Out on display.

 Well this is a little different for me, after running my own gallery for so long it was nice to be asked to exhibit in someone else's gallery for a change. This time however it wasn't my paintings which I actually don't have any to show at this time but the space was for my photographs. The gallery in question is The Nest Gallery, just along Newgate in Barnard Castle not far from where my shop was a the top of The Bank.

The Nest Gallery has a really nice collection of work on show, paintings, ceramics, sculpture and of course photography. Combine this with a rather nice cafe and it's a setting in which I am pleased to have my work on show.

 I have put on show a selection of framed images, some of which are featured in The Teesdale 2014 Calendar as well as other mounted prints and of course a selection of greeting cards.

 The Nest is open everyday and although I will not be there in person I hope that if you are in the area you may take time to call in and have a look round.

 My work  is on display there up until Christmas, who knows, you may just find the perfect gift.

A bit of Black and white.

 Whilst on a short walk up by Low Force today I was looking for something different. I go here quite often as it is only a short drive from home. However, it is easy to come to such places and take the same old shot. It turns out that both of the shots which I was most pleased with worked better in black and white.

The three trees.

I have photographed this small stand of trees often and in all seasons. It's not difficult to do so, they are just by the path that leads down to the falls. Today my eye was caught by the patch of sunlight on the grass which seemed to replicate the shape of the trees.

Going with the flow.

Right place right time, a couple of canoeists were having a run or two at this cascade, a good chance for me to try some of the faster settings on the camera and the light across the water really added to the effect.

It's great to come away from a favourite haunt with something new, all in all a success. 

A night on The Toon

 I had a delivery to do up near Newcastle this evening so I made the most of the drive. Newcastle Quayside is often photographed in fact this at least my third time of getting this sort of shot. It is not my usual sort of subject but there is nothing like a challenge.

Grey Street.

Instead of just staying by the Quayside we had a walk up to the city centre. A place I haven't been to for years. Lovely to see the old buildings at night.

Theatre Royal.

Recently re-furbished and looking very smart.

Newcastle Quayside.

This is a regular subject for many a photographer and difficult to put my own spin on it. However I an pleased with how it turned out.

The Baltic.

More of a difficult shot, taken from the bridge which actually bounces slightly as people walk across it. Not very helpful for a long exposure shot.

Still, a very pleasant way to spend an hour or two at night in Newcastle.

The turn of the Plough.

 Something different from me today. A local farm was holding a vintage ploughing event so it was a great opportunity to drive along for a look. The weather wasn't up to much but the characters and their old machines were very photogenic.

In full flow.

The bright paintwork against the stubble and clay.

 

Keeping an eye out.

This combination was just perfect with the little terrier in his own box. You can see how muddy it was. A great setting to capture these rare sights.

Some recent work.

 Well the new camera is really proving to be a marvellous asset. I try to get out with it most days, even on the shot walks along the lane when I am giving bailey his run out. I love fiddling with the various settings of exposure, aperture and timings, it really takes me back to the days of film cameras.
 Currently I am only using 2 filters, a UV filter which is really there to give the front glass of the lens a bit of protection and a circular polarising filter. This helps to reduce reflections off water and enhance clouds and sky.

Pony in the Eden valley.

I just liked the setting, the pony on the fellside with the light on the lands behind.

Rutter Force.

This delightful waterfall is not far from Appleby. It is a wonderful setting even though the opportunities are limited due to footpath restrictions.

Hudeshope Beck

I took a wander up this small river and decided to give longer exposures a bit of a try. The polarizing filter came into its own here and the longer shutter speed really caught the swirl of the water.

Long-horned Cow.

Using a shallow depth of field I was able to focus on the cows head whilst putting the distant farm out of focus and less of a distraction.

All in all I am really rather pleased with my efforts with the camera so far. I don't think you can beat actually getting out and using a camera such as this. The main thing is not to be afraid of it and use the full range of settings and features.

Website re-vamp.

Well with the new camera it is more likely that the quality of my images will hopefully be improved so I have been spending some time thinking about a new way to display them. The current website is Ok but it certainly needs a better format. in the next week or two I will be investigating further into how to go about this. Those of you who also follow my gallery website will have read that recently I have had issues with uploading the sketches and photos from recent outings on that page so the whole look to what I do will get a total re-vamp. This should be fun!
 In the meantime, here's a couple of shots from the past day or two as I have been getting to grips with the new camera.

