Cracks Hill is near the village of Crick, just over the border from Warwickshire. My daughter lives in Houlton, close to Crick, and I was visiting her when the weather forecast predicted thick fog for the morning.
The contrast between the tree with no leaves and one with full foliage.
I drove over and walked across the fields, along the canal, and up to Cracks Hill. The fog was dense, and visibility was low. I had brought my tripod, which allowed me to capture some excellent photographs at long exposures with my camera.
On the edge of the hill a tree is isolated in the fog.
The images I liked most were of the cobwebs on the canal bridge, with mist and moisture delicately hanging on the strands. The combination added a sense of mystery to the scene. The area around Cracks Hill is very pretty, and although much of the usual landscape was hidden, I was able to take some wonderfully atmospheric pictures of the trees.
Cobwebs on either side of the metal parts of the canal bridge. The shadows of the canal bridge reflected in the water.
The fog in the countryside contrasts with that seen in the city. Here is a blog when the fog settled on Birmingham.
This is my 500th blog post — a remarkable milestone in my blogging journey. I first began writing my blog on this website on 27th December 2016, although my experience with online storytelling stretches back much further. Since 2006, I ran a work blog for the School of Dentistry, and even before that, in the early nineties, I was exploring websites and digital storytelling. I have always enjoyed keeping a diary of photographs, recording important years and events alongside my images. Social media gave me the opportunity to bring words and photos together, sharing my personal blog reflections and photographic stories with a wider audience. Now, 500 posts later, I am still passionate about blogging.
My first post in December 2016 and included this reflection of one of the entrances to the then recently opened New Street station. I was very proud of this picture and is one of my trademark reflections. I still come here to take pictures as you can get many varied and interesting street photography views.
Watching the sun set whilst sitting on the edge of Stanley Park
Post 100 – I was at a conference in Vancouver in July, 2019. On one of the evenings, I went out to Stanley Park and sat with many other local residents to see the Sun set. The experience was memorable and the picture does not fully convey the atmosphere of the evening.
Red post and telephone box in the snow
Post 200 – January 2021 and we had lived through Covid19 but we were still in one of the many lockdowns. Luckily waking up one morning, I saw that it had snowed. My village, Knowle, is very photogenic and the red postbox and phonebox stand out against the white background.
The interior of St Margaret’s Church, Ward End, Birmingham.
Post 300 – The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was a magical time and there was so much going on. There was an art project called “Keys to City” which open locks around Birmingham. I visited several venues with my key. This is St Margaret’s Church, Ward End, Birmingham. No longer a church, the place is a community centre. What was special about the Church were the stained glass windows which were created by pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones.
A view along Smallsbrook Queensway.
Post 400 – The Ringway Centre which is to the right of the picture is earmarked to be demolished. There is opposition to this proposal and therefore the bulldozers are so far silent. The planners wish to take down what they say is a building with concrete sickness and replace it with new shiny residential towers. I am unsure if this is progress but we wait and see what the outcome will be.
Knowle sunrise in September and featured on BBC Midlands today weather.My picture on BBC Midlands today – note the spelling of Solihull.
Post 500 – This is Knowle Park on a cold Tuesday morning in September. The figures walking along the path are entering the mist with the fiery sunrise beyond the trees. This was featured by Shafali Ozer on the BBC weathers. I always receive kind comments on social media when a picture is featured.
So we have reached 500 posts and I would like to thank James Kelly, who has been instrumental in setting up my website back in 2016. Little did we know back then that this blog would still be thriving 500 posts later. My very first post was about Birmingham Gems, an annual calendar at that time featuring my photographs. That first image, the entrance to New Street Station with ceiling reflections creating a surreal scene, remains one of my proudest photographs.
Finally, thank you to all my readers over these 500 posts. Some of you may have joined for just one or two views, whilst others have followed the entire blogging journey. I appreciate every single reader.
Here is to many more blog posts, more photography inspiration, and perhaps even a few books drawn from the stories I have shared over the years.
The poppy season does throw up surprises. Most poppy fields in the West Midlands are found around Bewdley and Kidderminster. Last year, there was a spectacular field in Kinver. Occasionally, a field appears closer to home, such as in Leamington Spa. This year’s surprise poppy field which was initially photographed by Jack March, a fellow weather watcher based around Nuneaton. He had posted some striking pictures taken in a poppy field in Leicestershire which were featured on the BBC.
