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.

 

 

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?

 

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.