Hen grouse near Cotherstone.

Evening light on Bowes.

The quality of the images is really something, I can see that I will have plenty of fun with this kit.

 

 

At last!

 Many of you who know me or have been following my blog and website will realise that I have long since have had the aim of acquiring a decent DSLR camera. Up until now all my images have been taken using a small Lumix LX5 which as you will possibly agree has produced some wonderful quality images. However, it has limitations.
 My aim was to only get a DSLR when I could totally fund it through my photography work and that day has arrived. In fact it arrived about 2 weeks ago.

With a trip to Kendal I was able to purchase the camera set up which I have been eyeing up for some time, a Nikon D7100 with a 16-85mm lens. The choice was made after doing lots of online research into the camera which fitted my needs. I suppose that's the advantage of having to wait to before making a serious purchase, time can be spent doing background investigations instead of leaping in and grabbing the latest offer or "must have" kit.

Nikon D7100 with 16-85mm.

In the last week or so I have been getting to grips with all of the features and settings. Much more to learn yet but so far it is hard to fault. You will have to watch this space to see how I get on with it. Of course the LX5 is not going to sit on a shelf collecting dust, it deserves better than that. it will still be with me and continue to get used on a regular basis.

 Finally I would like to thank those of you who not only have commented on my work but more importantly to everyone who has made purchases of my  greeting cards and prints. Your support has funded this step up for me and my photography.

Thank you.

 

Teesdale 2014 Calendar film

 We have put together this short film to promote the calendar. Do take a look and spread the word. Thank you.

Teesdale Calendar 2014 from Andy Beck Images.

 After interest shown in my photographs on this blog, the website and on social media I have taken the decision to produce a calendar for 2014. I have selected images taken from around the dale and that show the area in varying seasons and viewpoints but I wanted to show the dale to its best advantage, so many options and just narrowing it down to 13 photographs was no easy task.
 The main reason for producing such an item was that I saw it as a great opportunity to raise funds for two local charities Cancer Research UK (Teesdale Branch) and Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue. Both of these do marvellous work here in the dale and charities which I considered most of us could relate too.
  With not much effort we were able to persuade some great local businesses to sponsor a page each and thus allowing us to give even more of the sale price to the charities. Consequently of the calendar cover price of £10 we will be able to donate £7 to these causes.

  In early September you will be able to purchase the calendars from local businesses and shops throughout the dale, look for the posters on display in the windows. You may also wish to order online which does incur a P&P cost of £3.
 Even though they are not available yet you may pre-order the calendars online, see the link below and as soon as the calendars are in stock they will be dispatched.

 I am most grateful to the following businesses for their support: Boho Boo, Brookes Outfitters, Chocolate Fayre,  Clarendons, David Harper Antiques, Doe Park Caravan Site,
GSC Grays, Picture This, Saks, Spice Island, Spitfire Cycles,
& Zine.


For more information and a preview of the calendar and to pre-order do check out the website:
www.andybeckimages.co.uk

Thank you for your support.
Andy

Keep it Real.

