Rydal Water, Lake District, Spring
The Lake District is known for many things.
The Lake District is known for many things.
Its lakes, of course. The fells. All the valleys. But also William Wordsworth, who was born in Cockermouth and called the Lake District home for much of his life. It was in the Lake District, wandering along the shores of Ullswater, that Wordsworth took inspiration from the plethora of daffodils along the lake’s shoreline, which ultimately resulted in his most famous poem, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”.
Conscious that the end of daffodil season was approaching, Lisabet and I embarked on a wee circuit around Rydal Water, which I knew to be home to plenty of daffodils. It did not disappoint. Spring is here.
On a separate note, this is also the last set of images taken on my trusty Fujifilm X-T2. With my 40th birthday fast approaching, my Dad did the unthinkable and got me a friggin’ camera for my birthday! A Sony α7ii. Full-frame goodness, here we go.
These photos were taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm f2.8–3.8 zoom and Laowa 9mm f2.8 prime lenses. RAWs developed in Capture One for iPad, then edited and finalised in Affinity Photo 2 for iPad.
Around Rydal Water there are plenty of areas to choose from when it comes to picking out daffodils for compositions. After one failed attempt behind a bench where I went slip-sliding in the mud, I found this wee clump of yellow beauties and lined up a photo.
Lovely golden light slithers across the rolling fields and the Grasmere fells above.
Below Loughrigg Terrace, a dilapidated barn provides a nice subject looking back to the Ambleside fells.
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Kendal Fell, Cumbria, Spring
The daffodils have arrived!
The daffodils have arrived!
Spring is in the air, so I decided a local wander was in order to see how spring was progressing. I was delighted to see daffodils blossoming here and there, but the other side of the coin was seeing the damage this winter’s storms had done to Serpentine Woods.
Thankfully, after the morning’s rain had cleared, the sun was bright and the fells were clear of clouds, making for tasty views from above Kendal. I’ll taken living here for granted.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my three prime lenses: a Fujinon 23mm f/2.0, a Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Images developed using RNI Films’ Velvia 100F film profile.
The neighbour’s daffodils are all blossoming beautifully.
Lovely light on the Kendal clock tower, with the Ukrainian flag flying high.
Looking back down what might well be Kendal’s steepest road: Beast Banks.
Lovely to see the daffodils out, although they are a week or so early.
You’re never short of a good view around Kendal.
The daffodils near this cottage haven’t quite made it yet.
I came off the road and up into Serpentine Woods. Immediately, the scenes I see inform me that I haven’t been into Serpentine Woods since this winter’s storms. Trees down everywhere.
The way through the woods to Kendal Fell.
One of my favourite spots in Serpentine Woods, now with significantly fewer trees.
The best bench in Kendal, in my view.
Above the town, it’s easy to pick out the details and smaller scenes, and zoom in on them.
You know what I’m like with drystone walls…
See?
Life, finds a way…
Heading back down Beast Banks and the beautiful views it offers.
I came off Beast Banks early to trundle through Collin Croft. In its heyday during the mid to late 19th century, Collin Croft would have been home to a whole host of tradesmen, including printers, tobacconists, a brass foundry, an iron foundry, a whitesmith, joiners, coal merchants, bell hangers, nail makers, cabinet makers, chair men, bobbin makers, armourers and many more.