Monday 6 January 2014

Under January Skies



There are plenty of reasons not to be here; I have a warm house, a comfortable armchair and I really could have done with another cup of tea. The view from the window looked bleak and the weather forecast was less than inspiring. But here I am trudging along a muddy field path as dawn breaks with the idea that there might be photographs just waiting to be taken. Somewhere.



Some people take dogs for walks at this unholy hour but I take my camera. Like a dog it makes me linger in places where I otherwise wouldn't. Sometimes it takes control and leads me where I hadn't intended going. Occasionally it bothers other people but at least it doesn't bite!


What was I expecting to find? Well, not this. A bunch of roses wired to the corrugated-iron fence of a scrapyard. It must have been in memory of someone's passing, I suppose. The rain and frost have made short work of the blooms but have left instead a strange melancholy beauty. But here comes the sun.....
  

.... burning through the bare branches. I squelched and side-slipped across a muddy field, crossed the railway track and picked up the old road, which is now just a half-forgotten path through the trees.



Sheep in a field suggests spring is around the corner, even if there are no lambs yet. The camera always takes an interest in sheep but, unlike some dogs, it doesn't chase them!



I love the muted colours and weather-beaten appearance of this old cottage door with its rusty letter-box.



Suddenly I'm aware that the sky is putting on a show - a mackerel sky, often the precursor of a band of rain. That's Melbourn church in silhouette.



This modernistic shelter has recently appeared in the corner of a local playing field. A rather skilful graffiti artist has decorated it, though I don't suppose it'll be long before less artistic persons add their marks to it.



Down by the little chalk stream in Melwood the first snowdrop of the year has put in an early appearance. It must be blessed with a remarkable micro-climate here because it's way ahead of other snowdrops which have barely poked their heads above ground.



Nearly home and the sky is playing its tricks again causing another slight diversion to find an appropriate viewpoint. And while I'm there I notice these fungi.



And now at last I'm nearing my back door. The camera has had its exercise. The kettle will soon be on.

Take care.

21 comments:


  1. Wow John, admire your fortitude getting up and out when the weather looks bleak on the outside. Your first photo made it all worthwhile - you must've seen it coming?! That's another grand ole' tree outside of the sheep paddock; it just towers way over all the others. MY, another amazing sky; I've never heard of a mackerel sky but I instantly think of 'silver' as in mackerel fish, or is it meant as a Holy Mackerel!! sky?? :) Then the beautiful fungi...and a cuppa. You must've enjoyed that knowing of the photo-bounty you'd collected and the fresh air and exercise were a plus.

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  2. All excellent shots here John, thank goodness I don't have to pick a favourite :) the mushers in the last shot look like they're made from shiny plastic :)

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  3. I like the sky shot with the clouds resembling the crashing surf and of course the fungi which I am desperately waiting for the rain to bring forth here in California. But the winner for this post is the wilted roses on the iron fence. Outstanding.

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  4. Wonderful views there. Love all the photos and most especially the sky shots. Quite beautiful. And very cool to see fungi there. I'm so glad you took your camera for an early morning walk!

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  5. oh, my goodness, your photos are amazing today. What gorgeous shots!

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  6. So glad you went for your walk. Snowdrops!!! Sky, sky, and more sky - all that colour and texture.Soul expanding.
    And the roses are gorgeous. I'm a bit puzzled over the mushrooms. Are they frozen solid? Normally they go mushy after frost.

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  7. That mackerel sky is amazing. You got some great shots on your walk.. I really need to take my camera out some day soon.

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  8. John, you are a master. I am glad you forced your camera outside in the inhospitable morning. I loved both your clever prose and your as-always fine photos. A "mackerel sky?" I never had a name for that particular kind of cloudy sky before. And your dead roses could have been painted by a notable Dutch artist of the 17th century. A first rate contribution today.

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  9. Beautiful series of photos! Happy New Year and greetings from Montreal, Canada.

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  10. And you found some wonderful subjects for photographs - the ice under the snow is too slippery here to wander about much and I yearn for spring and a light step.

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  11. I deplore the overuse of the word 'Awesome' - but it's really the BEST word to describe that sunrise! Although the fungi are pretty awesome too ... :) Happy New Year!

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  12. I envy you the strolls you take and the subjects you find. Even when you have frost the snowdrops pop up. And fungi with lots of colour. Oh well - back to the rain ...

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  13. Thank you for that lovely stroll! It's been a tropical sub-freezing week here, but nothing as picturesque! Stay warm. And Happy 2014, hope it's off to great start!

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  14. Your outing with a camera despite the nasty weather seems to have been worthwhile. It’s interesting to know you call the seventh image as “a mackerel sky”. In Japan, we call those clouds “sardine clouds” or “scale clouds”.

    Yoko

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  15. Beautiful collection of photos - worth delaying that cup of tea for :)

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  16. so brave of you to walk in the cold--and you were rewarded with some unique photos--
    the mushrooms glow with a light of their own--the roses so sad
    sky and clouds--always a favorite of mine

    below freezing here for days and I haven't ventured out :(

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  17. Like the church and the grey sky, nice textures.

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    1. What a lovely set of photos - it was definitely worth taking your camera out for an early morning walk.

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  18. Happy New Year! Thank you for trudging along, it is a great pleasure to see the glorious morn light. The mackerel sky photo is a gem and these are the first snowdrops I see this year!

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  19. A charming series of captures John; thank you for sharing your morning adventure with us. Can't pick a favourite as each scene has its own special appeal. I'm another one who has not heard of the term "mackerel" applied to the sky/clouds - thanks for expanding my vocabulary! Wishing you a grand and healthy 2014 John and am looking forward to seeing more of your "pet walks"!

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  20. I love doing this with my camera too - and, since I haven't managed to persuade myself out very far yet this year, I have enjoyed this wander with you.

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