Scout Scar, Lake District, Spring
2022 has been fuckin’ wild so far.
2022 has been fuckin’ wild so far.
But finally, things are a bit happier. Family members that had been in hospital for separate issues are now home and recuperating.
It’s been stressful, and there have been somber conversations.
Let’s hope the 2nd half of 2022 improves.
We’ve got my Better Half’s sister staying with us for a while. She, too, is a photographer, and considerably more established and talented than me. Today, the sun rose and a glorious spring/summer’s day was upon us. We all, keenly, felt the need to be out in nature. What better way than to explore our own back garden as it were? Up to Scout Scar we go!
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my three prime lenses and a new lens (more on that further in the post): a Fujinon 23mm f/2.0, a Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Developed in Lightroom, finished in Affinity Photo.
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Brigsteer Park, Lake District, Spring
I wanted to see a lot of bluebells one last time for this year.
I wanted to see a lot of bluebells one last time for this year.
A work colleague tipped me off about Brigsteer Park, a woodland south of its village namesake, Brigsteer. The village sits underneath Scout Scar, and there’s a surprising amount of woodland underneath this fell.
So, Lisabet and I parked up at Helsington St. John’s Church and plotted a route down the fell slope, through a Bee Reserve and into Brigsteer Park for a ruddy good exploration.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using two of my prime lenses: a Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Images developed using RNI Films’ Kodachrome film profiles.
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Serpentine Woods, Cumbria, Spring
There’s a lot going on right now.
There's a lot going on right now.
So, with another glorious spring day on the horizon, Lisabet and I booted up for a hike up the fellside of Kendal into Serpentine Woods.
In my opinion, Serpentine Woods looks its best at this time of year compared to any other. That's because the woods are filled with wild garlic, Allium ursinum. Around the middle of May the wild garlic produces a carpet of beautifully delicate white flowers and fills the air with the delicious scent of garlic.
Beyond the woods, Kendal looked spectacular in its greenery. Nature's restorative powers are not to be dismissed.
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 made 90% in-camera, with finalising in Affinity Photo.
High Pike, Lake District, Spring
There’s more to the Northern Fells of the Lake District than meets the eye.
There's more to the Northern Fells of the Lake District than meets the eye.
Nearing the end of our May break, and after having enjoyed the delights of Dash Falls, Lisabet and I decided that a reasonably high climb was in order.
Thankfully we had assistance! A former work colleague of mine turned good friend, Kate, lives in Northern Cumbria and is fell acquainted with the Northern Fells. After a coffee and a catch up, she guided us to a good parking area and we set off up the fell.
The Northern Fells really put me in mind of the Howgills: rolling, smooth hills with deep scarred valleys. Our goal for the day was to summit High Pike (658 m/2,159 ft), and in places the going was pretty steep. However, the views from the top are exquisite.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using two of my prime lenses: a Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Images converted in Lightroom, then edited in Affinity Photo.
Dash Falls, Lake District, Spring
Here’s another place I’ve been meaning to explore for ages.
Here's another place I've been meaning to explore for ages.
The Northern Fells of the Lake District are dominated by two champions: Skiddaw and Blencathra, the 6th and 18th highest mountains in England respectively. These fells make up a wall of peaks at the southern end of the Northern Fells, looming directly over Keswick and Threlkeld.
There are, however, numerous fells and valleys behind Skiddaw and Blencathra, and by comparison these fells see little footfall. On the western side of the Northern Fells, nestled in between the Uldale fells and the Back o' Skidda is the Dash Valley. At the head of this valley drops a rather spectacular waterfall, Dash Falls, also sometimes called Whitewater Dash waterfall. Rather than being one single drop, these falls take the form of a series of steep cascades from the head of Dash valley to the valley floor.
Though the day was relatively overcast, the scenes were no less epic. Happily, there were also plenty of Herdwicks about!
All photos taken 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' Kodachrome film profile.
Allonby Bay, Cumbria, Spring
We’re taking a week’s break in Western Cumbria.
We're taking a week's break in Western Cumbria.
After arriving at the accommodation near Wigton, meeting the owners, and settling in, we decided an evening stroll at nearby Allonby Bay was in order.
Allonby's a small coastal village on the western coast of Cumbria, roughly halfway between Maryport and Silloth. It's an unassuming place, once home to a small fishing fleet. Nowadays, knowing tourists can come off the main roads to find this little treasure near the Solway coast and its amazing views across the Solway Firth towards the Galloway mountains in Scotland.
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' Agfa RSX II 200 film profile.