 Just a post about my basic thoughts on the use of Post-processing on photographs. Obviously these points are just my opinion and I completely understand that some may strongly disagree with my comments.
 Many years ago when I began photography we all were using film cameras where unless you were lucky enough to have access to full darkroom facilities you took the photographs, sent them away to be bulk processed and accepted the results. I was fortunate to have the use of a darkroom and spent many an hour developing and printing my own films. Amazing how much was learnt in the processing of black and white prints. Exposure adjustment, contrast, dodging and burning etc were all part of the procedure and some great effects could be made in this "after camera" period and I am glad that I was privileged to gain this experience. Of course slide or transparency film was different, I did process some but most I sent off to Kodak and awaited expectantly the return of the little plastic box. Once I had taken the shot the process was out of my hands and there was no such thing as enhancement once the shutter had clicked. The skill here was using the camera to capture the shot, correct exposure, film speed settings etc had to be spot on.
 How things have moved on...the digital age is here and almost everyday and new camera is developed with high megapixels, extreme ISO ratings and many other features which would have been unheard of just a few decades ago.
 Now don't get me wrong, I am fully embracing of this technology and all it brings to the field of photography but oh how I would love to see my old Olympus OM1 just converted from film to digital with a decent sensor and a bit of an ISO rating of say 64 to maybe 1200 and just one or two digital settings. Impractical I know, but just a thought.
 As for the post-processing of digital images that we see now my thoughts are quite simple. Contrary to what some may think, I have absolutely no problem with the full use of facilities such as Lightroom or Photshop in fact I use these programmes myself (currently PS Elements 10). What I do have a problem with is the obvious poor restraint used by some in the use of these programmes. To me you need to begin with a good photograph captured "in camera" then, with the tools provided in Lightroom the file can be enhanced to bring out it's full potential. In my opinion the trick here is to produce a final photograph that retains a full natural look. I am here talking about images which are aimed at the traditional type of look, I fully appreciate that there are some wonderful abstract and arty photographic works out there which have been produced with the clever use of filters and effects.
 Poor post-processing skills show, sometimes in subtle ways sometimes more obvious. Over saturation of sunset or sunrises seems to be a classic, yes sure, if you feel the need to add a little more colour then fine but don't let your finger slip on the saturation slide. It only takes a tweak to go from the stunning to the ridiculous. I also have issue with adjustments that have been made to some landscapes which leave horizons with a halo or a false pale rim. I have no idea how this effect is achieved in post processing but it can easily ruin a decent shot. I could go on....
 Am I starting to sound like a grumpy old git? I don't mean to. I love great photograph and admire those who take shots which make you look more than once. I aspire to their level to which I will probably never reach but we all must have a target in life. If they have used post processing cleverly then I shouldn't notice it.
 In conclusion lets use all the technology available but lets not get carried away. I get a thrill from seeing skilful stunning shots on Facebook, Flickr etc but you overdo the enhancement then don't expect too many likes from me (unless you have done it for art-effect ;) ). In the next few weeks I will be sharing links on my Facebook page with some of those whose work I admire. Do come and take a look.
 Thank you for listening, feel free to comment.

Rainy Night in Durham

  With a delivery to do of a painting over in the Durham area this evening I decided it was a good opportunity to have a bit of an evening out. Delivery done to a happy customer we headed into the city. Durham is a compact historic city centre which is a "must do" if you have never been.
 After a bit of supper I thought it was a great opportunity to have a look at the cathedral. Even though the weather had turned and it was now raining steadily as we walked up to The Green. I had come prepared, tripod and umbrella to hand.

Durham Cathedral.

So impressive to see the cathedral lit up at night, the cloud filled skies perhaps added to the atmosphere. We spent some time just looking at the scene and the surroundings.

Golden reflections.

To some the weather may have been a deterrent but I was glad that we had made the effort, the rain on the pavement looked like gold and it was a thrill to try and capture the scene. I plan to return soon to get more aspects of this World Heritage Site which is so close to where we live.

The simplest of walks.

 No matter how short the walk I have got into the habit of always taking the camera. The best photo opportunities will always happen when you have left it at home.
 Just as I was letting the hounds out for a leg stretch this evening I saw the sun setting over in the west. Out of our track and onto the lane gave me a better view of the scene so I quickly moved into a position for a decent compostion. It's hard not to take the same old view with the setting sun so the challenge was to turn a simple view into something more interesting.

Snow lane.

 I felt that here the sun reflecting off the banks of snow really helped to lead the eye into the picture and the small tree just hid the sun a bit so that it didnt look too burnt out. Sunsets can be very nice but personally unless the sky colours are naturally "stunning" and not overdone in Lightroom I find them a bit boring. Much better to let nature do its job and as a photographer look for and capture a composition that does the sunset justice.

 Following this shot I had time to walk further down the lane in this picture towards the trees, the hounds were having a good run round anyway. Down in the trees the sun was filtered by the branches but it was the melt water on the tarmac which caught my eye as it was picking up the sun nicely.

Gold Road.

So I got two pictures for the price of one. What did I say about taking the camera with me?

 

Goldsborough Gold

 Another evening for a late walk. This time I drove a short distance though the village of Cotherstone and up the dale towards Hury reservoir. Further on I parked along the quite road and set off up to Goldsborough. Yet again the moor was well covered in snow which made it difficult going. As we headed up the hill away to our right I could see the sun over Shacklesborough at this time hidden behind one lone cloud but with the possibility of dropping down inot the open shortly.

Goldsborough.