The dramatic red of the poppies at dusk.
After some internet detective work, it became clear that the field was in Witherley, a charming village just outside Atherstone — only a 30-minute drive from home. As soon as I discovered the location, I checked the weather forecast. The month of May had brought good weather, though a change was expected later in the month. Fortunately, the forecast looked promising for the evening and the following morning. It was time for action. I packed my camera kit and tripod into the car and set off for Witherley to catch the evening light.
Sunset on the poppy field.
Finding the field was straightforward compared to some other locations I have written about. It was both easy to find and to access. When I arrived, two photographers were already there, focusing on close-ups of the poppies. I parked at the top of the field, and walked down towards the village along the side of the poppies. I found a good vantage point and began taking photographs. I captured some lovely images of the church bathed in the warm evening light. Looking back up the field, I noticed the sun setting beautifully over the crest. I quickly reset my camera to catch several shots of the golden sunset. The poppies glowed, their paper-thin red petals shimmering with life and shadows of nearby flowers. Poppy fields lend themselves both to sweeping landscapes and intimate portraits of individual flowers. Time passed quickly, and soon dusk settled in. I stayed to capture the colours of the clouds and the twilight. As the temperature dropped sharply, I was grateful for the warmth of the car once it had heated up.
One of many close ups of the flowers. Panorama of the field
It was a superb poppy field. I had enjoyed the evening session so much that I decided to return the next morning. With sunset at 9:00 pm in late May, I knew sunrise would be early — at 5:00 am. After just a few hours of sleep, I was up again and back with the poppies before dawn. This time, I parked closer to the village and entered the field via the footpath. I made my way to the opposite side and settled in to await the sunrise. The field is bordered on the west by the River Anker. As the sun began to rise, the scene transformed. Mist started to rise from the river and slowly spread across the field. For a surreal five to ten minutes, the entire field was shrouded in mist. Just as suddenly as it appeared, the mist lifted as the sun’s warmth burned it away.
The rise of mist from the river Anker.Sunlight bursting through the poppies.Close ups of the different poppies taking in the sunrise.Mist hanging over the poppy filed.
The sunrise was glorious, and I took many photographs with the cameras I had brought. The iPhone, always a reliable companion, captured some great shots as well. Eventually, there comes a point where you know you have taken enough pictures. Unbeknown to me, Jack March, the weather watcher himself, had been observing me and taking photos. I was so engrossed in my work that I had not realised he was there. At the end of the session, as I returned to my car, I met Jack, who had been waiting. Jack is an excellent photographer, and I have long admired his work. We had a fantastic chat about the poppy field, weather watching, and photography in general. I even took a selfie of us with the poppy field in the background. After saying our goodbyes, I set off home to review and post my pictures.
Selfie with Jack March, BBC Weather WatcherThe poppy field capital
Epilogue
There was another benefit from this trip to Witherley. On my way home after the evening session, I took a short detour to Church End Brewery. I found it tucked away behind Ridge Lane in a small village near Nuneaton. The tap room was open, and I came away with bottles of Fallen Angel and Goat’s Milk pale ale. It was a perfect photographic outing — capturing poppies at both sunset and sunrise, and returning home with some excellent beers for the evenings to come.
A few bottles brought at Church End Brewery to help during editing of my pictures.
If you enjoyed the latest addition to my poppy field journey then please read last year’s visit to Kinver. There are many other places I have visited and sadly some of these fields are no more. However, there are good memories of these places.
Early starts in photography are always exciting, but only once you have set things in motion. As soon as the alarm goes off, I am on a mission. This time, my destination was Chesterton Windmill to see its newly restored sails. Sunrise at the spring equinox made the occasion even more significant. Since the clocks had not yet gone forward, the start was not too early.
A proud windmill on the top of the hill.
Driving towards Chesterton, I noticed a lingering mist over the fields. On arrival, the scene was too good to pass up, so I pulled over, took out my camera, and captured the ethereal landscape. This was one of the first photographs of the windmill with its restored sails, and the conditions were perfect—a leading fence, mist-covered trees, and in the distance, the windmill’s sails standing proudly.
