Brining Photography Weblog

Haven't Been to the Blog Recently!

I've been extremely, unforgivably, almost unaccountably lax with updating this blog recently for which I apologise to those who frequent these pages on anything more than a casual or accidental basis.

In part things have been busy over the past few months with a couple of other projects that are on the go, but also I have to confess to being a slightly reluctant blogger. There always seems to be a more pressing task or engagement which calls for my time over sitting at the computer searching for words to add some meaning to the accompanying photographs.

Thus, there are several posts featured below that all appear in one mad outpouring rather than as timely ditties published as close to when they actually happened as is humanly possible.

Perhaps I flatter myself that anyone actually notices (or indeed cares) but in these days of Facebook, Twitter, Flickr etc where it seems every moment of one's life needs to be immediately documented I feel guilty if several jobs go by without letting the World know about it.

So.... enjoy the following posts whilst I slip off to make some lunch. Who knows, I may even Tweet or Twat or whatever later to inform the information-hungry masses what that consisted of.

A Weekend in Wales

As a departure from commercial photography, it was a pleasure to just use the camera to take some personal (and stock!) photos whilst away for a weekend in Wales. 

We stayed at the wonderful Penpont estate which is in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park and adjacent to the River Usk. The estate comprises a sixteenth-century Grade I listed building and self-catering courtyard wing which can sleep up to 14 people. The magnificent and extensive grounds incorporate tennis courts, a maze, a walled garden, a rose garden, the river and sweeping lawns large enough to swing several cats. Congenial hosts Gavin and Davina (Vina) Hogg, the present owners, were hugely welcoming and relaxed about their beautiful home being invaded by a motley crew of 12 adults, 2 children and a dog.

During our stay we walked, climbed, drank, ate (enormously!) and generally relaxed and just enjoyed the surroundings. Highly recommended!

 

No, the band at the top of the image isn't a badly placed graduated filter - the cloud really was like that!

Snowy Walk

After the recent, nationwide, snowfall we all seemed to have experienced to varying degrees, what better way to enjoy it than to go for a walk in it with the dog. Well, to name but one, stay in and look at it through the window with a cup of coffee perhaps. But not today. The dog (Jack) has to be walked no matter what the weather - or is this just a fallacy? Do dogs actually look at bad weather and think they'd rather not bother but only go out because they feel they have to for the owner's sake? Who knows? Anyway, we both set out the other morning for a tramp around our favourite fields newly enveloped in their crisp white duvet.

Unfortunately there was no sun, just a leaden sky which made for very monotone views with the vast swathes of whiteness only punctuated by the stark blackness of trees and hedges. The lack of any footprints in the virgin snow showed that most other people (and dogs) had elected to enjoy the snow using Method B - i.e. through the window with a cup of coffee.

The black and whiteness of the scene did make for a couple of nice images  though, which I've included below along with one of Jack who always seems oblivious to weather, surroundings, people, dogs etc. and only wants to run after his ball. No problem normally but today there were many occasions involving copious sniffing and digging to locate it buried in the snow.

After about an hour of being slowly frozen from the feet up, we returned to the warmth and continued to enjoy the snow looking out of the window with a cup of coffee (and bowl of water)

Jack, with ball

Happy New Year!

A rather belated Happy New Year wish to all clients, customers and casual browsers! I hope the Christmas period was a good one for you and that recent woes about the state of the economy and the country generally could be put aside for a few days.

Let's hope that 2009 can be a better year for us all.

BATSFORD ARBORETUM

Probably the only 'benefit' of the eternal rain we experienced over the summer is the magnificent autumn colours we're currently enjoying, and some of the most spectacular of these can be found at Batsford Arboretum.

Situated just outside the Cotswold town of Moreton-in-Marsh, the Arboretum has 'fifty six acres of magical walks' with a variety of arboreal delights, including giant redwoods, The Duke's Cypress, bamboos, blue cedars and a handkerchief tree - definitely not one to be sneezed at.

Other interesting features in the grounds include a Japanese Rest House, a bomb crater, various sculptures and a larger than life Buddha who also seemed to be suffering from the 'credit crunch' as a few previous visitors had kindly donated some of their spare cash in his hand.

More information can be found at the Batsford Arboretum website and a few images from our delightful afternoon's visit are shown below.