Learning, Laughter and a Spa Day; The Best Medicine!

 After a busy period of weddings and photo shoots, it was nice to return to my first love - nature.

When the rain finally stopped, I grabbed my camera and we headed to one of our favourite walking destinations, Kinver Edge.  We are spoilt for choice when it comes to this diverse area of National Trust managed land.  On the day in question, we took a less well trodden path, passing through woodland, wildflower meadows and a biodynamic farm.  

There will always be those who demonise photo editing, but I always argue that it's an important part of the process.  Technically, cropping an image constitutes editing but no one would complain about that if the alternative was a stray foot or bystander's head.  I believe that we all see things differently and editing can be used to enhance a mood and better convey to the viewer the feeling that scene evoked in the mind of the photographer.  There are also times when a raw and honest portrait is the preferred option.  Each to their own.

So, without further ado, here are some photos from that day.  For these images, I wanted a slightly yellowed film photo aesthetic which I created using my own textures.

Rowan berries...said to ward off witchcraft and enchantment.  Why the negativity?

Mullein.

Chicken!  (Leghorn?)

Well hello!

Chicory.

Something's afoot...

Spotted!

Like cats, cattle are curious creatures.

Buddleia. 

Barley and Mr Blue Sky.

Given that I seem to be constantly inspired by film photography, I thought it was about time I properly dipped my toe into it again.  Gareth recently picked up a boxed Kodak Ektar camera in a charity shop for a fiver and so it accompanied me on a day trip to the beautiful city of Bath.  

The Kodak is a small, retro looking, fixed focus plastic camera with an optical acrylic lens.  

It's a half frame camera, meaning that the developed photos would effectively feature two photos on one.  I therefore carefully considered my photos when taking them, considering which subjects and scenes would work together pleasingly.  In the event, my elected film processor, DS Colour Labs, used a purpose built half frame scanner to develop the film and so each photo was separated.

Bath was built for pleasure and relaxation and has been a wellbeing destination since Roman times.  The ancient Roman Baths attract tourists from all over the world, but it has so much more to offer, from independent shops to a remarkable collection of museums, galleries, year round festivals, theatre, music, eateries and watering holes, all nestled within the stunning Somerset countryside.

The photo results were interesting.  For such a small, inexpensive camera, I was expecting the signature grain, but really loved the depth of field offered by the fixed f/9.5 aperture and the gorgeous golden stone architecture of Bath really worked well in partnership with this camera.  

It also happened to be graduation day...

...and I was quite happy with the slightly abstract nature of this shot, taken as I stalked this graduate - in his cap and gown - through the crowds.

Naturally there were errors.  Shooting with film obviously comes with some limitations.  Even though there was an extra unwanted photo bomber to the right of this photo, I didn't want to waste another shot on this scene, so he stayed.

It also wasn't great in low light (100 ISO), as evidenced by this indoor market photo taken at a vintage brooch stand (apologies Ann!)

Still, I like a challenge and already have another roll of film ready to pop in.  Plus, I was glad I used my first roll on this memorable, but curtailed sun-soaked visit, because we'll be spending a fair bit of time here in the next few years, as our son embarks on a new chapter of student life:  The Uni Years.  

After a year out, he's had time to reflect on his deferred place on a course at Aberystwyth University and decided that it wasn't for him.  Instead, he's chosen to answer a more creative calling and has secured a place at Bath Spa, a university known for its creative courses.  The decision to apply to study in Bath was cemented on this bus trip back to our car.

This was a huge relief to us all.  After a stressful period of uncertainty, it's good to feel that the path ahead has suddenly come into sharp focus.  

And so, we felt we deserved a comedy night at local comedy circuit fixture, Katie Fitzgerald's, just down the road in Stourbridge. We popped along to see comedian Mark Simmons honing and perfecting his act in readiness for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  

Located in "Katie's Secret Garden" we had a delightful Sunday evening.  Katie Fitzgerald's is a music and comedy venue and easily identified by the wall art on the side of the building.

Photos weren't permitted inside, which I hadn't planned on in any event, as the magical courtyard garden was worth capturing.  It reminded us of Edinburgh Fringe's quirky venues (we were regulars back in the day) and helped ease the pain of missing out on the real thing.

Mark Simmons is a master of the one liner and we had a blast.  We benefited from his act in a pretty unique way, in that he had a clipboard in hand throughout and would occasionally ask the audience for input: e.g. "Does this one work better?" or  "Ah, from your reaction, I can see that one needs more work.  I might drop that one." 