The start of the spring equinox
When I reached the top of the hill, the moon was still visible, adding to the atmosphere as I prepared for the arrival of the day. The sunrise was beautiful, and though there were no clouds, the first rays of sunlight made the trip worthwhile. As the sun rose higher, its light reflected off the white sails, making them shine brilliantly. I took several more photographs with both my camera and iPhone before heading home for breakfast.
The moon sits alongside the sails.
I plan to return in a few weeks, as the windmill holds a special place for our family, particularly during those bleak lockdown days.
The dull and gloomy weather over Christmas has led to several fog-drenched mornings, which have lingered throughout the day. For photographers, such conditions are ideal for adding atmosphere to compositions. I set off towards Baddesley Clinton, where the presence of the canal network generally guarantees fog. I drove to Hay Wood but stopped by the entrance to Baddesley Clinton on the way to take a picture of the tree-lined entrance. Another good spot is the public footpath on Netherwood Lane. Here, the line-up of trees with a hedge is the perfect location for a sunset picture in the summer. In the winter, the branches add different shapes to the landscape. The fog provided an eerie landscape.
Windows in the fog. (Footpath off Netherwood Lane, near to Baddesley Clinton.)Entrance to Baddesley Clinton with dog walker.
Hay Wood has featured in my blog over the years. There are several places in the woods that I like to visit. In spring, there is one area with a carpet of bluebells, and I wondered how it would look in the fog. I brought my tripod with me, and most of the pictures were taken using a long exposure setting, especially in the woods where the light was poor. There was some colour from the remaining leaves. The last few pictures show the oranges and greens of the wood.
Dancing Branches in the foggy landscape.Trees standing in the fog.Colours of winter in Hay WoodOrange and green colours in the woodland.
I am pleased that the pictures worked out because I got a flat tyre on the way back and had to wait two hours for the recovery man to arrive. However, I was soon back home editing the pictures. You will see that I varied my black-and-white treatments, either adding a high-key effect or using lots of contrast.
The Escape route, Hay Wood.
These are my settings for each of the pictures, tripod used where stated:-
The Escape Route f/11, 0.4s, ISO 100 – Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF 70-200mm – Tripod Windows in the fog. f/11, 0.3s, ISO 100 Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF 70-200mm – Tripod Entrance to Baddesley Clinton F/5.6, 1/125, ISO 320 – Fujifilm x100vi Dancing branches. f/11, 1s, ISO 100 Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF 24-70mm – Tripod Trees standing in the fog F/5.6, 1/125, ISO 320 – Fujifilm x100vi Colours of winter F/5.6, 1/100, ISO 2000 – Fujifilm x100vi Orange and green F/11, 0.5s, ISO 125 – Fujifilm x100vi – Tripod
As I mentioned Hay Wood has featured before in my blog and the landscape is transformed in Spring
We are four photographers who got together during lockdown. We enjoyed chatting about photography over zoom and decided that we would love to share our experiences with other photographers out there. As friends we share a passion for taking pictures and as it happens we all photograph a diverse and varied set of subjects. Who are we? There is Martin Kelly our host, who does all the bits and pieces to get our zoom chats up on YouTube etc. Neil Dodd who is based in Switzerland and loves photographing sport especially Swiss Rugby. Ian Lewis who is fortunate to live in Cornwall and takes stunning pictures of the countryside in this beautiful part of the world. Then there is me, Damien Walmsley, who photographs the Birmingham cityscapes and the Warwickshire countryside (plus anything else).
Our Flash, Bang, Wallop Podcast is a monthly show and we cover news, gear and everything photography related including interviewing guests.
The picture is available to purchase from my website. I include an account below how the picture was taken, the camera used and the post production notes.
