Snow in Baldersdale

 A good dusting of snow on the hills in Teesdale overnight meant that I took the opportunity to head up into Baldersdale. This is a small valley that branches off the main dale. Within its boundaries are three of Teesdale's six man made lakes and my route was basically to be a circuit of the highest, Balderhead.
  Even though the day stayed dull and very overcast it was still an enjoyable walk and the dogs just love the free running across the moor.

The summit cairn and trig point on Shacklesborough.

To view all the photos from this interesting walk then visit the page on The Teesdale Gallery  website: http://www.theteesdalegallery.co.uk/Teesdale%20gallery%202030.1.11.htm

Cold and frosty

 A bright but cold winters day here in Teesdale this morning. As I drove into work at the gallery the temperature reading outside the car was -5. As usual I had the camera to hand as you never know what may turn into a good photo opportunity. Adjacent to the lane is a dry-stone wall which is a favourite perch for the local Red Grouse, just the odd one or two. However they are quite a nervous bird and just as you get to within good camera range they take flight-normally. Today was an exception, perhaps it was due to the cold weather and they were feeling a bit lathargic but using a trick which I have put into use over the years I was able to approach them to within a good range and managed to fire off quite a few shots.
The two shown below are just an example.

Red Grouse and Bowes Castle

Red Grouse. Warming himself in the early sun, still with frost on his rump, it was a cold night.

Calendar Prints

  Back in December as I wrote on this blog came the news that the sales of the Wainwright Society Calendar for 2011 had raised £9,000 for Mountain Rescue through a complete sell-out of the print run. Members of the society had their photographs used to illustrate the calendar and I was fortunate enough to have two of my images featured.
 With the calendars now unavailable I have decided to try and continue the fund-raising for such worthy cause. So on sales of both the relevant images I will be donating 20% of the price to the MRT. This will apply to all sales of the two photographs large, small, print only or mounted. Even framed copies sold via the gallery will have the donation made.
 The two images are shown below and more information will be posted on the website shortly.

High Bakestones

Ill Bell Ridge



For the one you Love

 Just in time for Valentine's Day (Feb. 14th in case you have forgotten!) I have been working with Keith, the printer to produce a special image for fellwalkers in love, ahh!
Last October whilst in Kentmere I spotted this couple from a distance who were walking a ridge and with the hazy outline of Windermere far below I considered that would add a nice scale to the shot. Then for one fleeting moment they touched hands, perfect.

 Due to the weather conditions, and shooting into the sun, the image was almost black and white and had an interesting feel to it.
 Shortly I will be updating the website with information on the print so if there is someone out there you know who loves the hills.......

Fame at last (Part 2)

 Nice to come back from our break to see that the local paper has once again used photographs from Teesdale photographers to depict the beauty of the dale in winter. I'm pleased to say that yet again they thought that two of my shots were good enough for inclusion, The Market Cross in heavy snow and The River Tees.

  All the snow has now gone of course and we are in a period of dull grey days, lets hope we get back to some cold crisp days soon.

Something different

 As you can probably guess from the photographs I'm more of a country type of guy than a "townie". However for the past four days we were down in the capital to not only to deliver some work but also to enjoy the benefits of London. Plenty to see and do but glad to get back to Teesdale.

 Of course I took my camera and couldn't resist a photo or two, even thought they are just snaps they do provide a reminder or a great city break.

Fame at last?

 Not really fame but its quite nice to get just two of my photos printed in our local paper. There were a selection of readers photos published this week and as well as the Dawn over Bowes photo (which doesnt really work in Black and White print in the paper) they decided to print this shot of winter sheep.

Winter Sheep

It certainly sums up the recent weather here in Teesdale

Harsh winter

  There is something special about this time of year when the wintery weather produces some wonderful scenes and landscapes. Sadly it also proves to be a difficult time for wildlife with food sources and water scarce. Today whilst walking locally I came across this sad sight, a dead Fieldfare lying on a patch of ice. These beautiful thrushes are winter migrants from Northern Europe and they flock in this area at this time of year feeding in the hedgerows. Being in large numbers they are very alert and difficult to photograph.
 A morbid sort of photograph maybe but I couldn't help but capture this beautiful bird.

Exploring Teesdale

 On of my New Years resolutions for 2011 is to explore my home patch of Teesdale. It's easy to just keep revisiting the well known places such as High Force but this area offers so much more. Even though I do know the dale quite well there are still places of interest that I have not yet been to. Today was my chance to visit one of these places, East Hare Crag. I had read somewhere that this location was a place where Mill stones were sourced and a few still lie about. It took a bit of finding but sure enough, one or two were there to see. Yet another grey and overcast day didnt allow for a great photgraph but worth noting for a re-visit on a better day.

Mickle Fell and Millstone.