Hailing from Folkestone, Mark was blown away by his experience of the Black Country and our unique dialect, which he was at pains to understand, but eventually admitted defeat.  At one point, he jokingly accused the audience of collectively conspiring against him, as he struggled to get a handle on the simple fact that "Arr" means "Yes" in these parts.  Asking for other examples, an audience member talked him through a snippet of conversation overheard at her place of work: "You'd know if I had a cob on cock." It really isn't obscene.  Roughly translated, it means "You would know if I was in a bad mood, my dear."   Mutual fascination.  Like music, comedy is so unifying.  I wish every Sunday night could be like this.

Watchful Eyes

One of last weekend's walks was also a recce for an upcoming photo shoot.  Nanny's Rock is an unrestored rock house carved into the local sandstone.  It's a magical place and one of those rare "wild" tourist attractions, in that you can climb inside it, touch it and peer through the numerous empty window remains.  

There are also five "rooms" to explore.  In the centre, is a chimney known as "devil's chimney".  The anti-Christ reference derives from the speculation and suspicion surrounding its former inhabitant, who has been described variously as a herbalist, potion maker and white witch.  With few records to go on, Nanny's Rock is also known as Meg o'Fox Hole - a possible reference to an inhabitant known as Margaret, who died in 1617 - the era of witch hunting.

Incidentally, I have just finished reading The Mercies, referenced in a recent blog.  It's a wonderful read, set in Norway, also at the time of the witch trials.  The subject matter is harrowing but the relationships between the female protagonists is exquisite and sensitively written.

Over time, countless visitors have etched their mark into Nanny's Rock, making for an intricate visual display adorning every inch of the interior sandstone walls.  

Everywhere you stand, there are eyes upon you.

With the boy starting his work experience at the Rock Houses this week, I must point out the sedimentary lines (he's a Geology student) and suggest that we should refrain from carving into sandstone.  Many of these engravings are vintage though, I'm sure...and vintage is OK in my book.

Woody's love remains a mystery, the name now illegible.  

Heading slightly further afield, we passed through a clearing dominated by spectacular beech trees...

and onto Vale Head Farm.  I have blogged about this farm before Winter Peach Photography: Pinky and Perky.  Now, there are some new pigs on the block.  Here is one blissfully happy Gloucester Old Spot saddleback pig.  Courtesy of Instagram, I am reliably informed by artist and green woodworker Harry Samuel, that this happy soul originates from his farm. 

I captured this handsome fellow just before he made his frantic, noisy departure. 

The chickens were basking in the sunlight and cock-a-hoop.

A visit to our other favourite haunt, Enville Hall, resulted in much swan admiring (on my part)...

...and a chance encounter with Jane, the Estate Gardener, who put me on the spot and commissioned a portrait of her beautiful canine companion.  The transaction was verbal and old school (she doesn't have an email address).  I am to print and deliver said portrait next week to her lodgings on the Estate.

Back at home, our daffodils and woodland bulbs are in flower and my favourite, Euphorbia, is throwing its alien shapes.

The bird bath has been teeming with visitors from Blue Tits and Long Tailed Tits....

...to Garden Sparrows...

..to Dunnocks.

The four clumps of frogspawn are growing imperceptibly under watchful amphibian eyes.

Gareth has dug out and dismantled the trampoline - the end of an era.  However, there's now another, exciting space in the garden to develop/headache in waiting.  

On a more frivolous note, the week's charity shop finds include a pair of tan suede trainers.  They're unbranded, but look spookily similar to these Puma ones.

They are extremely comfortable (I'm not going to let the trifling fact that they are a size too big get in the way) and work equally well with a long dress and jeans.  Here they are teamed with my sustainable Kharibu maxi dress teamed with an old cashmere mix cropped jumper.  Apparently the combination of green and blue is having a fashion moment.

Another photo of said shoes with my eBay shopped Replay Jeans and charity shopped white top.  Do I look like a lumberjack?

Every item completing this outfit was charity shopped.  

It comprises silver John Rocha brogues, a snakeskin print H&M pleated skit (pleats are so flattering), the aforementioned white top covered with a a silver grey Italian lambs wool lightweight knit.  In these shoes, folks will definitely see me coming.  (Only Gareth could express concern about upskirting and that others might see more than they bargained for reflected in the shoes' mirrored surface!) 

I will also be seeing more clearly this week, courtesy of my newly purchased pack of 3 pairs of cat's eye reading glasses.  I spend probably a third of my time hunting for keys, glasses, remote controls and my phone.  

The remote control issue has recently been solved with Gareth's charity shop find - a jumbo sized universal remote.

And now, with 6 pairs of reading glasses now knocking around - in various states of repair - I can now scrub reading glasses from that list.  Here I am giving the camera my best 60s espionage look.  

Be seeing you!