centre for visitors. Even though the sun was somewhat shy, it did not prevent families from bringing their children to play amongst the various attractions, such as clambering a giant Spider’s Web. The beds were all extremely tidy and had been weeded, and with lots of fresh bark chippings laid. A few snowdrops, pansies and primrose or primula were to be seen, together with beautifully trimmed low hedges in elaborate scrolls.

When the warm sun comes, I am certain this effort will be crowned with an abundance of colour to reward all those who have toiled over the last few cold, grey weeks.

I cannot recommend a visit to this centre enough; it is a true gem, and all who work here should be very proud of their achievement.

Tentative Spring

After our short spell with snow on the ground, a few brighter days have arrived, and with them the first stirrings of Spring. I took the opportunity to see what my camera and I could find, and was pleasantly surprised.

Before coming across nature rising to the call, I noticed that human activity was evident – hedge-laying, so took some record shots of this ancient activity, and subsequently have noticed several other instances of this procedure, and have learnt that techniques vary across the country and are often regionally specific and named after their counties of origin.

I soon came across catkins, buds, crocuses and snowdrops – enough to show a small gallery to mark the awakening of the countryside from Winter.