With perfect timing the sun lit up the flanks of the low crag, blue sky above and warm glowing snow. There wasn't going to be much time before the sun sank below the hoizon so we stepped out to reach the top of the hill. Deep snow on uneven ground doesnt make for a quick pace but we did it and still with time to spare..just.

Sundown.

From below the crags we got the best view of the sun, its glow reflecting off the icy surface of the snow. It was perfect and my efforts had been rewarded.

 As usual these photos where taken with just the Lumix, no filters or tricks and the colours as they were captured in camera, why did I need to do any more? Nature at its best.

 

The snowy wastes.

 It wasn't until later in the day when I was able to get out with the dogs for a decent walk and it looked promising for a good bit of light towards the end of the day. I headed off up to West Plantation and a track that leads up to Gilmonby Moor. The snow was still fresh and deep with no signs of previous visitors. During the day the sun had been quite warm and this had thawed some of the snow. The unusual thing was that the loose snow had thawed quicker than and that had even been slightly compacted so as I walked I could see the tracks of birds and small aminals and their marks were standing proud of the surrounding snow.

Grouse Tracks.

The low evening sun cast shadows from the tracks....very odd. As we progressed onwards the gate to the morr was so deep in snow drift that instead of opening it we just stepped over it. Now out on to the open moor the going was very tough, at least a foot of fresh snow, in places solid enough to take my weight but the next step down into the depths, hard work. It seemed like ages before we reached the lunch hut which sits alone on the moor. Today it looked not unlike Scotts Hut with the low sun and whiteness.

The Lunch hut.

There was quite a stong wind in the cold air and with the sun disappearing fast it was time to re-trace my steps..yet more hard work but at least this time I was able to use the footsteps in the snow that I had made previously.

The last of the sun.

Soon we were back in the plantation and it was just about dark as we reached home. Well worth the effort to see this sort of scenery and light.

 

 

And still there is snow.

 Never would I have thought that here in late March I would still be out getting photogrpahs that were more akin to deep winter. At least some of the lanes were bing cleared so I ventured back up to the lanes that were filled in with snow on recent days.

The sheep were still roughing it out round the feeders.

The road near us continues up to a couple more remote farms which must have been cut off over the past few days and it was good to see the council workers clearing the route so they could get out.

Snow blower in action.

The walls that line the lane are stone but quite fragile so the snow blower was called in to throw the snow up and over the barrier which made for quite an impressive sight.

 Still no sign of a thaw here though.

 

Andy Beck Images- a bit of background.

 I just thought that I would post a bit of background on myself and my photographs mainly for those who have just found me and my work through various media.

 Yep, that's me.

I am fortunate enough to actually be a full time professional artist and this is me in my studio (with one of my photographs not a painting). We live in a farmhouse in Teesdale, County Durham, high on the North Pennines.

 To me photography is a hobby which brings in an income which suppliments my artwork. I love going out and finding those subjects which have the potential for a good photograph or even a future painting whether it is locally here in the dale or further afield. Our location means that we are ideally situated to reach areas such as the Yorkshire Dales or the Lake District in a short space of time.

 I am not only a self taught artist but also a self taught photographer. My early days with a camera were in the mid '70's with a Zenith 35mm and then an Olympus OM1 and I learnt to develop and print my own photographs in a basic darkroom. (Those were the days). Nowadays I, like most photographers have moved on a bit with the advancement of digital kit. However, I would like to think that my early experiences have given me a great base for my current work.

 Quite a few people seem to be surprised that nearly all my current photographs have been taken on a fairly straightforward compact camera, a Panasonic Lumix LX5.

Lumix LX5

To me this camera is a great little camera, it's simple, robust, shoots in RAW as well as Jpeg and has a reasonable zoom. Nearly all the time I shoot with it set on Manual or Aperture Priority as this gives me control of the shots.

 Occassionally I use a Canon 350d, even though this has a lower resolution it does allow me to fit filters for certain shots. However, more and more I just use the Lumix. Shortly I will possibly invest in a decent DSLR with a better range and quality.

 As you may have seen in my photographs, I like to experiment a bit in my subjects even though most are landscapes I find it enjoyable to pick detail from the environment such as trees and walls. It makes it more interesting for me and hopefully for you as the viewer.

I tend to do as little work on the images as possible on the computer. I only use Photoshop Elements, this is to tweak the levels, sharpness and even at times the colour. To me, the image should be "real" and not an overworked computer enhanced fantasy. They may have their place but not in my portfolio I'm afraid.

