Here comes the sun....

[Clicker]

After 4 days of thick fog and and frost I imagine the horses  were grateful when  it eventually shone .... 

Taken from the front garden as the sun  burned through ...

 

 

 

[Denis]

Quite misty in your neck of the woods this morning eh?....you managed the long shadows in image 3... jealous, as a bit of mist might have benefitted me this morning nice set Polly!

[Clicker]

The three young foals were born  in June and July so I think they have been quite grateful for their  horse blankets overnight lately ...... You have ventured  further than I have  lately ...unless   in the car with heated seats ! Brrrr

[Paul]

Lovely view to have as well. #2 my preference.

Paul.

[Clicker]

Thanks Paul ...

 

[Fogey]

Now these I like, especially the first.  Very nice set, Polly.

[Clicker]

Thanks Fogey… it was lovely atmospheric light for about ten minutes that morning  with mostly silhouetted horses so I was whistling to them trying to get them to move so I could see their separate forms and not a horse with 6 or 8 legs … … didn’t work I’m afraid

I was starting to wonder if you were ok.    With COVID so prevalent in the form of the Omicron variant one worries about any prolonged absences of our regular members  … hope all is well with you …

[Fogey]

Thank you for the sentiment, Polly.  I'm as well as can be expected physically - like every winter I'm hibernating the cold months away, planning what I'll be doing in the summer.  To date I have booked a session to photograph harvest mice, (Christmas present from my sister), then I will be off to Wales to photograph Puffins and seabirds.  

I have to fit in a trip to Oxford for some street photography, then a visit to Westonbirt arboretum together with a visit to Slimbridge sometime in the spring.  I'm doing this as the anniversary of my wife's death is approaching and I want to be busy when that occurs.

Then I'd like to shoot the great apes in Monkey World, then it's back to Wales to try and shoot some wild water canoeing/rafting; then we'll see what I fancy doing after that.

[CMunzel]

Very atmospheric, Clicker. Horses are uncooperative when it comes to photos, like most animals. 

[MattGrey]

WOW! What gorgeous light!  I'm torn between 2 and 3 to pick a favourite. Great set.

[Clicker]

Thanks Matt... It's been so dull and miserable the past few weeks that when I saw the chance that the sun might  burn off the fog early one morning last week  I  trundled along to the fence next to the paddock adjacent to the  house ... I had intended to take a picture of the pond  but the horses were all gathered around some fresh hay and I  could only  see their silhouettes  as the sun behind them started  to get through ... you'll know that  sometimes these moments are so fleeting  and  within ten minutes  the mist  had evaporated and that light had changed  ....So..I was  just in the right place at the right time ..for a change 

[Clicker]

Good to see you on here again Fogey …. And planning ahead with such a positive and determined agenda…that’s made me feel we can all learn a lesson from that … thanks  

[CMunzel]

11 hours ago, Clicker said:

Good to see you on here again Fogey …. And planning ahead with such a positive and determined agenda…that’s made me feel we can all learn a lesson from that … thanks  

 

On 26/01/2022 at 07:15, Fogey said:

Fogey?  Fogey? Not guilty M'Lud.  

 

On 24/01/2022 at 19:43, Fogey said:

Thank you for the sentiment, Polly.  I'm as well as can be expected physically - like every winter I'm hibernating the cold months away, planning what I'll be doing in the summer.  To date I have booked a session to photograph harvest mice, (Christmas present from my sister), then I will be off to Wales to photograph Puffins and seabirds.  

I have to fit in a trip to Oxford for some street photography, then a visit to Westonbirt arboretum together with a visit to Slimbridge sometime in the spring.  I'm doing this as the anniversary of my wife's death is approaching and I want to be busy when that occurs.

Then I'd like to shoot the great apes in Monkey World, then it's back to Wales to try and shoot some wild water canoeing/rafting; then we'll see what I fancy doing after that.

These sound like wonderful plans, Fogey. People are travelling around the UK freely now? I’m referring to Covid 19.
 

The reason I ask is because we had a trip planned and paid for to Scotland and England in 2020 which was, of course, cancelled due to travel restrictions. It was cancelled again in 2021. I had hoped to go in July this year but don’t know if it would a good experience with restrictions and wondered whether to wait until 2023. 

I appreciate your perspective on this. 

[CMunzel]

We are of course travelling from Australia. Thought I’d point that out…

[Fogey]

36 minutes ago, CMunzel said:

 

 

These sound like wonderful plans, Fogey. People are travelling around the UK freely now? I’m referring to Covid 19.
 

The reason I ask is because we had a trip planned and paid for to Scotland and England in 2020 which was, of course, cancelled due to travel restrictions. It was cancelled again in 2021. I had hoped to go in July this year but don’t know if it would a good experience with restrictions and wondered whether to wait until 2023. 

I appreciate your perspective on this. 

People are travelling around England quite freely, with no restrictions.  However Scotland is a different story.  The First Minister, an ardent fan of independence, is still insisting on people wearing face masks, which is being strictly enforced.  No mask, no entry.

As foreign holidays, (for Britons), are severely restricted, Scotland as a holiday destination is much sought after and I don't see that changing in the near future;  I don't think it would make much difference to you which year you decide to come, it will be busy.

If you are going to visit the Upper Highlands, be aware the population is very anti Britain, so speak with an Australian twang.  They are also very religious, so be careful of blaspheming.  

If you are going just for the scenery, then the Isle of Skye is about the best you will get.  Stirling and Edinburgh Castles are well worth a visit.  If it's wildlife you're after, then the Cairngorms and Trossachs National Parks are the places to go.  Plan your visit carefully as there is so much history and sights to see, you could spend six months there and still not see it all.

There are many places where you can stand and there will be a breathtaking panorama to be had on all points of the compass, so take a wide angle lens.  For the wildlife I used my 600mm lens.

Hope this helps.

 

Edited January 26, 2022 by Fogey

[CMunzel]

That’s really helpful, Fogey, Thank you. 

[Ryewolf]

Very nice set Polly, very atmospheric.