On a cold but very bright January morning, I went into Birmingham with my camera. I planned to walk around the City, with a focus on Brindley Place and Gas street Basin. The sun was low and there was an intensity about the light. By mid-morning, I found myself in Gas Street basin outside the Tap and Spile pub. I looked across to the imposing red-bricked building displaying the large stencilled letters, Regency Wharf. The scene looked as if someone had suddenly turned on a bright spotlight. The basin was lit up and the building was radiating the light. The water was perfectly still, allowing mirror like reflections. A person was walking on the tow path towards the canal bridge. I could see that his route would take him in front of the Regency Wharf sign. I lifted my camera, looked through the viewfinder and took several shots of the lone person moving along the path. I was thinking how these pictures would turn out but then quickly moved on as more interesting scenes were developing around me. I took more pictures in and around the area all of which did very well when posted on my social media channels.
Regency Wharf – Damien Walmsley
Camera settings for the picture
The picture was taken on 11th January 2022 at 11.06 The camera was the Fujifilm x100v Focal length – 23mm Exposure was 1/10000, f/4, ISO160
Postproduction notes
The RAW file (Fuji – RAF) was opened in Lightroom and the light was so good that there was not much that that needed to be done to the image. I brought out the shadows and reduced the highlights. There was a small amount of saturation added. Once these basic adjustments were done, I took the image into Photoshop and made the decision to crop the picture to highlight the centre of the image. It may be argued that in the original the background to the Regency Wharf building, highlights the new buildings of Birmingham. However, my crop aims to highlight the legacy of Birmingham with a hint of what the future holds.
As I wanted to quickly upload the picture onto Instagram, I used an unsharp mask and then levels on the picture, but it was minimal editing. The light was so strong that the reflections in the water were excellent.
The original view of Regency Wharf prior to cropping.
My personal reflections of LPOTY
I submitted 5 photographs for the LPOTY competition. in early summer, I was taken aback when several people on social media shouted out that they were no longer progressing in the competition. I had not received such a notification and on the website, it was asking for submission of a high resolution picture of one of my pictures. There was a mixture of anticipation but confusion. Eventually, I found my email informing me that I had been shortlisted. It was in my spam filter! The RAW files and more detailed explanation of the processing of the picture were submitted to the LPOTY team. There was another long wait. The FAQ on the website said that if I had not heard anything by October then my entry was unsuccessful. As there were no emails in the first 2 weeks of October, I was just happy that I had been shortlisted. It was on a train journey on the Tuesday afternoon prior to the Sunday announcement that I got the email saying that my picture was Commended in the Urban View category. I was so pleased but the rub was that I had to keep it confidential until now. My family are pleased for me and my friends who have been on my photographic journey were happy as well.
People reading this blog will want to know what it takes to be successful in the competition. Several things spring to mind. Always believe in your picture taking and be content with your own work. Social media is not necessarily a good barometer of a successful picture. Be resilient, this was my fourth attempt since my first entry back in 2018. Listen to constructive criticism and research into how others take their photographs. Always be ready to learn and never take rejection of your pictures personally. Pick yourself up and take the camera on a walk. I will be entering again in 2023 and I know it will be just as competitive as ever. However, I will see what happens and happy to enjoy the experience of entering again.
The Malvern Hills are on our doorstep but surprisingly I have never walked over them. As our family holiday will be based in Loch Lomond, Scotland for a week in August, it was time to get some practice hiking done. In preparation for the walk, I purchased some new hiking boots and I wanted to break them in for a few climbs in Scotland. My daughter, Sian suggested the Malvern Hills and so together with Jim her husband we picked a Saturday morning in July. The spell of hot weather had broken but the forecast for the chosen weekend was rain and thunderstorms which was a worry. Fortunately such weather conditions never materialised bar a few occasional drops of rain.
Looking south from the Summit of British Camp
Our plan was to get up early and head for British Camp which is in the southern stretch of the Malvern Hill chain. The car park was empty when we arrived and even the Malvern hills Hotel over the road was very quiet. I was advised to start with this area of the Malvern Hill as some consider it to be the most interesting hill because of the large iron age hill Fort carved into the area. It is a quick hill to climb and once on the summit you have a commanding view of the surrounding geography. Looking North you see the hills in the following order, Black Hill, Pinnacle Hill, Jubilee Hill and Perseverance Hill. In the distance you can make out the highest of all the hills which is the Worcestershire Beacon. British Camp provides a super view, and my camera captured the scene well.