 Selling my work is not my highest priority but it is nice when it happens. There are plenty of other wonderful photographers out there who I can't compete with and nor would I want to. No, to me, to get out with the dogs, always take the camera and look for a possible shot is all I am about. The fact that so many of you seem to enjoy what I do is all well and good. Hopefully I will inspire you to get out there yourselves and enjoy the landscape and look at it anew and hopefully get your own decent shots.

Have fun!

If you would like to see my artwork then do take a look at my website: www.theteesdalegallery.co.uk or even become a follower to this blog.

Thanks.

Andy



 

Wild winter.

 Today was really a case of revisitng the locations of yesterday. No one was travelling far in this weather but at least today the sunshine made a welcome appearance. There was no let up in the stong winds though.
 Walking back up to the Sleightholme lane I was quite surprised to see that since yesterdays visit an attempt had been made to clear the deep drifts. However, no sooner had the diggers done their best but it left a gap for more snow to take its place. Impressively, the dumped snow now formed high peaks on the lane edge and in the sunshine it looked like mountain peaks.

Mountain Ridge?

Apart from the fencepost which is above the wall height this could be mistaken for an unknown ridge of Munroes...out of scale of course.

 I made my way as yesterday along towards West Plantation. Today the drifts were much deeper so I decided to take some shots of the sheep which were sheltering along side the wall. The light snow coated their fleeces and made a dramatic scene.

Snow Sheep.

The balck and white simplicity seems to make this scene bleak and harsh, just how it was. Swaledale Sheep are a hardy breed and they stay out all year. Cold and snow is better than heavy rain I suppose.

And the snow came...again

  Well, the forecasts were right. Along with strong winds we have had an overnight fall of snow which has found us blocked in. No chance of driving anywhere today so it was a case of walking around the local vicinity. Mind you, it did look rather different with the snow banked up againt the walls and filling the lanes. The spindrift swirled around any obstacle forming neat shapes on the leeward side.

Sleightholme Lane.

Beyond this point there are three dwellings, no chance of them driving along here today. The lane was completely filled in for the next 500m. The form of the snow was quite graceful in shape.

The Winter Wall.

 This wall leads towards West Plantation. To get here we had to cross fields where the snow had been almost blown clear. As a consequence of the wind the banks of snow reached many wall tops forming deep drifts. It was dramatic and picturesque but a harsh environment. Soon it was back to the house and the warmth.

Both Ends of the Day

 The sun has been absent for the past few days so it was a bit of a pleasure that when I let the dogs out for the first bit of fresh air of the day that I saw a glow to the east. It wasn't much as we had a bit of fog lingering. However, the potential was there so I dashed inside for the camera. Even in the few short moments the colour in the sky had enhanced. I hot footed it out of the front gate and into the snow covered field to ensure the shot had a decent subject in front of the by now glowing sun. For a few brief moments I stood and fired off a number of shots. The camera was set on "manual" as it is for most of the time, and I adjusted the exposure to bracket the images. A little underexposure tends to capture the colours and not burn out the highlights.

Morning Glow.

The pastel colours were enhanced by the mist and of course the snow's blue hue complimented the sky. This just shows that a compact camera can do a pretty decent job even in difficult conditions.

 Later on in the day I took the dogs for a walk over towards Loups Hill, Cotherstone Moor. I was looking for the possibilites for future subjects, either as photographs or paintings. Sadly the light was no where near as good as this mornings but the cloud did produce a good backdrop to this desolate barn.

The Desolate Barn.

Potential for future work and luckily enough its only a short distance from home so I can pop over there at short notice.

Local wandering in the snow.

 I'm just so busy in the studio at this time thgat today I only ventured out locally with the dogs. As ever, the camera was to hand and my eye was on the lookout for anything like a decent shot. As you can see, the snow hasn't even thawed slightly, if anything we had another dusting overnight.
 Now I admit, not every trip out will result in a brilliant photograph but if you don't practise the looking for that special shot then I believe you will never improve your work.
 Here's the two shots that I came back with.

Retired for Winter.

 I pass by this old machine regularly on my walks, most times it doesn't warrant a second look but today my attention was drawn to the contrast between the white snow and thew black barn wall. The contrasting patterns of the corrugated iron and the machine added to the shot.

Roots.

 In West Plantation there is a great mixture of trees, from very old Scots Pines to wonderful mature Beech trees like this one. The blown snow gave a form to the roots and the colour of the lichen on the trunk really enhanced the frame. It was only when I got home and downloaded the shot that I noticed that fallen branch on the right. We had some discussion on my Facebook page as to whether the branch was a good or bad inclusion in the shot....the branch stays.

A Little bit Abstract

 With the bleakness of the current spell of weather I had to be a bit inventive with a subject for a reasonable photograph today. I only ventured out from the studio a short distance and I recalled the old hedgerow in a nearby field which I had passed by just a few days ago.
 The dogs were happy enough to run through the fields of fresh snow whilst I made my way to the line of trees. I had to be careful to approach the subject from a distance so that the foreground snow remained undisturbed. The object of the exercise was to produce a very stark image in black and white and todays conditions seemed to be almost perfect. Here is the result.

Treeline.

The image has had very little editing done to it. Converting to black and white was the main task which rendered the foreground completely white. The only other real work was to remove the top of a distant telegraph pole inbetween two if the trees. I'm rather pleased with the result.

More Snow

 Its late March and in recent weeks we have seen the return of birds such as Lapwings and even Curlews to their breeding grounds here in Teesdale. Well they got a real shock this morning, heavy overnight snow left us with a white world. This was possibly the heaviest single snowfall of the winter and a bit of a reversal of the seasons.
 Still, it was as ever a good chance to take the dogs out and carry the camera for any potential shots.

  The lane was pretty well covered with snow and the tractor tyres had left their usual pattern which seemed to point into the photo. Walking on I passed a field or two where the hardy Swaledale sheep were in the open. By chance there was a small neat group just on the other side of the wall. Their interest was taken by the dogs who were running in the field that I was in. All it took was for me to line up the shot with the distant farm behind and take the shot.

You can't plan this type of photograph, what it takes is having the awareness of the possibilities to turn a simple scene into a decent photo, and some luck.

Twistleton Scars

 I had the opportunity today to visit a location in the Yorkshire Dales which I had seen on other sites which had the potential for some great photos. Twistleton Scars is an area of Limestone Pavement just top the north west of Ingleton. Its only about 40 miles from home but with my time spent over in the Lake District recently means that I dont often get chance to travel elsewhere. So late on in the afternoon I took the dogs up onto the Scar to explore. It didnt look at first as if the weather would play ball, the sun had disappeared behind cloud.
 This gave me a great chance to explore this new landscape, it was wonderful, the limestone was dotted with twisted stunted trees and erratic boulders which would present superb opportunities for photographs. Luckily for me as I was admiring the scenery the sun did make the appearance I was hoping for.

Erratic Boulder.

For a short while the conditions were perfect, the low light striking the tops of the weathered rock. I used my Compact Lumix LX5 most of the time, set on manual and hand held I enjoy trying to capture the scene with this uncomplicated camera. Of course, a top quality DSLR would have had benefits but using my skills with a simpler tool has its rewards.

 I wandered around looking for the right locations to show the possibilities for future visits and the time soon passed and before I knew it the sun had set and it nwas time to make my way home. Not before capturing one or two decent shots.

 Both of these shots have had hardly any post processing, the light was just superb, the only drawback was that Ingleborough which would have made a dramatic backdrop was shrouded by cloud. Never mind, there is always a next time.

Cloudscape over Shacklesborough

It is only a short drive for me to head into a different part of Teesdale. This evening there was a bit of late sun so I took the dogs out for a quick leg stretch up past Cotherstone to Goldsborough a cap of Millstone Grit which sits neatly on the moor above Hury Reservior. The 10 minute walk from the quiet road soon brings you up to the flat top of the hill. Over to the west sits a matching outcrop of Shacklesborough about a mile or so distant.

 By chance I timed it pretty well to get a possible chance of a decent sunset photograph. The walk was the main intention but a sunset would have been a bonus. I only had the Lumix LX5 with me so it was just the opportunity to capture the scene as it was.

As it happened, I was lucky, a large black cloud which had been blocking the sun soon dispersed and there was a glimpse of the sun, nothing too strong but just a hint before it dropped behind a distant cloud layer on the horizon. I managed to get off a few shots before the whole scene changed and the light was gone.

 To me it's the clouds that make this photo, I love the drama of the sky and the hint of the sun peeping through.

 Well worth the effort of the drive to Cotherstone.