View of the Malvern Hills from British Camp
My camera for this adventure was the Fujifilm x100v. It is weather proofed, and ideal for the conditions on the hills over the weekend with the occasional drops of rain. The camera as you will have discovered is very versatile and produces excellent pictures as you will see from this blog. I had looked through many pictures of the hills and I had seen many postcard views. Also I knew that I would have difficulty matching any of the drone fly throughs or pictures that have been published. As always, I use my pictures to tell a story. The main story was the hiking over the hills and therefore some classic “here we are” people pictures are used in the story telling.
Sian and James on the summit of British Camp
With the Malvern Hills having been photographed many times before, I was interested in seeking out different views i.e. low down or interesting close ups. Any landscape pictures taken including points of interest in both the foreground and the background. The camera was set on Aperture priority and swapped between f/4 for closeups to f/11 for the landscape views. The sky was a touch gloomy but there was the occasional sun that broke through. Furthermore once you are up on the hills then you can see for miles and miles. The Fujifilm camera is ideal for this story telling as it allows quick pictures of the scene to be taken. It is not ideally suited for landscape photography but you can see if used within its strengths then you can get a good view.
Getting ready to hike Pinnacle hill.
Back to the walk, leaving British Camp we hiked up Black Hill with its steep incline and then onto the other peaks. The Malvern hills offer wonderful vistas of the surrounding countryside and on this walk, the air was clear, and you could see well into the distance. It was good hiking over the hills, but I was not fully fit for this type of activity. By the time we got to Perseverance Hill we were very tired, and we could see the Worcestershire beacon in front of us. We made the decision to turn back and the beacon would have to wait for another weekend. Coming back I took several pictures of the wild flowers and the views over the different counties on either side of us.
Lone Tree on Perseverance Hill and British Camp in the DistanceThe grassy verge at the summit of Pinnacle Hill
Back at the car it was a relief to sit down pull the boots off and get ready for the journey home. The Malvern hills are a must as they have everything you need for a good hike. Luckily the weather was just right and we did not get too hot walking over them. We will be back not only to scale the Worcestershire Beacon but to visit the pretty town of Malvern on the side of the hill. Enjoy the pictures and would love to hear about your experiences of hiking over the Malvern Hills
Tractors. Lots of tractors! Whilst we were visiting Burton Dassett Hills, over a dozen tractors appeared and parked on the side of Magpie Hill. It appeared to be a tractor rally and although I do not know my tractors, they looked a formidable set of beasts. The owners got out and stood around chatting. I am not a brave soul on asking what was happening but I did have my camera and started snapping. I could have done so much more photography but time was not on my side as the family were ready to leave and the hills were getting very busy as it approached midday. The results of a few quick pictures are for viewing. All taken with my Fujifilm x100v except one iPhone camera picture.
Tractor with door openDiscussing the Machinery
Anatomy of a tractor
One man and his tractorsA dog rounding up the tractors
Photographic tips – Quickly seize the opportunity that presents itself. I was shy and did not engage the people and concentrated on the tractors which don’t need talking to. There were some good pictures of wheels, machinary and landscape pictures of the vehicle group I wish I had more time to spend looking around but i was under pressure as the family were leaving to go home!
There is always the countryside to escape to during Lockdown#2 and Burton Dassett Hill Country Park deep in the Warwickshire countryside provides an opportunity to get some fresh air, enjoy a walk and see some beautiful scenery. The weather was kind to us on the Saturday afternoon we visited. It was late afternoon and the sun was creating lovely colours through the clouds. It was possible to see well into the distance and on this visit I made my way to All Saints Church. Here are some pictures from the day to enjoy.
Barton Dassett Hills Country Park – setting sunOn top of Magpie HillGoing down is easier than going upMagpie Hill with Windmill Hill in the background
All the pictures were taken with my Canon 5D mark IV and I brought two lens with me. The first is my “go to” 24-70mm which always gives great pictures. I also used by 200mm zoom for some of the pictures as well. The setting sun provided beautiful light making the photography a delight. My favourite picture is of All Saints Church and the lovely glow of light on the stone architecture. Unfortunately the church was not open due to the Coronavirus so look forward to visiting again when the restrictions are relaxed.
Beautiful light in the lane to the Vicarage at the ChurchEnd of the day with a beautiful view from the slopes of Windmill Hill
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